Forty-six couples have exchanged their vows after being officially solemnized as husbands and wives by Mabalacat City Mayor Marino Morales during the mass wedding sponsored by the city government through its local civil registrar office on Tuesday, February 14 at Garden of Petals and Petals in Barangay Mabiga.
The Kasalang Bayan, on its second year, is in celebration of the Barangay Civil Registration Month every February.
This also aimed to lower the number of illegitimate children in Mabalacat City as the CRO personnel headed by Victor Terry Medina will assist newly-weds in the legitimation process of their children.
The selected pairs belong to the marginalized sector, both single, of legal age, and have been cohabitating for a minimum of five years.
The couples were provided of free wedding rings, bouquet of flowers, cakes, and wine.
They were also given the privilege to walk down the aisle in red carpet with their principal sponsors.
Rodrigo Moratas, 55 and Evangeline Madeja, 68, from Barangay Duquit and the oldest couple, said they have been living together for fifteen years that’s why they have decided to get married.
“Pareho na kaming matanda at panahon na ikasal naman kami. Marami pong salamat sa tulong ni Mayor Boking, “Madeja said.
Mabalacat City Mayor Marino Morales as the solemnizing officer shared that ‘marriage is like holding a string at both ends, when one pulls at one end the other must follow or else it will break.
“Ang buhay may asawa ay hindi puro sarap lang. Darating ang mga pagsubok at dapat kayong maging matatag at matutong magbigayan,” Morales emphasized.
Among the upcoming activities of the civil registrar office is the rectification of registration system in all 27 barangays here in the city.