Today is World Marriage Day

CEBU, Philippines - With a lot of people looking forward to celebrate Valentine’s Day on the 14th, today’s observation of the World Marriage Day is at times taken for granted.

But for a number of married couples, days like this are important as it highlights the importance of keeping the sacredness of marriage intact.

For Jerome and Evangeline Padillo, they continue to keep their matrimonial vows strong despite having a long distance relationship.

 The Padillo’s, who are blessed with three children, have been together for 18 years now after getting married last January 27, 1997.

 Evangeline admitted that they were not aware that there was a World Marriage Day.

 However, she shared that throughout the 18 years, they have constantly celebrated their marriage despite struggles along the way.

 “Naa juy mga pagsuway, mga away-away. Ang husband nako ang magsige og sabot, yawyawan baya kaayo ang mga babaye,” she said.

 “Mingawon ko nila. Lisod pud malayo sa pamilya,” said Jerome, a seafarer, who is mostly away from his family.

 He is now in Cebu but will be leaving again next week.

 Evangeline shared that constant communication with her partner keeps the relationship strong.

 “Magsige siya panawag namo, kundili Skype,” she said.

Also, albeit the common misconception that men with his kind of job are womanizers, Jerome shared that it is a man’s dedication and loyalty to his wife and family that keeps a family strong.

“Depende ra man, hunahunaon lang jud ang pamilya, mga anak,” he said.

 Evangeline said the best way to keep the relationship between a couple strong is to have trust.

 “Ang nagpadayon namo sa among relasyon kay pagsalig, salig lang jud,” she said.

For other couples, the World Marriage Day is not only a celebration of love but of life, even after one has departed.

Julieta Solon lost her husband, Joel Solon, a former The Freeman reporter, on May 3, 2012 when he suffered a stroke.

But before his passing, the couple had a blissful 16 years of marriage, shared Julieta.

 “Ang Ginoo maoy nag-match namong duha tungod kay same man mi og fellowship,” she said.

“Sa pagkawala niya, wala nakoy nakita lain,” she said.

According to World Marriage Day homepage, the event honors husbands and wives as the foundation of a family, which is the basic unit of society.

The idea of celebrating marriage, it noted, began in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1981 when couples encouraged the mayor, the governor and the bishop to proclaim St. Valentine’s Day as “We Believe in Marriage Day”.

The event went successful, thus, was adopted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s National Leadership.

By 1982, 43 governors officially proclaimed the day and celebrations spread to U.S. military bases in several foreign countries.

In 1983, the name was changed to “World Marriage Day”, designated to be celebrated each year on the second Sunday in February.

In 1993, his Holiness, Pope John Paul II, imparted his Apostolic Blessings on World Marriage Day.

WMD celebrations continue to grow and spread to more countries and faith expressions every year.  (FREEMAN)