Together with their families

Margarette and Jomell

Taal, Batangas

Our forever starts in

Together with their families

Parents of the bride

Mr. Aurelio N. Merilo

Mrs. Erlinda B. Merilo

Parents of the groom

Mr. Jowell A. Dela Peña

Mrs. Melinda G. Dela Peña

request the honour of your presence at the celebration of their marriage

Margarette B. MeriloandJomell Hope G. Dela Peña

Sunday, February 14, 2027

3:00 PM

San Martín de Tours Basilica

Taal, Batangas 4208

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Our Song

Artist Name

How we got here

Our story

2018

A wrong turn in Taal

He was looking for the basilica and asked the one person on Calle Real who was also lost. She walked him there anyway, and then all the way back.

2020

Eighteen months of windows

Two cities, one lockdown, and a video call every night at nine. We learned each other's ceilings before we learned each other's kitchens.

2023

The house on Calle Bonifacio

We bought a ruin with capiz windows and spent a year putting the shell back pane by pane. Somewhere around the ninetieth pane it stopped being a project and started being a home.

— Margarette

2026

Late afternoon, west window

He asked at the hour the light comes through the capiz and turns the whole room gold. She said yes before he finished the sentence.

Standing with us

The entourage

Principal Sponsors

Ninong & Ninang

  • Hon. Ricardo Almeda

    Mrs. Lourdes Almeda

  • Mr. Fernando Buenaventura

    Mrs. Pilar Buenaventura

  • Dr. Ignacio del Rosario

    Dr. Carmen del Rosario

  • Mr. Salvador Escaler

    Mrs. Milagros Escaler

  • Atty. Benigno Lazaro

    Mrs. Amparo Lazaro

  • Mr. Rodolfo Mabini

    Mrs. Josefina Mabini

  • Mr. Emilio Paterno

    Mrs. Soledad Paterno

  • Mr. Gregorio Zamora

    Mrs. Natividad Zamora

Secondary Sponsors

The rites

Veil

Miguel Villanueva

Ana Sofia Cruz

Cord

Joaquin Reyes

Bianca Alcantara

Candle

Rafael Ortega

Camille Navarro

Coins

Diego Santillan

Paulina Herrera

Maid of Honour
Clara Villanueva
Best Man
Andres Cruz
Bridesmaids
Margarita SolisTeresa AguilarBeatriz LimElena Bautista
Groomsmen
Nicolas PardoVicente AquinoTomas RegaladoEnrique Cabral
Ring bearer

Lucas Cruz

Coin bearer

Santino Villanueva

Bible bearer

Rafaela Cruz

Flower girls

Olivia Villanueva

Emma Reyes

Hour by hour

The day

  1. Guests arrive

    San Martín de Tours Basilica

    Be seated by 2:45.

  2. Ceremony

    San Martín de Tours Basilica

  3. Photographs

    Basilica courtyard

    Family called by name.

  4. Reception

    Casa Capiz

    Cocktails in the courtyard.

  5. Dinner & toasts

    Casa Capiz

  6. First dance

    Casa Capiz

  7. Last song

    Casa Capiz

Add to calendar

Downloads a file your phone’s calendar will open.

Getting there

Venue & travel

The ceremony

San Martín de Tours Basilica

Calle Real del Presidente
Taal, Batangas 4208
Philippines

3:00 PM

Doors close when the processional begins. Please be seated by 2:45.

Directions (opens in a new tab)

The reception

Casa Capiz

18 Calle Bonifacio
Taal, Batangas 4208
Philippines

5:30 PM

A four minute walk from the basilica, or a two minute drive.

Directions (opens in a new tab)

The ceremony · San Martín de Tours Basilica

Parking

Free parking is available in the plaza directly opposite the basilica, and along Calle Real. Casa Capiz has no car park — leave the car at the plaza and walk down, it is four minutes.

Where to stay

We have held a block of rooms for the two nights around the wedding. Mention the block name when you book.

VILLANUEVA-CRUZ

Book by 15 January 2027

What to wear

Filipiniana formal

For the men: barong tagalog over dark trousers. For the women: a long dress, or a modern terno if you have one. If you own neither, a dark suit and a long dress are entirely correct — nobody will be counting.

Palette

  • Beige#EFE8DC
  • Oat#E4DACA
  • Champagne#DFC79E
  • Tan#B9A183
  • Cocoa#3B2B23

The basilica is stone and stays cool. The courtyard does not — the sun is still up at five.

Kindly leave white, ivory and pearl to the bride.

Répondez s'il vous plaît

Kindly RSVP

Kindly reply by 15 January 2027.

One form per guest, please — it is how the seating chart gets built. If you are replying for a household, add each name.

Five answers, and the rest is genuinely optional.

Will you be there?

Up to 400 characters. We read all of them.

In case you are wondering

Questions

  • May I bring a plus one?

    Your invitation names everyone we have saved a seat for. If it says two names, that is two seats. If you are unsure, reply and ask — we would much rather you did.

  • Are children invited?

    Yes, and there is a child's plate on the RSVP form. The ceremony is long and stone-floored, so there is a shaded corner of the courtyard set aside for anyone who needs to step out.

  • Where do I park?

    In the plaza opposite the basilica, or along Calle Real. Both are free. Casa Capiz has no car park, so leave the car at the plaza — the walk down is four minutes.

  • What time should I actually arrive?

    Half past two. The doors close when the processional begins at three, and there is no graceful way back in.

  • Is the ceremony unplugged?

    Yes. Phones away for the ceremony itself — we have a photographer, and we would rather see your faces than your screens. Photograph everything you like from the reception onwards.

  • What happens if it rains?

    February is dry season, but the reception courtyard has a covered gallery on three sides and we can seat everyone under it. Nothing moves and nothing is cancelled.

  • Is there a dress code for children?

    No. Comfortable and cool. The stone floor is a good surface for sitting on, and they will.

Your presence is the gift

Getting you to Taal is genuinely the whole ask, and for many of you that is a long way to come. If you would still like to give something, these are the two honest options — and either is entirely optional.

  • Cash gift

    The house fund

    There are eleven windows left to re-shell. This goes straight into them.

  • Registry list

    Registry

    A short list, mostly for the kitchen.