3 weeks ago
8
LOCAL chief executives in Nueva Ecija were particularly busy on Valentine's Day, the day when local government units have offered civil mass weddings for free.
Gapan City Mayor Emary Joy Pascual was probably the busiest, as 516 couples took part in the mass wedding in the city.
The mayor's brother, Rep. Emeng Pascual, said this is the most number of couples to have joined a mass wedding in Nueva Ecija.
He said the old record was around 200 couples during the time when he was still mayor of Gapan.
In Gapan City, the brides were provided with wedding gowns and the grooms with Barong Tagalog for free.
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The couples also received gold wedding rings and a free reception at the lawmaker's house in Barangay Pambuan after the ceremony.
In Cabiao town, Mayor Ramil Rivera and his son, Councilor Kevin Rivera, hosted 58 couples in the mass wedding held at the Web gymnasium.
The mayor handed the couples a cash gift of P5,000 each as town councilors serenaded the newlyweds during the event.
In Cuyapo town, Mayor Flor Esteban and her daughter, Dr. Kim Esteban, spearheaded the "town wedding in the month of love" for at least 22 couples held at the town's municipal gymnasium.
In the Science City of Muñoz, Mayor Armi Alvarez and Vice Mayor Nestor Alvarez hosted 82 couples who got married for free on Valentine's Day.
In San Jose City, 101 couples were wed by Mayor Mario Salvador at the convention center in Barangay Tulat.
"It's a celebration of Valentine's Day; make our day filled with love," Salvador said.
In the municipality of Dingalan in nearby Aurora province, Mayor Shierwin Taay facilitated the wedding of 42 couples at the municipal gym.
Valentine's Day has always been synonymous with love, and the joyous celebration of marriage and the union becomes more special as local chief executives also act as the couple's godmother or godfather.
