Talisay to sponsor free mass wedding

CEBU, Philippines - Unmarried indigent couples can now have their relationships legitimized since the Talisay City government is again offering to sponsor a free mass wedding on May 28.

Outgoing Councilor Shirley Belleza, former chairman on council committee on Women, Children and Family, said before she exits as legislator she would like to fulfill her promise to the poor couples who can't afford a church wedding.

The ceremony will be held at the Sto. Niño Parish in barangay Mohon. This is the seventh year of Belleza's free mass wedding for the poor.

One of the main goals of the project is to give couples living together the chance to get married, she said.

Last month, the city council approved Belleza's resolution requesting the Office of the Civil Registrar to grant free licenses, permits and certificates of no marriage or Cenomar to indigent couples who are availing of the May 28 free marriage.

In Talisay, a Cenomar costs P400 per couple while the marriage license is P175.

But with this project, Belleza said the only thing that the couples will do is to attend the church's ceremony and to be there at the reception, where all expenses for food and wine will be shouldered by the city.

Belleza said the project is also aimed at straightening out the records of school children whose parents are not legally married.