Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos Has Tied the Knot

After months filled with anticipation, celebrity couple Ryan Agoncillo (real name Kristoffer Ryan Agoncillo) and Judy Ann Santos (real name Judy Anne Lumagui Santos) has said their ‘I do’s’ today, April 28, 2009 in a private wedding somewhere in Southern Luzon. The wedding ceremony took place at San Juan Nepomuceno Church in San Juan, Batangas.

According to the article posted at ABS-CBNNews.com, the newlyweds decided to hold their wedding early morning to signify the new start of their relationship as husband and wife. Fr. Tito Caluag served as the celebrant of the Agoncillo-Santos wedding. The report also stated that several showbiz personalities were present in the wedding including Senator Francis Pangilinan, Sharon Cuneta and daughter KC Concepcion, GMA-7 Morning show host Suzy Entrata and husband Paolo Abrera, singer-couple Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid, and directors Joyce Bernal and Rory Quintos.

For the past few weeks, showbiz news reports have released ‘official’ wedding dates of the Ryan Agoncillo-Judy Ann Santos wedding. Showbiz news columnist Dolly Anne Carvajal, in her article yesterday at the Philippine Daily Inquirer stated that the two were bound to tie the knot on May 2, 2009, a Saturday. Carvajal’s undisclosed source said that Ogie Alcasid and Agot Isidro will sing at the wedding rites and the reception is set at Le Souffle in Rockwell Makati.

In their recent interview with the press, the newlyweds have requested to let their wedding be a private event. Close friends and relatives of Ryan and Judy Ann kept mum on the wedding details, especially Judy Ann’s mother, Carol Santos.

Ryan proposed to Judy Ann on her 30th birthday celebration held last May 11, 2008 at the Antulang Beach Resort in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

The two plans to spend their honeymoon in Mexico. Last year, the couple disclosed that they plan to put up a house before they get married.

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Kasal.com thanks the following sources for this article:

ABS-CBNNews. Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo tie the knot. (Posted April 28, 2009) Retrieved April 28, 2009 from
http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/04/28/09/judy-ann-santos-and-ryan-agoncillo-tie-knot

Inquirer.net. Juday and Ryan Agoncillo say 'I do' (Posted April 28, 2009) Retrieved April 28, 2009 from
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20090428-201875/Juday-and-Ryan-Agoncillo-say-I-do

Santiago, Erwin, Philippine Entertainment Portal. Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo tie the knot this morning.
http://www.pep.ph/news/21609/Judy-Ann-Santos-and-Ryan-Agoncillo-tie-the-knot-this-morning

Carvajal, Dolly Anne, Philippine Daily Inquirer. Tagaytay wedding for Judy Ann, Ryan (Posted April 27, 2009) Retrieved April 28, 2009 from
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20080512-136068/Judy-Ann-Santos-Ryan-Agoncillo-officially-engaged--source

Franco, Bernie, Showbuzz, ABS-CBN.com. Showbiz personalities support Judy Ann Santos’s request for a private wedding Posted April 26, 2009) Retrieved April 28, 2009 from
http://www.abs-cbn.com/Feature/Article/3238/Showbiz-personalities-support-Judy-Ann-Santos-s-request-for-a-private-wedding.aspx

Almo, Nerisa, Philippine Entertainment Portal. Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo confirm their engagement in "YES!" (Posted June 18, 2008) Retrieved April 28, 2009 from
http://www.pep.ph/news/17939/Judy-Ann-Santos-and-Ryan-Agoncillo-confirm-their-engagement-in-YES!
Re-posted by GMANews.tv at
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/102060/Judy-Ann-Ryan-confirm-their-engagement

Philippines Became First Host of World Health Tourism Congress in Asia

In the effort to place the country as the premier health and wellness tourism destination in Asia, the Philippines was the first country in Asia Pacific to host the World Health Tourism Congress held last March 26 – 28, 2009 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.

Organized by Aura International, in partnership with the Department of Tourism http://www.wowphilippines.com.ph, the World Health Tourism Congress is an exclusive congress where buyers and vendors of medical and wellbeing services have the opportunity to interact in a one-to-one meeting format as well as during workshops and informal gatherings.

During the event, corporate buyers, or those who decide when and where to send their citizens, client, and employees for medical travel, had the chance to meet up with solution providers, which consists of spas, hotel, medical center, and clinics, and forged partnerships in order to find cost effective institutions which can deliver the needs of their clients seeking medical attention. Also, participants were introduced to the latest news and updates about the health and tourism industry.

