Alyssa Valdez and the Creamline Cool Smashers' surprise for Michele Gumabao before her wedding definitely brought tears to her eyes.
Michele Gumabao was in for an emotional surprise just before her wedding, thanks to her Creamline Cool Smashers teammates, who pulled off a heartwarming and hilarious tribute during practice.
Alyssa Valdez revealed that the idea stemmed from Gumabao’s own bachelorette party, which she humorously themed as a "funeral for her single life."
Realizing that Gumabao had essentially thrown a bachelorette for them, the team decided to return the favor.
“We wore t-shirts with ‘Gumabao Aldo’ at the back. It was supposed to be ‘Gumabao Panlilio,’ but si Pangs [Panaga], nag-comment siya, tinanong niya nung bachelorette ‘ano na ilalagay mo sa jersey mo? Gumabao-Aldo ba?” So tumawa kaming lahat, and seryoso siya,” Valdez shared after the Cool Smashers’ 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino qualifying round victory against the Nxled Chameleons.
The playful twist made the surprise even more meaningful, bringing Gumabao to tears.
“She deserves the best. That was her last time being single. Naiyak siya dahil first time na-surprise siya,” Valdez added.
For Gumabao, the gesture was overwhelming, especially with all the planning and support from her team despite their busy schedules.
“Honestly, 'di ko talaga ine-expect ‘yung day na ‘yun na sinurprise nila ko kaya feeling ko sobrang naiyak ako kasi nakaka-overwhelm lahat ng planning, 'yung schedule, talagang minsan alam nila 'yun na pagod na pagod na talaga ko,” said Gumabao.
“Talagang sobrang nakaka-overwhelm and nakakatawa kasi 'yung sinulat nila sa likod,” she added.
Gumabao and her now-husband Aldo Panlilio had their first of two wedding ceremonies on Tuesday, February 26 at the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Makati.
[ALSO READ: Michele Gumabao excited for new chapter as Mrs. Panlilio: 'Starting line of something new']
As for her unconventional bachelorette theme, Gumabao admitted she had always wanted to do something different.
“Gusto ko siyang gayahin kasi sobrang funny niya and I think hindi siya ginagawa talaga dito sa Philippines. Probably because alam mo 'yun, shy yung mga tao. Takot sila ma-bash Pero ako, alam mo naman, hindi ko pinapansin 'yung mga ganon,” she explained.
“Sabi ko, I really wanted to do it. It looked like a really fun theme. It's just design and everything. So sabi ko, that whole theme, it was my idea talaga.”