For 243 couples, Sagay City’s Christmas gift came in the form of marriage certificates, as the city held its biggest Kasalang Bayan yet at the Sagay City Gymnasium on Monday, Dec. 22.
The mass wedding, organized by the Sagay City government, was the largest civil marriage ceremony conducted so far in the city, uniting couples from different barangays in a single public event.
Mayor Leo Rafael “Bebo” Cueva said the initiative reflects the city’s commitment to strengthening families and reminded couples to remain faithful to each other despite life’s challenges.
Cueva also commended the City Civil Registrar’s Office and partner agencies for making the historic Kasalang Bayan possible.
The mayor said that the couples who got married during the event will also avail of free ligitimation of their children.
OIC Regional Director John Campomanes of the Philippine Statistics Authority–Negros Island Region lauded Sagay City for hosting the biggest mass wedding in the city and in Negros Island Region for 2025 and reiterated the importance of civil registration in establishing legal identity and family rights.
Councilor Exequiel “Boy” Marañon, speaking on behalf of Rep. Alfredo “Thirdy” Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District), congratulated the couples and reminded them that marriage is not about aesthetics but about two individuals becoming one legal family.
Marañon stressed that love and commitment are essential to a successful marriage, noting that no partnership is perfect and couples must choose to grow together through difficulties.
Vice Mayor Narciso “Narwin” Javelosa Jr. extended his congratulations and wished the couples a happy and long-lasting married life.
Also present during the event was City Civil Registrar . Vivencio Flores, who presented the couples during the mass wedding.
Senior Pastor Israel D. Bais of the Sagay Evangelical Church offered prayers and blessings for the newly married couples during the ceremony.*