BY ASHZEL HACHERO
A Makati court judge has yesterday
discouraged showbiz couple Patrick Garcia and Jennylyn Mercado
from getting married saying that latter’s pregnancy should not
be the ultimate reason for them to finally tie the knot.
The couple, apparently intent on getting
married, arrived at the 11th floor sala of Makati Regional Trial
Court (RTC) branch 62 Judge Selma Alarcio-Alaras late Thursday
afternoon. They were accompanied by the actress’ manager, Vicky
Aguila and several entertainment reporters from TV stations
GMA-7 and ABS-CBN.
Garcia was wearing a yellow polo shirt and
jeans while Mercado is wearing a black dress.
Kibitzers and employees of the Makati City
Hall crowded the lobby where the court is located craning their
necks to get a chance to see the couple.
Earlier reports said that the 21-year-old
Mercado is two months pregnant and this was reportedly confirmed
after undergoing a check-up at the St. Luke’s Medical Center and
that they were planning initially to have a civil wedding.
The 26-year-old Garcia co-starred with his
girlfriend in GMA-7 telenovela "Maging Akin Ka Lamang."
The telenovela is a TV remake of the
1987 Lino Brocka opus, "Maging Akin Ka Lamang."
The movie version was topbilled by Lorna
Tolentino, Christopher de Leon, Dina Bonnevie, and the late Jay
Ilagan. For its TV version, the Kapuso network tapped the
services of Isabel Oli and Carlo Aquino.
The couple proceeded to the courtroom where
they talked with Alaras.
In an interview, Alaras said she counseled
the young couple to reconsider their plans saying that pregnancy
should not be the only reason for them to tie the knot.
She added that the couple should also
complete the necessary documents and procedure needed before
they are formally married by the court.
Alaras also said that application for civil
marriage will also have to be raffled off to other courts and
whoever got the ball will be the one to officiate the marriage.
The actress is the leading lady of Sen. Ramon
"Bong" Revilla, Jr. in the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival entry
of the Revilla’s Imus Productions and Ignite Media titled "Resiklo."
An album that she recorded under GMA Records is also
scheduled to be released next month in time for her solo show to
be held at Zirkoh.
