The oldest couple, who had earlier registered for the mass wedding at the BAYSCenter in Bacolod City on Valentine’s Day, failed to show up.
Corazon Mori, head of the Bacolod Civil Registrar’s Office, yesterday said they do not know why the oldest couple, Sulpicio de la Serna, 79, and Irene Bravo, 53, of Brgy. 29, backed out from the ceremony. She said a total of 328 couples registered with her office for the mass wedding but when De la Serna and Bravo backed out, they were replaced by Mario Chin, 73 and Annie Diamante, 63 of Barangay Estefania. Last year, about 2,013 couples exchanged marriage vows at the grounds of the Bacolod City Government Center. The mass wedding, that started at about 5:25 p.m. yesterday, included persons with disability, among them blind couple Joel Galvan, 44, and Pinky Permesa, 43, who have both been living in the Home for the Blind for eight years. The Bacolod BAYS Center was transformed into a wedding hall as Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella solemnized the wedding of 327 couples yesterday. “Marriage need not be expensive; it is measured by your love and commitment to each other,” Puentevella said, as he delivered his words of counsel in front of a jam-packed venue attended by the couples’ family members, relatives and friends. Several barangay captains were present during the ceremony, with Councilors Claudio Puentevella, Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Sonya Verdeflor, Ana Marie Palermo, Wilson Gamboa, Jr., El Cid Familiaran, Archie Baribar and some of the city’s executive assistants who stood as their “second parents”. “The vows that you will make today will last until forever,” Puentevella added before leading the exchange of vows. Palermo, who saluted the sweethearts’ decision to seal their bond when others choose to end their relationships, lauded them for giving each other the most precious gift in the world: the gift of self. “Today is the first day of the rest of your married life,” she said. First lady Josefa Puentevella said that she and the Mayor have been married for 42 years. What made their bond as a family stronger is by placing the Almighty at the center of their lives, she said. She also recognized the couples for taking the “bold step” in expressing their love publicly. As an official gesture, the marriage contract of the oldest couple, Chin and Diamante, was signed by the Mayor. The couple have lived together for 25 years and have an only child named Ana Marie. Among the couples who joined the mass wedding were Ryan Moreno, 21, and Rizyl Grace Cestina, 22, of Tangub, daughter of broadcaster Henceboy Cestina. Joseph Gantala, 41, and Lea, 37, of Villa Esperanza, who wore a wedding gown with a veil, were joined by their children Julia, Onyx and Summer, who were dressed up as flower girls and ring bearer. Puentevella also sang “Ikaw” at the end of the ceremony. Meanwhile, Puentevella also visited the Bacolod Boys Home and St. Vincent's Home for the Aged yesterday morning to share Valentine's Day with them. He also serenaded the elders with the song "Mahiwaga ang Buhay ng Tao” and gave a check for P150,000 to the Daughters of Charity running the institution. DSSD head Pacita Tero said the St. Vincent’s Home for the Aged is one of the nine government organizations being supported by the city. She said the city has been providing P500,000 for the Boy’s Home every quarter, or P2 million every year, for their food supply, while the St. Vincent’s Home for the aged receives P150,000 a year.*CGS Visayan Daily Star
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