81 couples say “I Do” on Valentine’s Day
A total of 81 couples tied the knot at a mall in Mandaue City on Valentine's Day in a mass wedding organized by Pag-IBIG Fund.
Mayor of Mandaue City Gabriel Luis "Luigi" Quisumbing officiated the ceremony at 9 a.m. at the J Center Convention Hall.
Jovelita Custodio, Pag-IBIG's area head for North, Central and Eastern Visayas, said this year marks the 8th year of the annual “I do, I do” project on Valentine's Day or “Pag-IBIG” day.
“This is the 8th time since we started the I Do, I Do project. Yearly ni siya every February 14, we claim it as Pag-IBIG day,” she said.
Custodio said that the process was a first-comefirstserved basis as they can only accommodate 100 couples.
Unfortunately, there were last minute disapprovals due to lack of documents such as affidavit of cohabitation proving they have lived together but are not of married couple.
Custodio said that there are 50 slots for couples from Mandaue City and the remaining slots are for couples from different areas of the Cebu province such as Talisay, Cebu, and LapuLapu City.
She said the activity is one of the social responsibilities of PagIBIG towards couples who are living together and have children but are not married.
“The benefit is for the couples. Pag-IBIG may be one of the instruments lang para ang ilahang dream na pakasal,” she added.
The mass wedding is Pag-IBIG Fund's nationwide activity.
“We spent for the couples. We provided for the venue, lunch nila, then we provide for the veil, bouquet. This is for Pag-IBIG Fund members and those who want to be members,” she said.
Custodio said that there are kabuhayan packages that the couples can win at the mass wedding which can help kick-start their financial foundation. Other couples could win small appliances as minor prizes.
“We have two kabuhayan packages - sari-sari store worth P20,000 each. We also have raffle items for all the couples nga small appliances,” she said.
Groom Dioscoro D. Pilarita, 66, and bride Melbeth B. Mabayag, 51, are this year's oldest couple.
They have a 12-yearold son. They decided to get married only now due to financial problems.
Best friends and high school sweethearts Cleeford D. Osabel, 21, and Jeralyn J. Almodal, 22, are this year's youngest couple.
According to the latest Philippine Statistics Authority data on marriage, 2017 had a total number of 434,932 marriages which is an increase of 3.6 percent from 419,628 marriages in 2016.