NEWSFLASH

---

RICHARD-LUCY WEDDING REPORT
By Douglas Quijano (Richard's manager)

Ormoc City, April 30, 1998 - The Torres family is coming from an extremely sad experience -- the first death in the family, that of Lucy's Lola Carmen -- to an extremely happy experience which is the Richard-Lucy wedding, also a "first" in the family. It is said that Lola Carmen was the most excited about the wedding but was no longer around to witness the event. Mommy Julie has lost some 12 pounds.

Until today, there's a fiesta atmosphere at the Martinez home in Carlota Hills. An average of 300 guests take their breakfast, lunch and dinner there. Their place looks like a politician's house during the campaign period.

It was Lucy who personally wrote down the names on the passes and wrapped the give-aways -- a CD of songs memorable and meaningful to her Richard with the help of movie writers close to the couple.

All the Gomezes are here -- Richard's mom Stella Suarez who came from San Diego, California with Richard's half-sister Karen Guinto; Richard's father Ed Gomez from Los Angeles; Richard's Lola Lydia Kelly vda. De Gomez who is listed on the invitation with Lucy's parents; Richard's uncle Freddie; half-brother Patrick and half-sister Christine (from his father's side).

As soon as Aga Muhlach (secondary sponsor) arrived last Monday evening in Ormoc, he asked people around if there was another Lucy Torres available.

Photos of the pre-wedding affair held last Sunday are selling briskly at P25 each, along with "commemorative" T-shirts that say "I was there at the Richard-Lucy wedding, Ormoc City, April 28, 1998" which are selling like hot cakes at the Gaisano Mall.

First guest to arrive in Ormoc was Antonio Aquitana, two days ahead of Richard who went to Ormoc as early as Thursday last week. Last to arrive at 5:45 p.m. (15 minutes before the wedding ceremony) was Paranaque Mayor Joey Marquez, also a secondary sponsor. Mayor Marquez was the first to leave, catching the last ferry back to Cebu at 8:00 p.m. right after the ceremony.

Several guests flew to Ormoc from foreign places -- Kitchie Benedicto-Paulino and her husband from Texas, Ben Chan from Tokyo, Mother Lily (principal sponsor) from Hong Kong and Juan Miguel Ongsiako (Richard's partner in his Paul Smith business ) from Milan where he was on holiday.

Lucy and Richard led their star-guests on a motorcade to their pre-wedding reception at the Ormoc Super Dome, where a reception was held for the 1,000 guests who could not be accommodated at the wedding proper reception at Days' Hotel. It seems that the whole region came out to cheer the motorcade which featured Jomari Yllana, John Estrada, Wendell Ramos, Antonio Aquitana, Willie Revillame and Bearwin Meilly.

For most Ormoc residents, it was their first time to see in person not only Richard and the other stars but also their famous townmate Lucy Torres.

Lucy hears mass thrice a week in Ormoc, prays the rosary twice a day. A very religious girl who beat all the beautiful girls in Manila to Richard's heart.

Lucy becomes even more beautiful as you talk to her and as you feel her gentleness and sincerity. Richard is lucky to have her as wife and future mother of his children. Lucy is pretty on the outside and a lot prettier inside.