138 Talisay couples say “I do” in mass wedding

CEBU, Philippines - One hundred thirty-eight couples in Naga City got married yesterday morning during a mass wedding ceremony at the St. Francis de Assisi Parish Church.

Gov. Hilario Davide III, first district Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, and Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong stood as principal sponsors.

The wedding was officiated by Father Ricardo Cañete.

Chiong said the city paid for the fees for Certificates of No Marriage (CENOMAR), certificates of marriage, birth certificates, and marriage counseling. 

Chiong said the mass wedding serves as one of the highlights of the celebration of the city’s 6th charter anniversary, which falls on Sept. 5.

Former congressman Eduardo Gullas, on his third and last term in Congress, authored the bill for Naga’s cityhood, whose charter was ratified in plebiscites in 2007.

Gullas described the approved cityhood bill as not an ordinary law because apart from undergoing the tedious legislative process in Congress, it was also ratified by the people through plebiscites.

He also authored the Talisay cityhood bill.

Talisay, from a first class municipality, became a component city in 2001.  (FREEMAN)