(Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo “Cris” Garbo solemnizes the union of 53 couples in a civil mass wedding organized by the city government held at the Royce Hotel, Clark Freeport zone.)
MABALACAT CITY – Several couples exchanged wedding vows here yesterday during the city’s biggest civil mass wedding ceremony held at the ballroom of Royce Hotel in Clark.
The civil mass wedding —considered to be the biggest union with 53 couples— was organized by the city government thru its Local Civil Registrar.
City Mayor Crisostomo “Cris” Garbo, who solemnized the wedding ceremony, said the mass wedding was made possible through the support of the Sangguniang Panlungsod by allocating funds for the event.
“Napakahalaga na maging legal ang inyong pagsasama, una sa kapamalahanan at kagustuhan ng ating Panginoon. Meron po dito na matagal na silang nagsasama ang kaso hindi lumilitaw na legitimate ang mga anak at ang madalas na kadahilanan ay ang kawalan ng kakayanang tustusan ang kinakailangan gastusin. Subalit sa pamamagitan at kapahintulutan ng ating Sangguniang Panglunsod, tayo po ay biniyayaan na magkaroon ng pondo at binigyan ng gagastusin para sa mass wedding na gaganapin,” he added.
The mayor said the annual civil mass wedding aims to legalize the marriage of couples who may have been living together for years.
“Your partnership will be legalized so that when your children will need documents as required in school you can now present them,” the Mayor assured the couples.
The couples were made to walk down the red carpet of the Royce Hotel, exchanged vows wearing their bridal gowns and barongs.
They were accompanied by their respective sponsors, filling up the ballroom to a joyful mood.
Oldest couple to wed were Manny Alegri Miranda, 47 and Charlita Morta Cascara, 51 years old, who both thanked the city government led by Mayor Garbo for the free civil wedding.
“Masaya po kami na mapasama sa libreng civil wedding ni Mayor. Sa panahon po ngayon sa laki ng gastusin ng pgpapakasal hindi na po namin kaya pa gumastos para dito.
Nagpapasalamat po kami sa ating city government sa programa nilang ito, nabigyan po kami ng pagkakataon maging legal ang aming pagsasama lalong lalo na para sa aming mga anak. Malaki pong tulong ito sa amin mga indigents,” one couple said.
Together with their invited loved ones, the couples enjoyed the sumptuous meals prepared for them along with wine and cakes.
Vice Mayor Gerald Aquino with SP Members and department heads sent their well wishes to the newlyweds during the event.
