MARRIAGE is never too late for some couples who waited for more than 20 years before tying the knot.
After 35 years, 58-year-old Elena Aquino said her partner finally fulfilled her prayer -- to walk down the aisle and get married to the man of her life.
Elena and 58-year-old Wilfredo Pareja, of Barangay Casuntingan, Mandaue City, were among the 93 couples who joined the free mass wedding dubbed as “I do, I do, Araw ng Pag-ibig” organized by Pag-ibig Fund.
In the group, they have the most number of years spent together as an unmarried couple.
Financial problem, Elena said, hindered them from marriage when they were still young.
“Basta kaslon, mag expect man gyod ang pamilya ug kaparyentehan nga dunay andamon, unya lisod man gyod mao nga wa gyod mi naka-pakasal (Relatives always expect food during weddings),” she said.
They have five children.
“Tiguwang na mi pero nalipay mi kay naka-settle down na gyod mi ug very memorable sad ang among kasal (We’re old now, but we’re happy we’re now married). Happy gyod among Valentines,” Elena said.
A day before their wedding yesterday, Wilfredo said his wife was not able to sleep well because of excitement.
“Normal man na sa mga babaye nga kulbaan ug ma-excited. Lipay sad ko nga nakasal na mi (I’m happy we’re now married),” he said.
Elena said she pampered herself, like having her hair and nails done, to prepare for the wedding.
For 61-year-old Delfin Villamor and 52-year-old Edwina Alcuizar, tying the knot was their gift to their eldest son, who graduated and passed the teachers’ board exam.
“Ang iyang gipangayo gyod nako nga magpakasal mi sa iyang mama, mao nga ako gyod nga gituman bisan og tiguwang na mi (He had always wanted us to marry),” Delfin said.
Early years
They had the most complicated love story, Delfin said, that is why they were not able to marry each other during the early years of their relationship.
Edwina is a widow with three sons from her late husband while Delfin has a son from a previous marriage, which got annuled.
Delfin and Edwina have three sons.
They were the oldest couple in yesterday’s mass wedding.
“Bisan unsa pa man among kaagi, pasalamat gihapon mi nga kami gihapon karon kay mao gyod ni akong saad niya, nga pakaslan siya (This is my promise to her, that I marry her),” Delfin said.
They are from Barangay Simala, Sibonga.
Delfin, former chief cook of an international shipping agency, said that after their civil wedding yesterday, he plans to marry Edwina in the church within the year.
“Aron ma-complete na gyod, minyoan nako siya sa simbahan. Pasalamat kaayo mi sa Pag-ibig nga nakasal mi sa civil (I’ll marry her in church),” he said.
Richard Parba, 24, and Sheska Monterona, 18, decided to get married even at their young age for the future of their child.
Sheska is six months old pregnant with their first child.
“Akong mga barkada naa nay mga anak pero uban walay kasal. Ako gusto lang sad gyod ko magpakasal mi para sa among anak para legitimate gyod siya (I want my child to be legitimate),” she said.