BUGUIAS, Benguet – Nothing can stop people from loving, not even pandemic.
This was the atmosphere during the Mass Wedding Ceremony in Buyacaoan, Buguias, Benguet on April 11, 2022.
Forty couples exchanged their vows during the first ever-mass wedding ceremony in the municipality after two years of isolation due to the pandemic.
Buguias Mayor Ruben L. Tinda-an officiated the ringing of the bells and sealing of the marriage contract as sponsored by the town’s Local Registry Office.
As earlier planned, Municipal Civil Registrar Crisostomo G. Batonan stated that the event was originally planned for January 2022 but due to the increasing cases and alert level status due to the COVID-19 situation, the finalization and announcement were only made in February 2022.
He added that 42 couples listed their names but two did not attend. The civil registrar made clear that the couples were screened, underwent marriage counseling, and submitted all the requirements before getting married.
“The first mass wedding is intended not just to help the couples with the expenses but to help them legalize their unions,” Batonan mentioned.
Batonan emphasized that “With the binding ceremony, the couples acquire a marriage certificate to legalize their union. Consequently, this will lead to the prevention and decrease of illegitimate children in our place”
Moreover, Batonan stated the mass wedding is also part of the celebration of Civil of Registration Month every March.
In response, Zandra Pala-ez, one of the brides, said that the event helps them save on expenses and it helps them learn from other couple’s sharing that they can apply to their family.
“As for us who work hard but cannot earn properly, the mass civil wedding is an answer to our familial longing. Practically, we have saved the intended money for a grand wedding for our family startup. What is more important right now is we are legally married under our law. I am grateful for this program because it benefits many of us,” she underscored.
As observed after the wedding, many of the family and relatives celebrated with the 40 newly-wed couples through community traditions and intimate celebrations.
“The mass wedding of the municipality is a huge help for couples since it gives them the opportunity to legalize their union together for their children and future family,” one of the spectators ended.
By Nery Bahiwag
