‘Kasalan ng Bayan’ in QC

For the first time in 37 years of living together, Alberto Plana, 69 and his common-law wife, Inosaria, 55, finally exchanged wedding vows, courtesy of the Quezon City government.

"I’m happy that, finally, we are married, our children and grandchildren are now blessed in the eyes of God and no longer illegitimate," Plana told The STAR.

Plana, a native of Davao who settled in the Batasan area, said the mass wedding has given his family the opportunity to finally set the records straight. "Kailangan yung marriage certificate ng mga anak ko (My children need our marriage certificate)," he said. Plana is the oldest of the city’s newest group of newlyweds.

Chris Alvares, 20 and his girlfriend Rely, 19, were the youngest couple to be united in the mass wedding.

The Planas and Alvareses were among over 100 couples who were beneficiaries of the mass wedding ceremony sponsored by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Councilor Eric Medina.

The mass wedding was officiated by Rev. William Ladiba at the lobby of Quezon City Hall and was witnessed by the couples’ relatives and sponsors from various barangays in Quezon City.

In a message to all the newlyweds, Belmonte cited the need for legitimate marriage to avoid legal problems in the future. He also reminded the couples of the sacredness of marriage and the couples’ newly-sealed commitment to be faithful to their spouses.

"Marriage is not a joke it’s a lifetime commitment, your husband or your wife is your main supporter in life," he said.

The mayor congratulated a pregnant bride and volunteered to stand as godfather of the firstborn baby.

The wedding ceremony was also witnessed by Councilors Jorge Banal and Restituto Malangaen.

Medina, the main proponent of the mass wedding program, said it is now part of the city government’s commitment to deliver basic services to the people, including wedding rites.

He cited the importance of providing unmarried couples with the opportunity to get a marriage license, which is one of the important legal documents the children of such couples need.

Medina said the Family Code of the Philippines provides that children of unmarried couples are considered illegitimate and the Kasalan ng Bayan (mass wedding) is the answer to that problem.

Resounding responses of "yes" and "opo (yes sir)" echoed through the city hall lobby as Ladiba asked the couples if they accept their partners as husbands and wives.

When asked about his post-nuptial plans, a man named Gaudencio, who has eight children, said he and his wife will hold a family reunion so they can relay the good news to their next of kin.

The Alvareses said their first move would be to find a place to call home and live there as husband and wife. "Hindi na kami mag-syota, mag-asawa na kami (we are no longer boyfriend and girlfriend, we are husband and wife)," Chris said with a smile. – Perseus Echeminada