Glo-Erap Encounter

Arroyo and Erap in show biz wedding
Nini Valera Inquirer News Service
TAKING A BREAK FROM HER TROUBLES, President Macapagal-Arroyo recently played gracious dinner host in Malacañang for the families of former actor and Sen. Ramon Revilla and Rizal Gov. Casimiro Henares.
Her two friends had come to ask her to be the principal sponsor at their children’s nuptials in November.
The bride, Andrea Bautista, 30, is the senator’s daughter and sister of senator/actor Bong Revilla. The groom, Jun-Jun Henares, 32, is the governor’s son.
“It’s an honor and a pleasure,” Ms Arroyo said by way of accepting the invitation. And then, beaming at the engaged couple, she said, “Congratulations and best wishes to you.”
Dinner consisted of foie gras, squash and zucchini soup, lapu-lapu fillet in lemon-butter sauce and custard. But phone calls for the President constantly interrupted the intimate gathering.
She excused herself before the main course was served, saying she had to see other people who had dropped by. But she returned to the table for tea.
After dinner, Ms Arroyo obliged Andrea’s request that she be measured for a gown by couturier Paul Cabral.
Then she posed for Inquirer for what she called family pictures.
Paul said later, “She’s very slim. Her waist is so small.”
Over coffee at the Manila Hotel afterwards, the bride-to-be confided that they would also ask former President Joseph Estrada to be a wedding sponsor.
Jun-Jun explained that Estrada and his father, Governor Henares, were longtime friends. “Ever since I can remember, my dad has been really close to Erap,” he said. “Up to this day, he visits the former president in Tanay to bring him food.”
Jun-Jun said he has no intention of joining show biz. “I live a very simple and quiet life [although] I have three options—manage the family business and remain in the private sector, enter politics, or become a pastor. But ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to be a pastor.”
Jun-Jun was raised a Catholic and educated in Catholic schools—Assumption, Marist School and De La Salle University for pre-med and medicine proper.
“My father is a Catholic and my mother is a Protestant,” he said. “I occasionally go with my dad to hear mass and [I also] accompany my mother to Protestant service.”
But they are having Catholic wedding rites. “Sarado silang Katoliko,” Jun-Jun said, referring to the Revillas.
Jun-Jun holds three government jobs concurrently. He’s assistant secretary at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Laguna Lakes Development Authority, and executive director of the National Solid Waste Commission under the Office of the President.
“I’m also taking up Public Administration at the University of the Philippines,” he said. “Plus, I’m getting married. I wish I were only doing one thing.”
Aside from President Arroyo and former President Estrada, the other wedding sponsors are former President Fidel V. Ramos, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and actress Sharon Cuneta.
“Andrea has always been a big fan of Sharon,” said Jun-Jun.
The wedding is set at the Manila Cathedral on Nov. 19. Reception will be at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati.
Andrea and Jun-Jun will spend their honeymoon in Italy and will be back in Manila in time for Andrea’s birthday on Dec. 10.