PAGADIAN CITY, Feb. 21 (PIA) - Some 129 couples
have expressed their gratitude to the Pag-Ibig Fund and city government of
Pagadian for the free mass wedding held on Feb. 14 at the City Commercial
Centrer here.
Dubbed “I Do. I Do, Araw ng Pag-Ibig,” the free mass wedding was
designed to give couples living out of wedlock an opportunity to make their
union legal.
Eduardo Miligan, 54, and Leah Villanosa, 50, of barangay Lenienza who
were living together for 10 years said in an interview: “Wala kami magpakasal sulod sa pipila na ka tuig sa among panagtipon tungod
sa kakulangon salapi nga sarang ikagasto sa among pagkasal. Apan dihang among nadungog
ang balita sa radyo nga ang Pag-Ibig Fund ug kagamhang lokal naglusad sa
libreng kasalan sa adlaw sa kasing-kasing ning tuiga wala kami magmakuli
pagpahimulos sa kahigayonan pagpahimulos sa programa.” (We did not marry in
our years of cohabitation due to lack of money to fund our wedding. But when I heard over the radio that Pag-Ibig
Fund and city government would be holding a free mass wedding during Valentine’s
Day, we did not hesitate to grab the opportunity to avail of the program.) They
have two children.
Miligan further said, “Dako
gyud kaayo ang among kalipay nga gibati ilabi na gayud kay kini usa ka dalaygon
ug talagsaon nga kalihokan sa kagamhanan. Unang higayon kini sa among tibuok
nga kinabuhi uban ang 128 kaparisan nga kinasal nga naka-martsa sa pula nga
carpet, gisaksihan ang among kasal sa
mga halangdong opisyal sa kagamhanan, libre ang tanang gasto lakip na ang venue
ug pagkaon ug naa pa gyud mga gipanghatag giveaways.” (We are extremely
happy because this is laudable project of the government. It was the first time
in our life that we, along with the 128 couples walked down the aisle on a red
carpet, witnessed by key officials of the government, and all expenses paid
including the venue and food as well as giveaways.)
Meanwhile, Mayor Samuel Co, the solemnizing officer expressed
elation for the active participation of the newly-wed couples in the annual
mass wedding program.
Co said with the “Kasalan ng Bayan (town wedding), these couples
who were living together without the benefit of marriage because of poverty are
now legally married.”
He also expressed his thanks to Pag-Ibig Fund in partnering with
the city government through the City Local Civil Registrar’s Office in the
successful conduct of the mass wedding.
