AS PART of this year’s Panagbenga celebration, Baguio City is set to celebrate marriage week from February 10 to 14.
City Councilor Elmer Datuin said Baguio City is the first city in the country who supports the observance of marriage week
“Out of 26 countries who supports the observance of marriage week, the Philippines is the first in Asia to do so with Baguio City as the first city to have filed an ordinance supporting this measure with the main objective of strengthening the marriage between two individuals,” Datuin said during the weekly Kapihan sa Baguio.
City Ordinance Number 10 which was passed in 2017 seeks to promote good by building families and nurturing children as it recognizes family life as the foundation, and that preservation and promotion of such institution is vital for the survival of a nation.
“As part of their reaffirmation of vows on February 14, some 100 couples will be married and will be officiated by Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan at the Multi-purpose Hall. There is a need to further uphold the strengthening of Filipino families by promoting and strengthening the values of marriage between couples in our country,” Datuin said.
Liza Bulayungan of the City Social Welfare and Development Office noted the presence of married couples who continue to seek consultation from their six extension and satellite offices in the city.
Based on the explanatory note of the ordinance, statistics have shown a decline in marriages registered every year in the country with an increase in annulment cases every year.
In Baguio City, the City Civil Registry (CCR) have noted the present marrying age remains to be at the age of 20-29 years old.
Aside from the mass wedding, other activities during the marriage week are pre-marriage counselling, zumba activity, free entrance for the couples date at the sky ranch, a romantic couples date, and the hanging of posters reminding couples of the 7-day challenge to commitment. These will start from February 4 until February 14, 2019.
The 7-day challenge instructs couples to write a love note to their spouses; to not say any negative comments; to spend 30 minutes talking with their spouses with their mobile phones and or television sets off; to pray together everyday; to post their treasures on social media; to create one new shared goal daily for the future; and to be intimate everyday.