Heart, Cesca speak on Balesin issue

Sen. Chiz Escudero proposes to Heart Evangelista (Screengrab from GMA News footage)

MANILA — TV host Cesca Litton expressed her disappointment over the controversial Balesin wedding mix-up involving newly-engaged Heart Evangelista and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

According to Litton, she and fiancé Tyke Kalaw have been preparing for their nuptials for months until she received a call over the weekend from Balesin Island Club saying that the date that she prefers has been reserved for another couple. Litton’s statement was read by guest host Toni Gonzaga on Tuesday on “Aquino & Abunda Tonight.”

The online speculation started from a social media post by makeup artist Ria Gamboa. She expressed her sympathy for a friend who is currently preparing for a wedding because apparently the venue decided to “bump” off her reservations due to another couple’s nuptials. Netizens immediately concluded that Gamboa was referring to Evangelista and Escudero.

Litton got engaged to Kalaw in April. She said that they have been making frequent trips to Balesin since May for their wedding preparations. At that time, the management of the resort assured her that February 14, 2015 is still available for them. As a matter of fact, they visited the resort in August together with her wedding coordinator and stylist and even arranged the food and table layout with the Balesin management.

“We sat down with managers to discuss the logistics and rooming, and, again, clarified thatFebruary 14 is available,” she said.

Unfortunately, over the weekend, Litton was informed that her wedding will no longer be at Balesin because there will be another wedding on her preferred date.

“It came as a surprise when I received a phone call from my coordinator just last Saturday that Chiz and Heart had been approved for February 14 after they had spoken to the owner, Mr. Ongpin, to reserve the date,” she said, referring to businessman Roberto Ongpin, chairman of Balesin developer Alphaland.

Litton said that the months that she spent on planning had been put to waste, including the number of trips she made to Balesin to prepare for her wedding.

“Had we known that all it took was a call to the owner, then perhaps none of those formalities should have been followed,” she said. “In all our trips to Balesin and discussion with management asking to receive February 14, we were always told it was available. We would not have invested time and money, including flying out our coordinator and stylist, had they informed us that the venue was booked from the beginning,” Litton added.

According to Ongpin, in his statement published on Balesin’s official website, that he checked with the reservations whether the venue will be available. At that time, nobody had confirmed on that date

“So, nobody has been ‘bumped off,'” he said.

In separate interviews, both Escudero and Evangelista said that they have nothing to do with the Balesin issue.

“We’re not like that,” said Heart. “This is the best day of our lives. I’m a bride-to-be, she’s a bride-to-be. Who would do that to any bride-to-be? There’s no truth to it and I hope ma-iron out nila.”