m10wedding
BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews / 10 Feb) – The Home Development Mutual Fund (more widely known as the Pag-ibig Fund) regional branch here is gearing up for the nationwide simultaneous mass wedding on Valentine’s Day that hopes to break the world record for the largest mass wedding ceremony.
Generoso Balacuit, Pag-ibig Fund Butuan branch manager, explained that the event dubbed as “I do. I do. Araw ng pag-ibig” will be participated by selected Pag-ibig Fund branches from the different parts of the country.
“This is a simultaneous event wherein we aim to help Pag-ibig Fund members who have been planning to get married but don’t have the budget to do so. The couple will be entitled to a free wedding, including a free ring and bouquet. We will also provide free food for all the couples, including two of their sponsors,” said Balacuit.
He expressed optimism that the world record of 3,500 couples in India will be surpassed with the nationwide event.
“Just here in Mindanao, we already have a total of 1,030 registered couples. Here in Caraga we registered 153 couples and it might have been higher had we not set the deadline last January 31. I’m sure just in Quezon City alone it will be more than a thousand, not to mention all the other branches in the Visayas and Luzon,” said Balacuit.
He added that aside from the free wedding, all the couples will also receive free gifts courtesy of Pag-ibig and a chance to win one of the three house-and-lot packages in a raffle.
Judith Alvizo Calo, the city civil registrar here, pointed out that the city government will also share a role in the event by giving out free services to the marrying couples.
She said her office will not charge anything in processing wedding documents such as the issuance of the affidavit of cohabitation. “This is a great opportunity for them and a good Valentine’s Day gift to have,” said Calo.
She further stated that as for the requirements for the application of marriage license, all the 153 couples have already processed all the legal requirements as provided under the law.
In Mindanao, the cities of Zamboanga, Pagadian, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Davao, Kidapawan, General Santos and Tagum will take part in the nationwide mass wedding.
(Erwin Mascariñas / MindaNews)