Mass wedding set in Bacolod

A MASS wedding dubbed "2013 in 2013" has been set on February 16 to be officiated by Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia at the Bacolod Government Center grounds.

Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, Senator Franklin Drilon and former Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson will come to serve as godfathers of about 2,013 couples.

Leonardia said that in 2012, he wedded 755 couples and no less than Vice President Jejomar Binay came as guest and godfather.

He said they initially targeted only about 800 couples just to beat the record last year but due to insistent public demand, the number reached 2,013.

Leonardia said one of the primary purposes in accommodating a mass wedding is that most of the couples cannot afford to spend for a church wedding. “For us, this is a form of public service and we do not charge them a single centavo.”

“We expect a very big crowd, more so that Pacquiao confirmed to come to be one of the ninongs. The last time he came here was during my inauguration. I told him that, after the Maquez fight, if he decides to go out of General Santos and Manila, he should visit Bacolod first because he is an adopted son of Bacolod,” added the mayor.

The public was also invited to witness the event, and the City Government has been negotiating with sponsors to bring personalities who will entertain the crowd, Leonardia said.