Isabela woman gets ‘married’ to dead fiancé

CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela, Philippines  – Not even death can make them part.

With this vow, Geraldine Tinioso of Barangay Sillawit here decided to push through with her wedding to fiancé Romnick Bucad, who died two days before their altar date.

The two were symbolically binded as one yesterday, minus the “I do’s” traditionally exchanged by newlyweds.

“I explained to them that what I will officiate is not truly a sacrament of matrimony but sharing of comforting words,” said Pastor Vicente Baligod Jr. of the Christ the Deliverer Born Again group.

Baligod said there is no way the “marriage” of Bucad, 24 and Tinioso, 30, could be celebrated legitimately not only because the groom could neither utter words of acceptance nor sign their matrimonial contract but more so because his death in the civil registry comes first before his supposed union with his fiancée of one year.

Tinioso said she was applying for a job abroad but was prevailed by Bucad to forgo her plans and just be his full-time wife and mother to their kids.

Bucad, meanwhile, was scheduled to go abroad for a job in South Korea.

Unfortunately, he figured in a vehicular accident when his motorcycle rammed into a 10-wheeler truck in Mallig town last Thursday.

A cousin of Tinioso, who was supposed to be one of the principal sponsors, was also killed in the accident.

Tinioso said her cousin lies in state in their hometown of Mallig which explains why most of her relatives were not around during her “wedding.”

The ceremony was held in Bucad’s house, before his coffin, witnessed by relatives and friends of the couple.

Tinioso wore her wedding dress minus the veil.

Tinioso said after their “wedding,” she will stay for good with the Bucads in their family house in Barangay Sillawit.

“I vowed to look after Romnick’s widowed mother since she is always alone in the house,” she said.

She also admitted having had intimate contact with Bucad two weeks before his death, and she wishes to have a child with him.

“That would be the greatest gift to me by my love,” she said. – With Charlie Lagasca