Their love story is the stuff heartwarming telenovelas are made of. Rhea Santos is the lovely, refreshing face that greets viewers of GMA-7's Unang Hirit as early as the break of dawn when most of Metro Manila is still sleeping. Carlo de Guzman is a workaholic yuppie who's behind the burning success of Hotshots, which is due to open four stores in Indonesia. Girl and boy meet at the despedida de soltera for the boy's sister Annabeck de Guzman Morales, but that's getting ahead of our story.
Carlo, who had his fair share of dating, found himself suddenly "dateless." With the big bash for his altar-bound sister Annabeck coming up, anxious mom Baby Balatbat de Guzman told her son not to worry. Mom was only too willing to play Cupid that night. She immediately called up a relative of her husband Danny de Guzman to inquire if that relative's goddaughter was available that night. The goddaughter turned out to be Rhea Santos and, yes, she had no plans that night and could make it to Annabeck's affair.
Boy and girl meet. No sparks fly. Girl finds boy rather aloof. Boy just isn't interested in the girl. They exchange hellos and goodbyes. End of story? Not quite.
The next scene sees Rhea interviewing Carlo on Unang Hirit. After the show, Carlo invited Rhea for breakfast. At first, Rhea didn't want to go. But her grumbling stomach got the better of her. The two started dating. After a year of eating breakfasts, lunches, and dinners all over town together, Carlo and Rhea thought it was about time they got married and cooked their own breakfast at home.
"I'd been pushing him to get married for the longest time," says the groom's mother Baby. "He had been dating for a long time and I was worried everytime he'd come home late."
So, Carlo had his huling hirit as a bachelor-about-town. And Mom was indescribably ecstatic.
Last Sept. 17, Carlo and Rhea were wed at afternoon rites at Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati. The concelebrated Mass was officiated by Fr. Gerry Orbos and Fr. Rely de la Cruz.
That balmy Friday afternoon, the bridal entourage filled the church aisle as the doors were shut. When the doors swung open, drama unfolded. There stood Rhea, a cherubic vision in pristine white carrying a bouquet of lilies of the valley. (Paul Cabral designed Rhea's gown and Carlo's suit as well as the ensembles of the whole entourage). Unescorted, Rhea glided down a floral-bedecked aisle. Midway, Rhea's parents, Tony and Marilyn Santos, and brother Jeffrey Santos joined her. The proud dad took his daughter's hand and walked her down to the altar where her dashing groom awaited. Jeffrey (one of two Santos boys; the other, Marc, is based in the US; Rhea is the only daughter) escorted his mom. The UP Madrigal Singers provided the music.
Witnessing the rites was Rhea's other family-the staff and crew of the country's leading TV network GMA, led by ninang Mel Tiangco, ninongs Arnold Clavio and Mike Enriquez, and Vicky Morales. These hardworking Kapusos took time out to lend their love and support to Rhea. Truly a hearty sight!
Cocktails immediately followed at the NBC Tent, transformed into a dreamlike setting by Robert Blancaflor of 1816 who also did the church decor. Of course, the guests were treated to yummy flame-grilled burgers from Hotshots, which they wolfed down with wine. Then came the dinner of pate galore and the most succulent Angus beef, catered by Le Souffle. Dinner was capped by a dessert of mango jubilee and what else but St. Cinnamon rolls. (The De Guzmans are the franchise owners of St. Cinnamon in the Philippines.) After dinner, the spacious dining hall was converted into a dance hall with the Spirit of ’67 dishing out danceable tunes and guests taking to the dance floor. Leading the pack were dancing queens Odette Wallace, stylish lady with a generous heart, and former DENR Secretary Bebet Gozon with well-loved De La Salle University professor Jun Tullao. And they danced till they dropped. The guests went home with scarves in pink and green, the wedding's color motif.
Carlo and Rhea honeymooned for three weeks in Paris, Switzerland, and Rome. On their arrival from Europe, the couple flew to Boracay for another week of honeymooning.
"They just can't get enough of each other," says the happy mother of the groom.