From Down Under…

By Ingrid Chaves Agudo

WHAT is admirable about this couple is that being nurses and finding jobs in Australia, they still flew back home to get married and share their milestone with family and friends. Some couples would have just gotten married wherever they were and get on with their lives. But for Samuel Isaiah Cayetuna and Sybil Sarte-Cayetuna, home is where the heart is. Marunong sila lumingon sa pinanggalingan.

Their altar date was set last March 7, 2015 at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Fil-Chinese Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Lando Gabutera, SSJV as the officiating priest. Best Man Anthony Jacob Karagdag did a good job in assisting Sam while Sybil’s sisters, Ma. Raquel Honeylet Sarte and Ma. Rikka Cathrine Sarte-Santillan were the Maid of Honor and Matron of Honor, respectively.

A consistent honor student, scholar and cum laude graduate, Sybil, 26, bagged several titles to beauty contests including the runner-up title to the 2008 Ms. Kagaya-an Beauty Pageant before becoming a nurse. She and Sam were colleagues in Capitol University Medical Center in 2010 and in 2013, their nursing careers brought them to Australia where Sybil works at St. Vincent’s Hospital as an intensive care nurse for cardiothoracic and heart and lung transplant patients. Sam, 29, on the other hand, works in South Eastern Sydney Health District Hospital as an emergency department nurse.

Sam’s proposal was very romantic, I was told. He hired a violinist and guitarist to serenade Sybil while they were at the Opera House in Sydney. With the Syndey Harbor Bridge in the background, Sam got to his knees and proposed and this took Sybil by surprise. Sam intimated to me that he had to pop the question to Sybil three times before she gave her sweet answer.

From this alone, I gathered that Sam and Sybil must be sticklers for details. They made sure they had a wedding event coordinator, Accent Cagayan, and another coordinator, Ms. Hope Dangcal-Marquez. Photography was done by Mr. Raychard Kho and Videography was by Allan Alejandrino of MVP Digital Video. Cocktails by Dicky Go were served before the guests were ushered in the reception hall at Marco Hotel. The rustic themed 4-tier wedding cake was artistically done by Cdo’s best pastry chef, Awi Chaves. The delectable desserts were provided by Swirlz Desserts.

The dreamy wedding gown of Sybil and Sam’s suit were made by Jie Jie Aisa who also did the hair and make-up of Sybil. Music was by my favorite DJ Cocoy Banaag and his son, DJ RB. Kim Trinidad of Iligan City also gave a couple of acoustic renditions of songs that the couple personally picked for their special day.

While it was my sixth time to be a wedding sponsor, Mags Cue, whispered to me that it was her 12th time. The other wedding sponsors were Atty. Casimiro and Dr. Fe Juarez, Mr. Jose Ray and Mrs. Rosalinda Deleste, Engr. Rolando and Dr. Fidela Ansale, Mr. Adrian Lim, Mr. Henry and Beverly Chiu, Rev. Prudencio and Mrs. Virginia Plaza, Mr. Jose Donald and Carmencita Agudo, Mr. Norman Francis Makapugay and Dr. Victoria Quintos-Patrimonio, Mr. Victor Manuel and Dr. Mary Roselle Garcia, Mr. Noel Menez and Mrs. Maria Agnes Alba. Senator Chiz Escudero and wife, Love Marie Ongpauco-Escudero could not make it to the wedding and so with Mr. Robert Ace and Mrs. Bernadette Barbers as they were out of the country.

Honeymoon for the newlyweds is on hold because they want to spend time with their families and siblings from the US first. They are considering on going to Europe for their honeymoon in the near future. Sam and Sybil will set up residence in Sydney, Australia as they pursue their nursing careers but “CDO will always be home,” Sam said.

Congratulations and best wishes, Sam and Sybil!