The first annual was hosted in Germany last May 25 – 27, 2006, the Second annual was hosted in Cyprus last March 23 – 25, 2007 and the Third annual was hosted in Spain last April 4 - 6, 2008.

The 4th World Health Tourism Congress is sponsored by the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (Asian Hospital and Medical Center, The Medical City, Health and Leisure - Medical Tourism Integrator, Makati Medical Center, Asian Eye Institute, Philippine Retirement Authority, Manila Doctors Hospital, Capitol Medical Center, Tagaytay Hospital and Medical Center, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, and St. Francis Cabrini M.Cat), Prince Court Medical Centre, Cyprus Tourism Organization, Cebu Health and Wellness Council Inc., Jayan International, Parkway Holdings, Singapore Medicine, Take Care, Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Bellevue Medical Center, ARDI Health Services Inc., Kliniken des Bezirks Oberbayern, Zulu Kingdom, and Discovery Suites.

Travel Tips for Your Destination Wedding

Destination wedding has started to become a trend, especially here in the Philippines. It is where couples decide to hold their wedding in venues outside their hometown and do it in another location of their choice. Popular destinations here in the Philippines include Tagaytay City, Cebu, and Boracay Island, among others.

If you and your partner decide to have a destination wedding, your main concern involves traveling. You and your partner will have to constantly travel, whether to meet with local suppliers or inspect your ceremony and reception venue. In this case, here are some traveling tips for your destination wedding:

• Familiarize yourself with the landmarks and roads to your wedding ceremony and reception venue as well as the mode of transportation available.Remember, you will be the first person they will call if they need instructions on how to get to your wedding. Though you may provide maps on your invitations, it will still be helpful if you could guide them in looking for the landmarks indicated in your map. If you are getting married somewhere where your guests will have to pass by expressways, like North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway or Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, make sure to indicate in your map what exit your guests will have to take.
  TIP:

  
  

  Your guests may also decide to have a short vacation after your wedding. Try to learn about the places of interest near your venue.
• Familiarize yourself with important establishment found near your wedding ceremony and reception venue. Important establishments include malls, convenient stores, fast food chains, and restaurants. You or your guests may need to buy something like food or toiletries.
• Send your guests save-the-date cards and information packets as early as six months in advance. This will allow them to book plane tickets, if needed, reserve hotel rooms, and organize their schedule. Also, this will give them ample time to find their way towards your venue.
  TIP:

  In case you will not shoulder your guests’ accommodation, find out the promos and discounts of the hotel where you will stay in and suggest to your guest to book there as well. Some airlines and also offer group discounts.
• Consider getting local suppliers. It is good to hire local suppliers since travel will not be an issue for them. Unlike suppliers from the metro, it will be very tedious for them to bring their products to your wedding, unless they have a branch there. Also, local suppliers are very familiar with your wedding ceremony and reception, which would allow them to adjust better if something comes up. Then again, do not hesitate to hire suppliers from Manila that you really trust, especially those that are very mobile such as photographers, make-up artists, and wedding coordinators. But once you do, expect to be charged for out of town, travel and accommodation expenses.
• Travel light. It will be easier for you and you partner if you pack only the things you need for the whole time you will be staying at the hotel, especially during your wedding day. Settle for toiletries in sachets or smaller bottles. Avoid packing too many clothes and bring only that you are sure to wear.
• Bring basic medicines such as painkillers, anti motion sickness, for tummy aches, and your maintenance drugs, if any. You may not have ample time to scout for a drugstore or a pharmacy when the need arise.
• Plan your meetings and appointments well. Try to allot one whole day to accomplish your agenda such as meeting with local suppliers or inspecting your ceremony and reception venue. Create a contingency plan just in case something unexpected comes up such as delay of flight schedule, weather, or unavailability of suppliers for meetings.
• Bring an extra bag. You and your partner may have time to shop before or after your wedding. Your guests may hand out their gifts during your wedding. In any case, an extra bag will help you in packing up excess baggage.
• List down important local assistance hotlines. During unexpected circumstances, it is best to have a copy of important local numbers such as tourist information and assistance centers, police stations, fire stations, and medical facilities. It would be best to share these contact numbers with your guests.
• Charge up and load up. Make sure that you charge your phone regularly or have an extra battery with you when you leave the hotel. If you’re using prepaid mobile lines, keep extra call cards in your wallet or bag to avoid having a hard time looking for a load outlet when you run out of load.
• If in a place where the language or dialect you know is not widely spoken, keep table napkins, business cards or anything with the name of your hotel or venue on it. Also, keep identity cards with you (driver’s license, passport, company ID, etc.). This will help you in asking for instructions should you get lost.
  

