BONTOC, Mountain Province – Four couples tied the knot in a mass civil wedding sponsored by the Bontoc municipal government through the Municipal Civil Registry Office (MCRO) on a pre-Valentines date, February 13, 2019 at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey who solemnized the union of the couples highlighted four important factors for a happy and successful marriage. These include faith in God; love to one another; practice of all the virtues that go with love such as patience, humility, understanding and industry; and adjustment in the married life.
Odsey added that the mass civil wedding is in response to the municipality’s commitment to promote the welfare of the family and the children.
Similarly, godparents in their message to the couples emphasized making God the center in their marriage and in starting their own families. In their sharing, the god parents admitted that marriage is not a bed of roses. There are times that misunderstandings occur in marriage, but this should be a challenge in strengthening the relationship of husband and wife.
“Marriage is an opportunity for both of you to mature. Do not expect your parents to be the ones solving the problems that occur in your marriage. It should be both of you, husband and wife to solve it as you start your family,” one of the godparents remarked.
The couples were also advised to spend more time with each other and their children, respect each other, being responsible with their obligations, uplift their partner and immediately solve problem that may arise in their marriage not to worsen it.
Municipal Civil Registrar Valentina Domaoa thanked Mayor Odsey for providing the lunch served during the celebration. She also thanked the parents and godparents for their blessings and support to the couples that led to the success of the activity.
Other activities prepared by the MCRO to highlight the celebration include the hanging of streamers and Information Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign on the importance of civil registration.
Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 682, signed by then President Corazon Aquino on January 28, 1991, the celebration of Civil Registration Month is observed every February with this year’s theme , “Inclusive and responsive CRVS: Working Smarter Through Innovation”.
The yearly celebration aims to remind the public of their duty to register acts and events concerning status of persons and enhance nationwide awareness and appreciation of the legal, administrative and statistical values of civil registry documents.
By Alpine L. Killa