In less than a month, reelectionist Senator Aquilino Pimentel III will tie the knot with his fiancée, Anna Kathryna Yu, and the big celebration – as expected – will include big names in politics.

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte will grace the October 18 wedding of his ally at the Coconut Palace. The wedding will take place after the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2019 elections from October 11 to 17.

In an invitation obtained by Rappler, Duterte and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go are listed among the couple’s principal sponsors. 

Aside from Duterte and Go, also included are former House speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the secretary-general of PDP-Laban, as well as party mate Senator Manny Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee Pacquiao.

Duterte is PDP-Laban chairman while Go is auditor.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and wife Helen Gamboa Sotto are also among the ninongs and ninangs. Sotto replaced Pimentel as Senate president in May 2018.

The wife of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Mila Drilon, is also a ninang.

Pimentel and Yu got a total of 9 pairs as principal sponsors. Others in the list include:

• Robert Obiedo, businessman
• Abel Manliclic, businessman
• Gino Baltao
• Attorney Peter Sanchez
• Leyte 1st District Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez
• Isabelle Faeh
• Rosemarie Obiedo
• Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad
• Ingrid Baltao
• Evelyn Yu

The wedding’s motif is Filipiniana. Pimentel’s barong Tagalog and Yu’s gown are both designed by Paul Cabral.

Marriage and politics

Pimentel and Yu first met in 2013, with Yu saying that October 18, 2013 was their “first memorable date.”

“We decided [on] October 18 because we love the date 10-18-18…and it was our first memorable date [in] 2013. We timed it [also] because it’s my birth month para isang celebration na lang (so it’s just one celebration),” Yu told Rappler on Thursday, September 20.

Asked if Yu, a former chef, is ready to be a politician’s wife, she said: “I know it’s not easy, but I’m up for the challenge, because I love the man I will marry and will support him in his mission to improve his goal for the betterment of this country.”

Yu also serves as the head of PDP-Laban Cares, the humanitarian arm of PDP-Laban.

Pimentel’s marriage with his former wife Jewel May Lobaton was annulled in January this year. Lobaton and Pimentel got married in 2000. They have two children, Aquilino Martin and Aquilino Justo, who will serve as the ring and Bible bearers in their father’s wedding with their “Mama Kath.” – Rappler.com