With love in San Vicente

By October 2024, I thought for sure all my trips for the year were done. I had just arrived from France and it was time for me to take “a vacation from having a vacation.” To my surprise, I received an invitation to a wedding just two months away. 

They had been together for 10 years. Anthony Falcon was a local actor who transitioned into a stage manager at a cruise ship. Niccolo Cosme is one of the country’s foremost creatives and portrait photographers. He founded Project Headshot Clinic, best known for their advocacies and campaigns on HIV and AIDS awareness, among others. On 15 May 2024, while on vacation and exactly on Niccolo’s birthday, Anthony proposed at the rooftop dining of Terrazza Les Étoiles in Rome overlooking the Vatican City. 

Setting the date was tricky; Anthony’s work requires him to be out of the country for months. He initially wanted the wedding to still be in 2026, but realizing that they would both be in the Philippines in December 2024, Niccolo pushed for the wedding in the same year. They finalized details in September and started to invite by October. 

“I have been obsessing about pre-colonial history, but we made it katutubo bohemian so it would be easier for people to enjoy,” Niccolo shared.

Initially, the setting was a farm. Eventually, they decided on a beach wedding when Palawan was presented as an option. Since 2003, Niccolo has been going to Club Agutaya in San Vicente, having fallen in love with the energy and beauty of its beach. Aptly named Agutaya, the resort’s name is a tribute to the Agutaynon, the first indigenous people of Barangay Sto. Niño who migrated from the Agutaya Islands east of Palawan. 

Although Niccolo had long been inviting me to join one of his trips, I never had the chance because of scheduling conflicts. I’ve always wanted to see the sea turtle hatching, for which the area is known. Sadly, December was off-season and I would need to schedule another trip to experience that.

Homey vibe

After arriving at Puerto Princesa International Airport, friends and I took a three-hour van ride to the municipality. I was excited to see the pristine blue waters and walk on the white sands of the country’s longest beach coastline. At Club Agutaya, a refreshing cold lemongrass juice at the spacious lobby was just what I needed. The resort’s vibe was homey — I looked forward to a quiet retreat. In my room, I stood by the window to marvel at the amazing view of the horizon. I checked out the bar and was amazed to see one-of-a-kind liquor and spirits that made me want to have a cold cocktail by the pool. Cafe Lily at the resort was a grand kubo filled with beautifully woven accents and furniture.

The resort’s Director of Operations Dixie Marinas told me later, “Our resort design embraces a strong Filipino aesthetic, featuring cogon roofing, bamboo elements and intricate solihiya details.”

Beach wedding

For the wedding, benches were placed on the beach to form a circular seating. Dressed like rajas by designer Nat Manilag, the couple walked on the shore to a wooden arc constructed for the ceremony. The rites paid respects to Filipino heritage and ancestry, inviting a babaylan to harness the power of the Earth’s four elements to bless the couple. It was a celebration of their combined community, paying tribute to their parents and family, as well as loved ones who have passed on.

Dinner was a sumptuous spread of Filipino dishes. Maria Evangelista, CEO and Chef Patron of the resort, served cherished family heirlooms that have been passed down through generations. Everyone indulged in a soulful menu cooked with passion.

The mood became slightly emotional when family members started to share their heartfelt messages. It became more serious when Anthony expressed his emotions through a touching message and song, forever proclaiming his love for Niccolo. Everything changed in an instant when Niccolo’s dad Cesar Cosme held the mic. A born comedian and known TV director and writer, he humorously articulated funny memories about the couple and his family that had everyone laughing so hard. 

Fun, friendships, love

The day after the wedding, the couple had arranged for guests to do island-hopping. I initially imagined a usual bangka ride, but was quite surprised with our service. Seaseñor was a rather stylish experience that elevated our tour. Our boat had spacious seating with a sunken bar at the center for handcrafted cocktails, a large hammock on both sides for sunbathing and a grill area at the back for our meal.

We docked at one of the islands and stayed for a while to take a dip. While we were swimming, the staff were already busy creating place settings for lunch and firing up the grill. We had a nice selection of grilled fishes, pork and chicken that were all done quite nicely. It was such a rejuvenating experience that we all wanted to prolong our stay. 

Experiencing that destination celebration not only left memories of fun and friendships, but also rejuvenated my spirit with new optimism for love.