The Manhilot couple—better known in showbiz as Cesar "Buboy" Montano and Sunshine Cruz—agreed early this year to renew their marriage vows in Thailand. The invitation to visit the country, among those recently devastated by killer tsunamis, came from Thai Airways International. There was just one catch: the wedding rite was to be performed underwater!
"Actually, kay Buboy 'dinaan 'yong invitation," Sunshine tells YES! "Dapat pala, surprise niya sa akin 'yon for Valentines. E, nakita ko sa cellphone niya. Sabi ko, ano 'to? 'Yon nga daw, magre-renew daw kami ng vows underwater. Sabi ko, 'Wow, ang sweet naman, saka how exciting!'"
The world-renowned Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony was solemnized for Cesar and Sunshine on February 16 at the Pak Meng in the province of Trang, a two-hour boat ride from Phukett. Unlike Phukett, Trang suffered minimal damage in the December 2004 tsunami. The Trang Underwater Wedding, actually a three-day mass-wedding event held annually from February 15 to 17, dates back to 1996. Last February, 45 couples—Cesar and Sunshine among them—literally took the plunge.