Forty-six couples in E. B. Magalona exchanged “I dos” at the annual Valentine Mass Wedding, officiated by Mayor Marvin Malacon, at the Public Plaza on Wednesday, February 14.
It was the eighth Valentine Mass Wedding in E. B. Magalona where Malacon served as solemnizing officer since he became mayor of the municipality in 2016, a press release from the town said.
“To our newlyweds here, it is God’s will that you have met each other. It is also God’s will that you are here today to become husband and wife in the Holy Sacrament of Marriage. May the Lord bless your marriage as you commit to a lifelong partnership grounded in love, trust, respect, understanding, and commitment,” Malacon told the couples.
The mayor also underscored the role of principal sponsors, which is primarily to give guidance to the couple.
Vice Mayor Eric Matulac and eight members of the Sangguniang Bayan also delivered messages to the couples.
Also witnessing the wedding rites were barangays captains, municipal department and section heads, and principal sponsors.
The municipal government gifted all the 46 couples with 25 kilos of rice each, and tokens comprised of a framed prenup photo and coffee mug.
The special awardees, who each received two-burner gas stoves, were:
Oldest couple: Protacio Jawili, 54, and Meialyn Catigan, 47, of Barangay San Isidro;
Early Birds: Protacio Jawili and Meialyn Catigan of Barangay San Isidro; and
Best in Wedding Attire: Alexis Delfin of Barangay Damgo and Karen Evangelista of Barangay Tuburan.
Also shown during the ceremony was a pre-nuptial video taken of the 46 couples who attended an orientation on Solid Waste Management (SWM) and planted 300 mangrove propagules at the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail on January 30, to symbolize their shared commitment and responsibility to protect the environment.*