A couple at a mass wedding officiated by Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez won P50,000 and were given a pumpboat.
He officiated the mass wedding of 12 couples at the courtyard of the Bacolod City Government Center on Saturday and held a raffle, Benitez said on Sunday, March 3, during his Isugid kay Mayor radio program.
He said ambulant fish vendor Alvin Mallorca and Ereca Pugalas of Purok Tangigue, Brgy. 1, Bacolod, won the P50,000 cash gift that he gave. Alvin said they would use the money to buy a pumpboat.
Benitez said he and the city council members told the couple to keep their P50,000 and they would instead also be given a pumpboat for their livelihood.
Alvin and Ereca have been living together for 10 years and have two children.
Peter Parcon and Gena Babac also won P30,000 and Alvin Padilla and Pearnchend Peña won P20,000 in the raffle.
Present at the mass wedding were Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and councilors Em Ang, Israel Salanga, Renato Novero, Simplicia Distrito, Jason Villarosa, Pao Sy, and Dana Barzo.*