PAGADIAN
CITY, February 11 (PIA) -- At least
129 indigent couples who are living together outside marriage will avail
themselves of the free mass wedding on Valentine’s Day to be held at the City
Commercial Center this city.
The wedding
is jointly sponsored by the Home Mutual Development Fund or the Pag-IBIG Fund
and the city government of Pagadian dubbed “I do. I do. Araw ng Pag-IBIG.”
Pag-IBIG
Fund-Pagadian branch officer-in-charge, Engr. Beder Morandarte Jr., said the
event, which is held annually to help make unmarried poor couples’ union
legitimate, was the brainchild of Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer Atty.
Darlene Marie B. Berberabe.
Morandarte
said Pag-IBIG’s kasalan would not
only help the participating couples to legally bind their union and celebrate
their love for each other on their special day but also to enjoy the benefits
of Pag-IBIG membership.
Morandarte
said the indigent couples need not worry about the preparations as the agency
will shoulder the registration fee, wedding rings, venue and etc. “They can
also avail of free marriage certificate, and more importantly, Pag-IBIG
officials will stand as witnesses/sponsors of their marriage,” he added.
Acting
assistant department manager Gregorio Luba said the participating couples have
a chance to win raffle prizes. “A grand
prize of one house and lot and home appliances await lucky pairs during the
electronic raffle,” Luba announced.
“Aside from
the grand prize, we have prepared 10 major prizes for the first, second, and
third winners, respectively and 70 consolation prizes for other 70 pairs,” Luba
added.
A couple who
could recruit five new members for the PAG-IBIG fund would be entitled to 1
raffle coupon.
“This
project is designed to afford unmarried couples opportunity to legitimize their
marriage,” Luba concluded. (FPG/GCC/PIA,Pagadian City)