by Nicole Rigayen
Amidst the harsh 3 p.m. sun on Valentine’s day, 50 couples were treated to a free mass wedding officiated by Baguio mayor Benjamin Magalong at the Rose Garden, Burnham Park, February 14.
Renato and Marissa Garcia, who were one of the couples, said they were happy that they could have the wedding without the expenses.
“Gusto rin namin kasi libre nga lahat,” Mrs. Garcia said.
Joan Amelda, one of the newlyweds, also saw the appeal of the Pag-IBIG’ sponsored mass wedding.
“Of course, less expensive,” answered Mrs. Amelda when asked why they joined the event.
The couples line up in procession as they await to be wed by Baguio mayor Benjamin Magalong.
According to imoney.ph, the average cost of a wedding in 2019 was P300,000 for a hundred and fifty guest list which is close to the average annual income of a Filipino family in 2018, which according to the Philippines Statistic Authority (PSA) is P313,000.
Mayor Magalong gave a speech reminding all the couples not to waste the chance to have time for their loved ones.
“Wala pong rewind ang buhay natin... Kapag pinalampas mo, tapos na.” (There is no rewind in our lives… If you missed [an opportunity], it’s finished.)
Janissa Diego and her husband, also couples from the event, said they wanted to legalize their marriage for their kids.
“Para magkaroon ng blessing din,” Mrs. Diego added.
The event, called “I Do, I Do. Araw ng Pag-ibig,” was funded by the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund Baguio Branch together with the city government.
The couples only shouldered the brides’ gowns and the grooms’ suits. Everything else, including the reception which was also at the Rose Garden, was free.
A couple are joined by their daughter for the ceremonial First Dance.
Ms. Marilene Acosta, Pag-IBIG Deputy Chief Executive Office for Home Lending (Operations Cluster), said that the event was not something new to Pag-IBIG because it was already their ninth year arranging this event.
She emphasized that the event was a way of giving back to all Pag-IBIG members by legalizing their relationships.
“So we owned pag-ibig during Valentine’s Day as Pag-IBIG Day,” Acosta said.
This event was done simultaneously nationwide with a total of 1,000 couples from 11 different places.
Acosta said that the basic requirement for the couples to be chosen was that they should be an active member of the organization.
Edited by Catherine De Leon
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