ILIGAN CITY (PIA) — A total of 117 couples here exchanged vows in a “Kasalan ng Bayan” or mass wedding ceremony in time for Valentine’s Day and in celebration of the 35th Civil Registration Month.
Organized by the City Civil Registrar’s Office, the event aimed to legalize the union of couples who have long been living together but were unable to afford a wedding.
“Kani siya gihatag nato nga programa para sa couples nga dugay nga nag-ipon pero lagi wala silay kwarta, considering naay financial problem sila, di sila kasal. So gihatag nato ang higayon nga libre na sila ikasal; ilang mga bata man gud dugay na nag-ipon ang status sa bata illegitimate,” City Civil Registrar Lawyer Yussif Don Justin E. Martil said.
(This program is for couples who have been together for many years but could not afford to get married due to financial difficulties. So we gave them the chance to get married for free; their children have been together for a long time with the status of illegitimate children.)
Meanwhile, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Lanao del Norte Chief Statistical Specialist Osler Mejares emphasized the importance of civil registration as legalizing unions secures the rights of couples and their families.
Decades of love
After 31 years of being together, Ivy Aguilar Bajade and Cyril Bajade finally tied the knot through the Kasalan ng Bayan.
Ivy, an Iligan resident, and Cyril, from Zamboanga, first met in 1990 when Cyril visited Iligan. Ivy, who was selling fish at the time, recalled their first encounter at the market, which was the beginning of their journey together.
“Gapasalamat jud ko nga naay Kasalan ng Bayan. Kung wala ni dili mi ma-offical nga mahimong couple. Pasalamat mi nga naay nag-sponsor ani. Wala jud mi gasto,” Ivy Bajade said,
(I’m grateful that there is this Kasalan ng Bayan. Without this, we wouldn’t be officially a couple. We’re grateful that someone sponsored this. We didn’t have to spend any money.)
Despite challenges, including raising four children and making ends meet through fish vending, the couple remained strong.
Moreover, the couple emphasized that love, respect, and faith in God are the foundations of a lasting marriage.
“Tip nako sa magtiayon para magdugay gyud, honesty gyud ug sentro sa Ginoo, kana usa nga mag lig-on jud mo,” Cyril Bajade said.
(My tip for couples to last a long time is to be honest and centered in the Lord; that’s something that will make you strong.)
Love on the line
Lisa and Romano So-ong first connected through a cellphone conversation in 2020 and blossomed into a lifelong commitment.Their bond grew stronger over time and led to five years of living together with their 4-year-old and 2-year-old children.
Through the “Kasalan ng Bayan” ceremony, they expressed their joy at finally getting married. Romano So-ong shared that he fell in love with Lisa So-ong for her hard work and care for him.
They faced challenges but remained grateful for God’s grace in overcoming hardships.
“Sangko sa langit akong kalipay nga natuman na among pangarap. Wala mi ga-expect nga kami jud makadayon,” Romano so-ong said.
(I am so happy that our dream has come true. We didn’t expect that we were meant to be together.)
Meanwhile, Lisa So-ong expressed gratitude to the sponsors of the mass wedding and hoped that their union would last forever.
Collaborative efforts for love
Numerous sponsors contributed to making the event memorable. PAG-IBIG Fund provided wedding rings, MSU-IIT National Multi-Purpose Cooperative raffled off a television and a washing machine, and Red Ribbon offered cakes. Other sponsors, namely Grab Iligan, Eagles Club, and the mayor, vice mayor, and city councilors, also provided gifts to the newlyweds.
Acting Vice-President of the Pag-IBIG Member Services Operation Visayas-Mindanao, Marivic Agot, highlighted Pag-IBIG Fund’s commitment to supporting couples through the Kasalan ng Bayan event. Prior to the pandemic, the Pag-IBIG Fund annually organized mass weddings on February 14, but the COVID-19 pandemic halted this tradition.
She expressed gratitude for being one of the major sponsors and emphasized that Valentine’s Day is also Pag-IBIG Day for them. She also shared that all of the couples were enrolled during the event to ensure they could benefit from housing programs, especially under President Marcos’ Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino program.
“Everyone is encouraged, the couples, to be a member, and in the future, we will help them own a dream house that they call theirs,” she said. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
