THANK YOU, PAG-IBIG, FOR ALL THE LOVE

Mass wedding hosted by government agency shows that for some couples, it’s never too late to say, “I do”.

Dominador Gonzaga, 70, and Alicia Tizon, 52, have proven that love has no bounds when they tied the knot on a Valentine’s Day.

Gonzaga and Tizon, both a widower and a widow living in Danao City, lived together for five years and didn’t marry for lack of money.

Last year, Tizon said she went to the Local Civil Registrar in Danao City to avail of the government’s mass wedding, but she was denied.

“Lahi man didto kay pilion lang ang makaanak (They only choose couples that can still have children),” she said.

Yesterday, she and Gonzaga finally shared their vows. They were the oldest couple during the mass wedding of 146 couples organized by the Pag-IBIG Fund at the JCentre Mall in Mandaue City.

The free mass wedding of PagIBIG, which was dubbed as “I do, I do, Araw ng Pag-IBIG,” was officiated by Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing.

The couples are from the cities of Mandaue, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu, Talisay and Toledo.

The newlyweds were provided with rings, reception, buffet lunch, flowers, decor, photo booth and prizes.

“I did not lose hope that someday we would get married,” Tizon said.

Tizon met Gonzaga when she visited her sibllings’ house in San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu.

Tizon has four children from her first husband while Gonzaga and his previous wife did not have a child.

Gonzaga earned money by repairing pump boats while Tizon worked as a dishwasher in a small restaurant.

“Magpuyo lang unya di magpakasal, wa gihapoy kapuslanan (There’s no use in living together without any plans of marrying),” said Gonzaga.

Sarah Jane Itlanas, 18, and Isidro Muñez, 19, were the youngest couple yesterday.

Itlanas said she first met Muñez in a disco in Danao. They were 16 and 17 years old then.

They now have a 7-monthold baby. They live in Barangay Camputatan.

“Couples should get married, not just live together,” Itlanas said. /