Couple gives away fruits, vegetables as their wedding souvenirs

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A bride and groom from Tacloban have captured netizens' attention with their unique wedding concept: guests were invited to "shop" for free fruits and vegetables as their wedding souvenirs.

According to Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Tuesday, the couple went for a "vintage Filipiniana" theme for their wedding.

"Hindi nila alam na 'yun 'yung souvenir namin. Nagtaka sila bakit mayroong fruits and vegetables dito," Yna Jao-Palami said. "Hindi kami naglagay ng any limit. Since it's a Filipino culture, mas nangibabaw din sa kanila 'yung bigayan."

Per Yna, they wanted to break away from the usual and let their visitors experience the traditional Filipino ways.

"Hindi ko talaga siya ine-expect na magva-viral siya. Nung first day pa lang, umabot na siya nang million views. May mga nag-message na ang ganda ng souvenirs ninyo. Ito 'yung literal na Sharon," Yna said.

The unique wedding concept provides a backdrop to the rich history of markets or palengke in the Philippines.

According to Kuya Kim, the term palengke comes from the Spanish word palenque, which means wooden palisade or a place with a fence."

During the Spanish colonial period, towns and cities were organized, leading to the establishment of structured markets, known as "merkado publiko."

These markets were typically built close to the church and the municipal hall.

"Lalong-lalo na sa mga probinsya, ginagawa lang nila ito tuwing weekends, Sabado at Linggo," Anthropologist Chester Cabalza said.

Over time, markets evolved to become centers of the local economy.

But even before the arrival of foreign colonizers, Filipino ancestors had a system of exchange. They would sell products from their crops.

"Bago pa dumating ang mga mananakop eh talagang nagtitinda na rin 'yung ating mga ninuno. Nagbebenta sila ng mga produkto mula sa kanilang mga pananim," Cabalza said. —Carby Rose Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News