MANILA - The wedding of Liberal Party vice-presidential bet Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez will proceed as scheduled on October 27 at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City.

The reception at the Araneta Coliseum, however, has been cancelled, the bride-to-be announced Tuesday.

“Instead of spending for the reception at Araneta Coliseum as planned, Mar and I agreed to donate the amount set aside for it to various charity organizations taking care of evacuees and victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng,” Sanchez said in a press statement.

These charity groups are Caritas Manila, the Philippine National Red Cross, Sagip Kapamilya of ABS-CBN and Kapuso Foundation of GMA-7, among others.

After the Sto. Domingo rites, she said a private and simple wedding reception will take place at her soon-to-be-husband’s home.

"Para lang sa pamilya kasi mayroon pa akong pamilya na uuwi. And for the entourage siguro, merienda na lang sa bahay. Kaysa naman sa hotel pa, mas matipid kung sa bahay na lang," she told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

Wedding invitations have already been sent out, according to Sanchez. (Read Sanchez and Roxas' engagement announcement on "Wowowee")

“We are hoping that our guests will understand why we are doing this. It really does not feel right to be celebrating - no matter how important this date is for Mar and I - at a time of calamity and difficulty for a large number of our kababayans.” she said.

In the same statement, Roxas said: “Matagal nga naming pinlano ni Korina at pinaghandaan ang espesyal na araw na ito. Gusto sana namin na marami ang kasalo sa saya. Pero parang hindi tama na malaki ang gagastusin sa selebrasyon sa panahon ng kalamidad. Napakarami nating kababayan ang naghihirap ngayon – lubog sa tubig baha. Pakikiramay at pagtulong na rin namin ito sa kanila.”

Sanchez, meantime, played down a wedding superstition that warns engaged couples against making too many changes in their wedding plans. The superstition considers it a bad omen.

The “Rated K” host maintained that it is more inappropriate if she and her fiancé push through with the reception at the Araneta Coliseum in the midst of massive devastation wrought by the two tropical storms.

The much talked about wedding of Sanchez and Roxas is the stuff of celebrity talk shows and entertainment columnists.(Watch Sanchez and Roxas' love story)

Political and show business personalities as well as representatives from various groups that are close to the couple have been invited to attend the wedding. With a report from Reyma Buan-Deveza, abs-cbnNEWS.com