When the late Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella was elected mayor, he told his bachelor councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia that he hoped the very first wedding ceremony he would officiate as mayor would be the Garcia wedding. Not long after that conversation, Raymond took for his bride Julienne Kate Roska and true enough, the good mayor did the honors during a simple civil ceremony at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Museum.
Fast forward to the auspicious date of 02/22/2022 Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia and Julienne Kate Roska were principals at a church wedding at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral officiated by Msgr. Roberto Alesna. They led eight other couples they chose from the barangays (who wanted their union blessed by the church) in the mid-morning ceremony. Yes, Councilor Raymond himself sponsored the mass wedding and took care of the wedding expenses.
It was a big day for Raymond and Kate because it was the formal church blessing of their marriage. Kate was radiant as she was led down the aisle by her parents, Ramonito and Chona (Abella) Roska. She wore an elegantly simple gown designed by Raymond’s niece Bianca Garcia in collaboration with designer Mike Yapching. At the foot of the altar was a smiling Raymond flanked by his parents, former Cebu City Mayor Alvin and Ninette (Neri) Garcia.
Reception was a dinner affair at Salon de España of Casino Español de Cebu that evening, magically transformed into a garden of beautiful blooms, lush greens and blazing lights!