ARAYAT -- In celebration of his natal day, Mayor Luis "Chito" Espino officiated mass wedding for some 118 couples coming from 30 barangays in this town Thursday.

Espino said the mass wedding is a sort of tradition since he became the local chief executive here.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

He said that in these hard times, getting married is very costly, saying the reason why he sponsored the mass wedding, together with Third District Congressman Dong Gonzales and members of the Municipal Council, is for couples to get married without spending a lot.

"Palagi nating ginagawa ito (mass wedding) tuwing sasapit ang aking kaarawan, ang gusto natin ay maging legal ang pagsasama ng mga mag-asawa at pahalagaan nila ang kasal, alam naman nati na ito ang pundasyon ng pamilya, ngunit dahil sa laki ng gasos ng pagpapakasal ay marami sa kanila ang nagsasama nalaman, pero ngayon ay libre na lahat ang ang handa at may regalo pa sila galing sa amin ni congressman Dong," Espino said.

Newly-weds Reynante and Arlyn Chavez thanked Espino, Gonzales and members of the council for giving them the opportunity to have a civil wedding.

Espino, together with his wife Josie and children, also donated P60,000 for the families of landslide victims in Barangay San Juan Baño.

Meanwhile, former Board Member Lilia "Baby" Pineda also donated P120,000 to the Dela Cruz, Portacio and Galang family who lost their loved ones during the tragedy in the height of typhoon "Ondoy".

Manuel Dela Cruz, who lost his mother, wife and children during the tragic mudslide, said that he is very thankful for the family of Espino and Pineda for their assistance, saying he will put the money into good use in memory of his family. (Chris Navarro)