43 couples to wed in Baguio City

September 19, 2018 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY – A total of 43 couples are set to exchange vows in a mass civil wedding sponsored by the city government, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), at the SM City Baguio Atrium on Saturday.
CSWDO chief Betty Fangasan, in a press conference Wednesday, said the mass wedding is one of the highlights of the celebration of the Family Month, and is part of the 109th charter anniversary month of this mountain resort.
“This is the 24th year that we have been hosting the mass wedding in the city,” Fangasan said.
She added that organizers of the Family Month came up with the idea to hold the mass wedding to celebrate the occasion and legalize the bond between cohabiting couples who have no impediment to marry.
“We are doing this to legalize their relationship and to secure the children’s future, and for young couples who cannot afford to tie the knot because of financial constraints,” she said.
Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan will officiate the ceremony while the heads of the various departments under the city government, as well as councilors, will serve as primary sponsors of the couples. Each couple can also add one pair of sponsor.
Fangasan said the mass wedding will be held in coordination with the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio, which is in charge of the venue.
“Apart from that, they will be receiving gifts,” she added.
Fangasan disclosed that based on the list of participants, the youngest couple is aged 22 and 19 years, and the oldest, 52 and 55 years, who had been living together for 32 years and have six children.
“Everything is set for the 43 couples. They have already submitted the requirements. We are just waiting for them to tie the knot on Saturday,” she said.
Read: Mass wedding, isasagawa sa Setyembre 22
The requirements include birth certificates; certificate of no marriage issued by the Philippines Statistics Authority; certificate of attendance to the Pre-Marriage Counseling; and a certificate of tree planting from the City Environment and Parks Management Office. PAMELA MARIZ GEMINIANO, PNA