50 Tacloban couples tie knot in Pag-ibig Fund-sponsored mass wedding

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 14 (PNA) -- At least 50 couples in this city tied the knot in a mass wedding ceremony on Tuesday sponsored by the Home Development Mutual Development Fund (Pag-ibig Fund).

Dubbed as “Libreng Kasalan: I Do, I Do,” the traditional Valentine’s Day event enlisted jeepney, tricycle and pedicab drivers; housemaids; and other indigent couples as beneficiaries.

“This free mass wedding, a nationwide activity of Pag-big Fund, meant to reach out to more Pag-ibig members,” said Bombie Bajarias, Pag-ibig Fund Tacloban branch head, adding that Valentine’s Day is celebrated as Pag-ibig Day, in reference to the agency’s name.

The activity, according to Bajarias, will enable cohabitating couples, to legally bind their union.

The state housing financing firm provided each couple with free reception at Patio Victoria, including symbolic rings, gifts, buffet dinner, bride’s bouquet, headdress, souvenir photo and wedding cake, among others.

“Since then, we really wanted to get married but due to financial issues, it never happened and we considered ourselves blessed when Pag-ibig gave us this opportunity to be finally married,” said couple Edwin Oliverio, 36 and Neriza Alonzo, 38 from the city’s Sampaguita village.

They’ve been together for seven years and raised four children; the eldest is seven years old.

Prior to the event, the sponsor required new couples to submit seminar certificates from the local civil registrar, birth certificate, and certificate of no marriage.

Live-in partners presented birth certificate, baptismal certificate, immunization card, crib card or school record.

In 2013, the Pag-ibig Tacloban office sponsored the first mass wedding here and resumed four years after super typhoon Yolanda struck. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/FRANCHETTE MAY M. TOLIBAS