45 couples show up in Cavite mass wedding

CAVITE CITY: A total of 45 couples exchanged vows during mass wedding at the historic San Roque Church on Saturday, February 17, in a post-Valentine’s Day program initiated by the local government here.

Rev. Fr. Micheal Cron and Rev. Fr. Hector Arellano of the Nuestra Señora de Porta Vaga officiated the mass wedding.

Mayor Denver Chua, Vice Mayor Raleigh Rusit and city councilors stand as godparents of the grooms and brides.

“We do this Catholic mass wedding for them to fulfill their dream to tie their knots in a church wedding rite,” said Mayor Denver Chua in an interview with The Manila Times.

The mass wedding was free for the people of Cavite City, from processing of marriage license in cooperation with the City Civil Registrar’s Office, wedding rites fee for the church and reception, according to Chua.

“This is just one of the social services of our city government, including free baptismal for children who have not yet been baptized and late birth certificate processing,” added Chua.

“Umasa po kayo na mas palalawigin pa po natin ang ating mga social services sa ating mahal na lungsod sa mga susunod na panahon (Rest assured that we will sustain the social services for our beloved province in the years to come),” added Chua.

Easily, the oldest among the 45 couples who availed of the mass wedding were Ernesto Carlos, 71, and Myrna Pacibo, 58, of Barangay 31.

Ernesto and Pacibo have been together for 23 years before they got married in church rites.

“Kagustuhan po namin na mag-asawa na magkaroon ng basbas ng simbahan ang aming pagsasama (It is our wish that we got church blessing for our union),” said Ernesto.