Sponsored by Cebu City government: 76 couples tie the knot in mass wedding

CEBU, Philippines - After living together for over 20 years, Pilar and Edwin Malabat finally tied the knot yesterday in a mass wedding at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral Church.

Pilar, 47, and Edwin, 52, were one of the 76 couples included in the mass wedding sponsored by the Cebu City government.

"Kon dili tungod aning higayona, dili gyod mi makasal og simbahan. Maglisod gani mi pakasal og huwes, simbahan pa nuon. Maong mapasalamaton kaayo mis syudad sa pagpahigayon ani," Edwin told THE FREEMAN.

Edwin and Pilar, residents of Barangay Luz, have three children.

"Usa sa nakapalipay nako karon kay makatawag na gyod kos akong pares nga asawa. Gidala napod niya akong apelyedo," Edwin said.

With the sacrament of matrimony, Pilar said she hopes to continue living happily with her husband and children.

 "Malipayon kaayo kay mga 20 years nga nag puyo. Karon, nakasal namis simbahan. Nalipay kaayo kay nakadawat nami og sakramento sa kaminyoon," she said.

 "Karon, maayo unta nga dili magkabuwag ang pagpuyo labi na nakasal nami. Wala kapakasal sauna tungod sa problema sa pinansyal," she added.

The city government allocated P800,000 for the mass wedding yesterday. It was spearheaded by the Cebu City Women and Family Affairs Commission headed by Lea Japson, who is also the head of the Department of Social Welfare and Services.

Japson said this is the 10th year that the city sponsored a mass wedding. This year's theme is dubbed as "Pamilya Palig-onon diha sa Sacramento sa Kaminyuon."

"Naay allocation nga P800,000 but wala nahurot. Check pa kon pila nagamit," she said.

The city government gave one lechon and one cake per couple.

Aside from the sponsored wedding, the city government also shouldered the reception and invited ten guests for each couple with free packed meals.

The reception was held at the IEC Pavillion in Barangay Mabolo.

 Japson said the city usually accommodates over 100 couples every year. But, because of time constraints, they only sponsored 76 couples.

"Ga-organize start kay July. So, two months ang preparation. Instead of akong buhat sauna kay September para in time sa family day but dili man madala so among gi-October. Nakasuway before nga 150 couples, kinadaghanan," she said.

The couples were asked to submit requirements to be part of the mass wedding including their birth and baptismal certificates, residence and barangay certificates, Pre-Cana seminar, permit to marry from the parish church of the place where they reside, certificates of no marriage (Cenomar) and appearance and parental consent if the parties are still 18 to 24 years old.

"First come, first serve mani. Kon kinsay makauna og submit sa requirements, maoy makaapil sa wedding. Ang qualification is katong nag ipon na for five years pataas, makakuha siya og cohabitation nag live-in na for pila ka tuig. Pero pinakamubo ang five years. Mao ang apil sa five years," Japson said.

The city will again sponsor a mass wedding next year, she assured.

"Isa sa purpose ana is atong ipa-solemnize sila kay I believe aning family that prays together, stays forever. And then ma-solemnize sila, so naay blessing gyod gikan sa Kahitas-an kaysa kon wala. Murag mahog ang ties nila as couple mograbe gyod," Japson added.

City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Councilors Margarita Osmeña, Hanz Abella and Eugenio Gabuya graced the mass wedding. Congressman Raul del Mar was also there.

"Gikan sa city government, I would like to congratulate all of you. We hope that this would be your memorable day that you will remember for the rest of your lives," said Mayor Tomas Osmeña in his message to the newlyweds. (FREEMAN)