Rodrigo Suarez, 72, a former truck driver, and Lerma Bacas, 59, a housewife of Barangay Bata, Bacolod City were the oldest among the 266 couples, whose marriages were solemnized by acting Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya at the Bacolod Arts and Youth Center in Bacolod City yesterday that fell on the Chinese New Year.
The couple finally decided to get married after living together for about 30 years. They now have four children and six grandchildren. They are happy that their union was finally legitimized and this is for their children so they can officially be registered under the surname of their father, Bacas said, as she wiped away her tears while trying to contain the happiness she felt on her wedding day. The youngest couple, Daniel Delgado, 23, and Angeline Alevari, 21, of Barangay Granada have lived together for about five years and have a 3-year-old son. Delgado is a farm laborer while Alevari is a housewife. The mass wedding with the theme “Maki-isa, Maki-Sali sa Dekadang CRVS (Civil Registration Verification System)” in observance of the Civil Registration Month was held at no expense from the city. The wedding rites proceeded after no one objected to the union of any of the couples nor was there anyone who retreated from his or her commitment to his or her partner, when asked by Gasataya who is vested with the authority to solemnize weddings. Former vice mayor Renecito Novero also offered a prayer of dedication to the couples. Luis Gonzales, who represented the Negros Occidental Philippines Statistics Authority supervising statistics specialist, Joely Cabarles, reminded the couples to always put God in the center of their marriage and family every second of their lives, because He is love. Gonzales said marriage is important because this is the way couples can register their children. Couples, who have lived together, can now have their grown up children use the surnames of their father, he said. The Civil Registrar's Office and the Philippine Statistics Office record any individual or citizen of this country from birth, marriage and death as required by the law. 2013 COUPLES Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia and his Grupo Progreso teammates acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilors Em Ang, Caesar Distrito, Carl Lopez and wife, Ni-nee; Roberto Rojas and wife, Cindy; former councilors Ricardo “Cano” Tan, Elmer Sy, Dindo Ramos, former vice mayor Renecito Novero, George Zulueta, Israel Salanga, and Bart Orola, served as principal sponsors of the couples. Leonardia said he is a believer in mass weddings. He recalled that when he was mayor for 12 years, he had solemnized 12 mass weddings, and the highlight was in 2013 where he wedded 2,013 couples and that Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao was one of the principal sponsors. He reminded the couples that a family is the most basic unit of society. “When a family is strong and stable, we will also have a strong and stable city and country,” he said. Familiaran congratulated the couples saying “This is a special day because you are to be united in marriage by Gasataya. You are going to pledge to love each other for better or for worse, till death do you part.” He also reminded the principal sponsors of their special role in the lives of the newly-weds. Meanwhile, Gaasataya thanked the Weddings and Events Planner of Negros Occidental led by its president Ellen Lindaya for having voluntarily offered their services to organize the mass wedding for free. A photo booth was also provided for the newly-weds and their guests at the BAYS Center, while the FUSE Acoustic was the guest performer during the mass wedding. Special awards were given to the early couples, while the “best in attire” were Jovan Abillo and Maribeth Buhat, Danilo and Eunice Almanzor, Joseph and Joan Narciso.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star February 9, 2016 sgg
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