At least 177 couples exchanged vows in a mass wedding administered by the city government at the Capital Arena in Alibagu, City of Ilagan, Isabela.
Alfredo Cabison, 73, and his wife Marcela, 67, are the oldest couple among them. They are from Capo village. They finally got married after 54 years of being together.
“We want to be together as a married couple even if we are already old,” Alfredo stated.
John Mark Gangan, 19, and his wife Antonia, 18, are the youngest pair. They bore a child before they got married.
Even the LGBTQ+ joined the wedding as self-proclaimed gay Tripon Joey Castillo, 19, married lesbian Judilyn Blen Castillo, 21, of Pilar village. They have a three-month-old baby prior to their wedding.
Indigenous couples attended the ceremony as well. June Juaning, 41, and her wife Wanda, 39, from Cabiseria 10, were married after 20 years of living together without the benefit of marriage.
“This is necessary so that our kids will follow us and we can demonstrate our love for one another,” June stated.
The wedding’s officiant, Mayor Josemarie Diaz, counseled the couples to follow the four virtues of marriage.
He mentioned transparency, trustworthiness, love, and respect.
“A couple’s relationship is a choice and a decision. Never forget the four virtues: love is the reason you are here. Second, show each other respect. Third, communication openness, and fourth, reliability to strengthen bonds,” he continued.#
