Indigenous peoples join Subic mass wedding rites
SUBIC, Zambales — Eight couples from indigenous groups here took part in a mass wedding ceremony on Tuesday, one of the initiatives of the local government to strengthen the family ties.
According to Mayor Jay Khonghun, 164 couples got married during the preValentine’s Day rite.
He said that the mass wedding program, dubbed as “Just you and me, be my baby”, is in cooperation with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Sulong David and Enggay Cosme were both born in San Marcelino and has since lived in the municipality of Subic.
David said that they have been living together here for a very long time and already have many grandchildren.
To them, their marriage cements their commitment to each other.
The oldest newly-married couple on that day was a 59-year-old groom and a 57-year-old bride who have been living together for 35 years before deciding to tie the knot.
Khonghun, along with his father, Rep. Jeff Khonghun, brother Provincial Board Member Jon Khonghun, Board Member Jose Gutierrez Jr., Board Member Wilfredo Felarca Jr., Vice Mayor Jose Felarca and town councilors stood as principal sponsors of the newlywed couples.
“This is a yearly event that we came up with to help those who want to get married but do not have the financial capacity to do so. Most of it is financed by the local government, including the food, the registry, the photobooth, they only need to put on their best attire for their momentous occasion,” Khonghun said.
PSA Provincial Director Norman Bundalian said that mass weddings improve the data gathering efforts of the agency.