PNoy best man again, this time at Chiz and Heart’s wedding

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ most eligible bachelor will walk down the aisle next year – again, as a friend’s best man.

President Benigno Aquino III has reportedly agreed to be the best man of Senator Chiz Escudero when he ties the knot with actress Heart Evangelista next year.

Escudero, who revealed this in an interview with  Inquirer, and Aquino are long-time friends. They developed their friendship in the halls of Congress when they served as representatives of Sorsogon and Tarlac, respectively, from 1998 to 2007; and elected as senators in 2007.

In the interview, Escudero joked that Aquino would rather be a best man than a principal sponsor or ninong as he doesn’t want to jinx his chance for marriage. There’s a superstition that single individuals who become primary sponsors  at a wedding would not get married.

Aquino is what one can call a “serial” best man, having taken on the role at the wedding of his friends and relatives, including first cousin Malabon Mayor Len Len Oreta. He was also the best man – opposite Heart, who was then the maid of honor – when Senator Miriam Santiago rewed her wedding vows with former Interior Secretary Narciso Santiago Jr in 2011.

In the PDI interview, Escudero said he wants a fresh start when it comes to his marriage to Heart.

“I wanted to change everything I did from my previous wedding, that’s why I am not getting anyone from my wedding sponsors in my first marriage,” he said.

Escudero was previously married but their union was annulled in July. He has two children.

The senator also denied that he was marrying the actress in preparation for the 2016 elections.

“Our getting married has nothing to do with my running or not running. We will get married at some point and besides President Aquino has proven that being married has nothing to do with winning, hindi kailangan magpakasal (you don’t need to geet married),” he said.

On August 23, Escudero proposed to Heart in Sorsogon while they were on vacation. Their family and closest friends including Heart’s best friends in showbiz, Alessandra de Rossi and Lovi Poe, witnessed the proposal. 

Following the announcement of their engagement, Heart’s father congratulated them, and a photo showed that she was reunited with her mother Cecile Ongpauco, who she was estranged with since 2013, after she pursued the relationship with Chiz, despite their objections. – Rappler.com