NEWLYWED couple Quezon City first district Congressman Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde and Maine Mendoza-Atayde will be heading to Europe on an official trip on August 5, as the former is Vice Chairperson of the Special Committee in the Congress on Creative Industry and Performing Arts.
They will be attending the 76th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland after Atayde’s action-packed thriller “Topakk” of Director Richard Somes was recognized anew by another international film institution last week.
“Me, Maine and the rest of my family are so thankful to hear this announcement just a few days before our wedding day,” the 32-year-old actor-politician said, noting that he’s happy to bring home another pride for the Philippines’ film industry.
“I am so thrilled and excited together with my wife Maine to be recognized by Locarno Film Festival.”
The last time film “Topakk” was recognized by an international film industry was last May in Cannes, France.
Despite the fact that he will be on official trip from August 5 to 27, Atayde will be working remotely while even he is away since his work in the congress and in his district, among other venues, are endless.
“There’s so many things to be done in the congress and to my district. We cannot stop helping people more so in our district l,” Atayde said, adding that his family is already known for helping others for the long time.
He is also tasked by the Congress to visit also the Filipino communities around the area while in Europe after his wedding in Baguio City last Friday.
“Even before my special day or even the day I became a congressman of my district, we are already donating and helping a lot of typhoon or fire victims or anybody who need our help. Our team in my district is always monitoring any calamity and any other assistance needed by the people. he added.
“We never stop helping anyone even before.”
Arjo and Maine, meanwhile, have expressed their gratitude to all guests especially on their principal sponsors not just only for inspiring them how to become a good role model to the people but also for weathering the storm just to attend the wedding.
Their ninongs and ninangs (godfathers and godmothers) mostly from the showbiz and political sides had defied Typhoon Egay’s wrath over the weekend to show their all-out support to Arjo and Maine by being present with them during their special day.
“Thank you for being with us despite the rainy weather in Baguio City and thank you for inspiring us,” Atayde said which the inclusion of “Topakk” was announced also by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) last Thursday.
“We are really inspired to see their presence despite the continuous rains and the huge risk of being in Baguio during that moment. They still found a way to join us in our special day — and that’s the kind of persistence we want to show on helping our people in return,” he added.
The ninongs, as expected who attended the wedding, were led by former senator Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon, who are Maine’s noontime show colleagues, along with Antonio Tuviera.
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, House Speaker Cong. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, businessman Miguel Atayde, ABS CBN CEO Carlo Katigbak and film producer Roldeo Endrinal were present in the wedding day.
The ninangs were led by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, veteran actresses Maricel Soriano and Nova Villa, Jeny Ferre, Rhea Anicoche-Tan, Madeleine Tuviera, Celeste Tuviera, Jinky Jane Lacarta, ABS CBN executive Cory Vidanes and Rosabella Fernandez.
According also to the wedding invitation sent to all guests, ninongs and ninangs, in lieu of wedding gifts they were encouraged to just give donations to the victims of all kinds of calamities and any other type of assistance to the people more so in District 1 of Quezon City.
After the church wedding in Alphaland chapel, all the guests and relatives of the newlywed went to the Baguio Country Club for the reception.
