The Reyes Family: Portia, Celso & Donna
Mr. and Mrs. Celso Reyes (nee Ma. Portia Datahan)
A wedding story is not written in grand gestures alone, but in the countless small moments that fill a lifetime—softly spoken promises, shared laughter after long days, and a love that holds steady through both calm and storm.
For Celso and Portia, that story began on August 5, 1995, when they stood before the altar of St. Joseph’s Cathedral and vowed to walk through life together. The celebration that followed at JJ’s Seafood Village was filled with joy and hope, marking the beginning of a journey that has now stretched across three decades.
Sharing a moment with the Offertory Bearers
Sharing the special day with their Secondary Sponsors
In those thirty years, their love has deepened, strengthened by trials and illuminated by the joy of raising a family.
Fr. Crisolito Geangan with Portia & Celso
On Wednesday, August 6, 2025, Celso and Portia again took each other’s hands and returned to the altar, not as a young bride and a dashing groom, but as partners who have lived out their vows day by day.
In the quiet beauty of Elijah Chapel, with Rev. Fr. Crisolito Geangan officiating, they stood before God, their vows witnessed by the warmth and prayers of family and friends.
The ceremony did not only renew the promises they once made, but also affirmed a love nurtured within a community of support, faith, and kinship.
The celebration continued at the Shang Palace Seafood Restaurant, where the evening unfolded in joy and fellowship under the gracious guidance of GLORIA LEODEVICA INES ARANETA of SMILE, PHILIPPINES as the event host.
A prayer of blessing opened the feast, followed by the dinner that was more than a meal—it was a gathering of memories, stories, and laughter shared among loved ones.
The program brought together moments both heartfelt and lighthearted: musical performances from family members, touching messages from friends who have walked closely with the couple, and games that spark smiles and playful competition.
A special toast, led by Robin Culpa, raised glasses not only to celebrate thirty years already lived, but also to the years still waiting to be written.
One of the evening’s most poignant highlights, a slideshow entitled Flashback: 30 Years Ago, brought tears and laughter alike as it traced the story of where it all began.
Towards the end, the couple’s daughter, Donna Portia, shared words of gratitude, for her parents. She also took a moment to thank everyone who became part of the journey.
Every detail of the celebration, was aptly chosen with love and meaning. The all-white motif reflected purity and renewal, the elegant cake from Estrella’s stood as sweet testimony to the occasion, and the music of Sweet Duo filled the night with melodies that echoed the couple’s love story.
Through the artistry of Benchoi Ungab’s photography, every smile, embrace, and moment of joy would be preserved, allowing this celebration to live on beyond the night.
As Celso and Portia walked once more down the aisle, they reminded all who witnessed it that marriage is not built on a single day of promises, but on the daily act of keeping them.
Their 30th wedding anniversary is not just a commemoration of years gone by—it is a living proof of love that endures, strengthens, and continues to grow, offering a timeless reminder of what it means to truly journey through life together.
Celso and Portia with their Liturgical Readers
The happy couple with their Bearers
Photos by Benchoi Ungab