84 couples say 'I do' in mass wedding

CEBU, Philippines – At least 84 indigent couples from different barangays in Cebu City yesterday exchanged vows during the City Hall's sponsored 5th Mass Wedding held at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Church.

Right after the ceremony, couples and guests proceeded to the Plaza Sugbo where a sumptuous reception was prepared. Each couple was given a lechon as a gift from the city government.

The annual mass wedding is one of the city's social development projects that aim to give unwed indigent couples the opportunity to have their union in church and give them a memorable wedding ceremony without spending too much.

Maricar Tariman, administrative officer of the Cebu City Committee on Women and Family Affairs (CWFA) said the couples only spent for their wedding gowns and fees for the requirements while the rest was shouldered by the city government.

The city specifically spent for the marriage fee, church fee, church decorations, bouquets, balloons, pre-marriage counseling, food during the reception, Cenomar (Certificate of No Marriage) fees and the honorarium for the working group.

Originally, the CWFA appropriated P645,000 for the project to accommodate 150 couples who would wish to marry at almost no cost.

But only 84 couples were able to comply with all the requirements until the deadline. Last year, 119 couples participated and in 2008, 50 couples were able to avail of the program.

The city has been organizing the mass wedding for the last five years to benefit indigent couples who have been living together unwed for at least five years. It was initiated to strengthen the drive for women empowerment and to help women legalize their marriage in church. The city also believes that it is one way to eliminate live-in relationships.

This year, the city also gave special awards to Mr. and Mrs. Eriberto Velasco from Barangay Adlaon as the oldest couple. The bride is over 40 years old while the groom is 71 years old.

Both had been in widowhood for years before they met and fell in love with each other. They were living together for more than five years before they decided to get married through the opportunity given to them by the city.

Special awards were also given to the couple who first submitted their requirements, the most romantic couple and the couple with the longest kiss.

During the ceremony, Monsignor Roberto Alesna told newlyweds to stay fearful to God to keep their relationship intact for life.

He also reminded them to live by their vows that they will take each other as husband and wife "to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part."

Alesna also thanked the city government for having such kind of project which recognizes the importance of wedding for Christians. (FREEMAN)