NY-based couple comes
home for wedding
By Jaime Picornell
Inquirer News Service

PINKIE and Ernest Salas

ONE of the grandest weddings of the season was that of pretty Marie Faye "Pinkie" Go, daughter of Philip and Nenita Go, to Ernest Salas. He is the son of Carmelita Rodriguez Salas, currently the Philippine ambassador to the Czech Republic, and the late Rafael Salas.

If one recalls correctly, Rafael Salas served as executive secretary in the Cabinet of President Marcos when he was elected in 1965. A bachelor at that time, Paeng met Menchu Rodriguez when he came here to crown Miss Cebu City. They were married in 1967.Paeng and Menchu moved to New York where they raised their two sons -- Ernest and Rafael Jr. -- when Mr. Salas became director of the United Nations Population Fund. Later he set an even more brilliant record in the UN as its deputy secretary-general.

Upon his death, Menchu and her two sons continued to reside in the United States. While Rafael Jr. continues to pursue his university studies, Ernest is vice president (environmental insurance department) of the Willis Major Insurance Brokerage firm in NYC.

Menchu's diplomatic assignment in Prague has proven to be fortuitous. For one thing, every time she returns to the Philippines, she visits Cebu. One would think that with Cebu society being so small and quite close, she'd meet Philip and Nenita Go here. But the story now becomes circuitous.

Prague visit

Philip's brother, Gilbert Go, was appointed some years back as honorary consul of the Czech Republic, based in Davao. He and Philip went to Prague once and paid a call on Menchu. Philip got Ernest's address and phone number, which came in handy when he and Nenita decided to visit their three daughters in New York a couple of years later.

Girlie Go married Allen Kang and Hope Go, Christopher Williams. Pinkie remained single. After graduating (economics) from Ateneo de Manila University, she went to the Parsons School of Design in New York. She and Ernest hit it off almost immediately. They got engaged last year and decided they'd get married where they both had their roots-Cebu.

The city was abuzz with the love story. With both Ernest and Pinkie busy in New York, and Menchu deep in her diplomatic obligations in Prague, her best friends Teresing Mendezona and Annie Aboitiz stepped in to help with the Cebu arrangements. There was some hilarity when they paid that official call on Philip and Nenita to ask for Pinkie's hand.

The Salas-Go wedding took place on a beautiful afternoon in January in the flower-decked Sacred Heart parish. A dear friend of the Go family, Fr. Antonio Ledesma, came from Iloilo to officiate in the nuptial Mass.

Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and his wife Marilou (a cousin of Menchu) came to head the panel of sponsors that also included Benjamin Go, Arsenio Yulo, Albino Gothong, Enrique Go, Mesdames Annabelle Osmeña Aboitiz, Marie Antoinette Osmeña, Lily Ngo Chua, Margarita Onglatco, Nonila Uy and Mila Antunez Wales.

The bride's sisters Girlie and Hope were matrons of honor while their little daughters Marielle Kang and Marian Williams were flower girls. Papo Osmeña, Ernest's cousin, was best man. The reception after the rites was held at the Cebu Grand Convention Center and was attended by Cebu's prominent families and several guests from abroad.

Camelot setting

Chilled Rioja white wine and exquisite canapes were served in the foyer, where everyone had a chance to exchange pleasantries. At 7 p.m., the doors of the grand hall were opened on a cue from Teresing M. It was a setting out of Camelot, with garlands of greenery forming tent frames, and masses of white orchids dripping from the ceiling.

Menchu, looking very pretty in shimmering silvery blue, was happy that all her four elder sisters were present on this beautiful and memorable day. The eldest, Lolly Rodriguez Jayme, resides in Cebu and was seated with Rosa Maria Garcia and Magnolia Antonino.

Tonette Rodriguez Osmeña, who lives in San Francisco and has been gone from Cebu for many years, was happy to be home. She was wearing a magnificent necklace of cascading diamonds given to her 25 years ago by her late parents, Luis Rodriguez and Epifania Jakosalem Rodriguez.

Myrna Rodriguez Adad came from Las Vegas where she and husband Tito Adad have been residing all these years. She is a frequent visitor here and friends are eager to host her as she has the funniest stories to tell. An excellent mimic, she is pretty enough to be mistaken for a film star. At the wedding she was seated with another beauty-Margaret Huber, Canada's High Commissioner to Pakistan.

Not so frequently seen in Cebu is Joy Rodriguez Ramas, who makes her home in West Virginia with her husband Dr. Mario Ramas, also from a very prominent Cebu family. They both came for this happy reunion, to renew friendships, meet more and more family members. Joy had a great time when the dancing started.

This wedding inspired a round of parties before and after. Philip and Nenita Go hosted the despedida de soltera at their home in Banawa; Menchu had a party where the two families met in the home of Luis and Annie Aboitiz, where she stayed. And, a week after the wedding, Boboy and Irma Atillo threw a party at the penthouse of their F3 building in Mactan.