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Kasal.com thanks the following sources for this article:

Sablan, Niño Mark, Philippine Daily Inquirer. Tips for hassle-free traveling (Posted April 1, 2009) Retrieved April 2, 2009 from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/philippineexplorer/philippineexplorer/view/20090401-197425/Tips-for-hassle-free-traveling

Martha Stewart Weddings (U.S.) Planning a Destination Wedding. (Posted March 22, 2009) Retrieved April 2, 2009 from
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/planning-a-destination-wedding?lnc=3e781aadd4b1d110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&xsc=eml_dwd_2009_03_22

Pash Weddings.com. Free Wedding Planner. (in .PDF format) Retrieved April 2, 2009 from
http://www.pashweddings.com/library/free-wedding-planner.php

RP Wedding Industry To Benefit from Global Recession

With the global economic downturn affecting many industries, the local wedding industry is predicting a slow growth. But the local wedding industry has the chance to reap the fruits of recession.

Last February 18-25, 2009, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Joseph ‘Ace’ Durano invited officers and members of the US-based Association for Wedding Professionals International (AFWPI) for a familiarization tour of some of the wedding and honeymoon destinations in Batangas, Bohol, Cavite, Cebu, and Metro Manila.

Composed of wedding and event coordinators, bridal show producers, professional photographers and videographers, the participants were given a chance to see a typical Filipino wedding featuring a real-life couple and an entire wedding entourage held at the Ocean Pavilion in Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu City. In Manila, a mini-bridal fair was staged at The Peninsula Manila. The participants in the mini-bridal fair include fashion designer Malou Castillejos, Imacron, Smart Shot Studio, Matus Jewellery, and Penk Ching of Pastry Bin.

During their stay, AFWPI President Richard Markel was amazed on the variety of wedding and honeymoon destinations in the country and their affordability compared to weddings done in the United States. In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, Mr. Markel shared, “A basic wedding in the US costs around $ 50,000 (roughly Php. 2,400,000.00) while in the Philippines you can hold weddings for less than half of that, with a honeymoon holiday thrown in the package.”

DOT Sec. Durano aims to tap the North America market by presenting the Philippines as the best option for destination weddings. “This is a specialized market with big returns, because couples bring along 50 to 100 guests who stay here for 5-12 days for the celebration. A lot of couples in the US have already cancelled their weddings this year due to the recession. And most of them are looking at holding more affordable weddings in nonetheless romantic, exotic, and memorable destinations like the Philippines,” added the Secretary.

Meanwhile, DOT Team North America Head Corazon Apo Jorda also acknowledged, “Weddings here come in neat little packages unlike in the US where the couple has to go through each tiny detail and buy everything, even the utensils.”

Jeff Sharpe of Sharpe Photographers, one of the photographers who joined the familiarization tour, shared he hope to entice his US clients to have their weddings and honeymoons in the Philippines through the photos he took during the tour.

Wedding suppliers who joined the familiarization tour were also brought to some of the popular wedding and reception locations in Manila. These include St. James Church in Ayala, Alabang, The Glass Garden in Pasig, Fernbrook Gardens in Las Piñas, Sonya’s Garden and Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay, and the Caleruega Transfiguration Chapel in Batangas.

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Kasal.com thanks the following sources for this article:

Department of Tourism. North American Wedding Professionals Tour Wedding Destinations in the Philippines. Retrieved March 23, 2009 from
http://www.experiencephilippines.ph/LM/articles/id-1235983297892/North_American_Wedding_Professionals_Tour_Wedding.html

Philippine News Agency. RP wed industry to gain from recession, say US wed pros. (Posted March 19, 2009) Retrieved March 23, 2009 from
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=193599&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=recession&andor=and&mdte_arch=3&ddte_arch=19&ydte_arch=2009
Re-posted at Balitang Pinoy.net (Weddings For Foreigners Are The New Growth Market In The Present Financial Gloom) at
http://www.balitapinoy.net/link.asp?smenu=236&twindow=&sdetail=20819&mad=&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=
Re-posted at Lakbay Pilipinas Blog (Philippine wedding industry to gain from recession, say US wedding professionals) at
http://www.lakbaypilipinas.com/blog/2009/03/20/philippine-wedding-industry-to-gain-from-recession-say-us-wedding-professionals/