119 couples in mass wedding

CEBU, Philippines - A mass wedding yesterday at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, sponsored by the Cebu City government, saw the union of 119 couples from various city barangays.

Councilor Leah Ouano-Japson, head of the Committee on Women and Family Affairs of the Cebu City Council, said that the city set aside P600,000 in order to “help unmarried couples legalize their companionship.”

Each couple was provided with food and one roast pig or “lechon”. The city also shouldered the other expenses like the fees for the Cenomar, or Certificate of No Marriage, from the National Statistics Office.

The city expected 150 couples to avail of the mass wedding. However, only 119 of the 198 couples who earlier submitted their applications were accepted because the rest failed to secure the other requirements such as the permit from their respective parishes to allow them to be married outside of their parish’ jurisdiction.

 “Wala man gyod kuno sila’y ikabayad mao nga sa sunod tuig, ato nang paninguhaon nga iapil nato ni sa buhatan og budget aron wala na gyoy gasto ang mga moapil sa mass wedding,” Japson said.

Alberto Cabucayan, 49, and his 44-year-old live-in partner for 27 years, Editha, were among those who wedded yesterday. They already have four grandchildren.

 “Wala gyod tawon mi makapakasal sa una kay perming apiki sa budget,” Cabucayan said.

The reception took place at the Maritime Education Training Center (University of Cebu) campus in Mambaling. Each couple was allowed to take with them 25 guests.

Japson said that the family, being the basic unit of society, is “after all, the key factor in the micro-approach to national development,” thus, deserves the government’s all-out support.

City officials headed by Acting Mayor Michael Rama and Cebu City North District Rep. Raul del Mar with Margot Osmeña attended the mass wedding carried out in line with the observance of the Family Week from September 22 to 28. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)