Carcar mass wedding makes kids legitimate

CEBU, Philippines - Some 51 couples tied the knot during a mass wedding organized by the Carcar City government in line with the culmination of Civil Registration Month every February.

The mass wedding was the third of its kind in Carcar City and held pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 682 issued by then president Corazon Aquino.

According to Mayor Nicepuro Apura, there were 21 couples who exchanged "I do's" in a civil wedding he officiated and another 30 pairs were pronounced husbands and wives in a church wedding solemnized by Father Bryan Brigoli Friday afternoon at the Saint Catherine de Alexandria Parish.

In his message, Apura said he was happy to see the union of couples finally legalized through the ceremony. He added the weddings would make the couples' children legitimate.

Apura's administration has been sponsoring a mass wedding for the past three years.

"I personally believe that children born in wedlock tend to do better in life and are entitled to many benefits under the law than children who have unmarried parents," the mayor said.

Apura was delighted to note that couples opted to legitimize their relationships on a very important day and in front of the city officials, families, friends, citymates and Almighty God.

Officials said the city government will be shouldering expenses related to the processing of pertinent matrimonial documents, including the symbolic wedding ring, symbolic wine, symbolic wedding cake, a token, an acoustic band and photos.

Each couple was allowed ten guests to the reception in front of the city hall. (FREEMAN)