ABOUT 150 couples tied the knot the other day as Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG holds the mass wedding dubbed “I Do, I Do, Araw ng PAG-IBIG” at the 10,000 Roses Cafe at Day-as, Cordova.
It was the seventh time Pag-IBIG has given free marriage rites to a number of couples.
Last year, it was held in Mandaue City, which was officiated by Mayor Luigi Quisumbing.
This year, Cordova hosted the event with the support of Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho.
Cho also became the solemnizing officer of the civil wedding.
Victoria de la Pena, vice president of member services branch (MSB) operations in Visayas and Mindanao, said the event aims to generate membership and bind couples in a legal ceremony.
The event was held in coordination with the local civil registrar, who assisted couples in securing marriage licenses.
It was also simultaneous event held all over the country.
About 2,200 couples joined the rites nationwide.
In Cordova, Cebu, it was held at the 10,000 Roses Cafe, an establishment that has a garden of white LED roses that provide visitors with beautiful photo opportunities especially at sunset and at night. The cafe is celebrating its first anniversary.
The oldest groom during the event was 60-year-old Nasser Tamboyong, who married his 38-year-old wife Jaymar Ragor, whom he met through text.
They have been together for 11 years, and have a nine-year-old child. The youngest couple to get married, on the other hand, were Ronmel Escabas, 22, and Jessica Tajanlangit, 19. The couple who have been together the longest were Rosalio Sumayang, 54, and Bernadette Alegado, 56, who has been living together for 34 years.
Mayor Cho in her message reminded the couples on the importance of God, love, and commitment in their marriage. (USJ-R Intern John Paul Fajardo)