169 couples join Valentine mass wedding in Pangasinan park

ALAMINOS CITY , Philippines — About 169 couples who have been living together without the benefit of marriage joined a mass wedding in the Hundred Islands National Park here yesterday.

The brides wore long, white dresses and floral headdresses while the grooms were in red knee-length pants and cream polo shirts with leis around their necks.

The Valentine’s Day mass wedding was sponsored by the Pag-IBIG Home Mutual Development Fund and the city government, led by Mayor Arthur Celeste. 

Aside from providing the couples’ outfits and wedding rings, the city government and the Pag-IBIG Fund paid for the reception.

This is the third year in a row that such an activity, dubbed “I do… I do… Araw ng Pag-IBIG” was held on Quezon Island under Celeste’s administration.

About a hundred motorized bancas were used to ferry the couples and their visitors from Lucap Wharf to Quezon Island, where the ceremonies were held, and then back to the mainland.

Celeste said the activity was one of the many ways to promote the Hundred Islands as a major tourist spot. 

The oldest groom was Fernando Malazan, 64, while the oldest bride was Myrna Nabua, 58, of Barangay Pandan this city.

John Francis Aysara, 19, of Paracale, Camarines Norte and Remalyn Sonio, 18, were the youngest couple.

Michael Benson Beniola, 21, couldn’t be happier as he was celebrating his birthday when he married Maricel Baga, 26.