The other side of the so-called “chopper wedding”

The local media has referred to it as the “Chopper Wedding” with reports saying that a number of government helicopters were illegally used to ferry guests during Press Secretary Jesus Dureza’s daughter’s wedding in a mountain resort in Davao.

It was indeed a grand wedding, there’s no denying that. But insinuations that government resources were used for such a private occasion doesn’t just sound absurd, it’s plain unfair to the very couple who painstakingly put every effort to make their big day special.

In a way, Jeliza Farah "Ning" Dureza and Rodford "Popit" Uy were just like any other soon-to-weds who wanted to make their wedding a memorable event not just for them, but for their family and friends as well. By simply looking at their engagement pictorial, it is immediately apparent that the couple is full of creativity in being able to pull off unique concepts and ideas for their wedding. As far as we know, an underwater prenup pictorial such as theirs (see left photo) hasn’t been done before in local wedding photography. And the peacock blue bridal gown and the cozy ceremony on the mountaintop is definitely not part of run-of-the-mill weddings.

We invited Jojie Alcantara-Ng, a friend of the couple, to share with us the newlyweds’ back story and retell us what happened that chilly October day.

Young lover’s rendezvous

Ning Dureza and Popit Uy have been friends since the age of 13. Their moms, Elizabeth Dureza and the late Marilou Uy, were the best of friends. Since 1992, their summer trysts at the Dureza’s Seagull Beach Resort in Davao City and Seagull Mountain Resort in Buda (Davao-Bukidnon Road) were discouraged by their parents who felt they were too young to get in a serious relationship. So both went their separate ways, finished high school, then went off to college.

Meanwhile, communication continued through phone calls and internet chats. Each had serious relationships which didn’t fare well. Soon, Ning had to work for her dad. Popit was then working at a telecommunications company in the US.

Having just ended a relationship, she discovered Popit had just ended his, too. Their chats became longer, and soon, Popit renewed their "friendship" last year by sending her a ticket to visit him. But in a magical twist, Jess asked his daughter to join him on a US trip. Ning was then reunited with her childhood sweetheart (or summer fling, as she jokes).

When Ning flew back to Manila, Popit decided to follow, and the next few months became heady for both. Popit consulted with his sister in Davao to have an engagement ring designed, and then carefully asked the unknowing Mr. Dureza to hand-carry this secret parcel to Ning.

After Popit popped the question, Ning excitedly told her dad first, then they cautiously called Mom Elizabeth to say the good news.

The couple originally wanted Boracay for their dream destination wedding. But both knew it had to be the place which brings back nostalgic memories of their forbidden, young lover’s rendezvous.

Chapel by the hilltop

On October 18, 2008, the grand wedding happened up in the cool Seagull Mountain Resort. The ceremony started at 11 in the morning, as soon as two presidential helicopters arrived with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Together with former President Fidel V. Ramos, she walked down the aisle as part of the principal sponsors of Ning and Popit. The Most Reverend Archbishop Fernando Capalla officiated the solemn ceremony inside the resort’s small chapel by a hilltop.

Reception followed in the two-storey reception hall on a cliff overlooking a breathtaking view of pine trees and mountains below. Even with the sudden rainshowers right after the ceremony, guests partook of a delicious buffet and enjoyed the chilly winds up in the mountains.

Contrary to news reports, helicopters didn’t ferry guests up the mountains. There were two government helicopters that escorted President Arroyo, while two other personalities flew in on their private choppers: one of Antonio Floirendo Sr. and another of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who was a principal sponsor.