Events: I Do, I Do Mass Wedding of PAG-BIG on February 14
200 couples were originally registered to be solemnized at 2:00 p.m. on February 14, at the New Government Center, sponsored by the PAG-IBIG Fund. Dubbed, “I do,
I do, Araw ng Pag-big,” this is the only PAG-IBIG Branch Office in the whole Visayas group that ever sponsors such an activity, according to Ms. Lourdes Uy, branch manager of Pag-ibig fund -Bacolod, at the presscon yesterday.
However, as the ceremony goes near, the number of couples increase to 400 then
became 600. However, business tycoon in Bacolod Ric Yanson, upon knowing such an
activity, has committed to sponsor 150 couples, making it a total of 750 couples
to be solemnized during the said mass wedding.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia sent a letter to Vice President Jejomar Binay to choose
Bacolod if there is such a thing as choose Philippines in tourism, inviting him
to become god father of the couples. He also called Binay’s daughter, Nancy and
try to convince the vice president to come to Bacolod on February 14 as
godfather of couples during the mass wedding.
Leonardia said Pag-Ibig will fund the decorations. This is the first time after
several mass wedding ceremonies, that the couples will be given a wedding
reception. So they could have a romantic dinner, PAG-BIG Fund and the city
government intend to have the reception near the fountain. In Manila, the mass
wedding was registered to 300 couples only. I think we have the biggest number
of couples in the Philippines in sofar as mass wedding is concerned, Leonardia
said.
Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said we are happy that the mass wedding will be co-sponsored by Pag-Ibig Fund. We thank Pag-Ibig for the support. We hope this could be the start of an active participation of the agency in the different projects and programs of the city government. We believe that for us to build a more solid city or more God fearing city it is better to start the union of our fellow citizens through a wedding. It is but proper that their union will be legalized so we could also produce legally conscious children in Bacolod.
The reason why the Bacolod City government is fostering a project like, because we believe that the basic foundation of the society is the family, starting with the husband and wife.
When we have stronger family, we have a stronger society and a better city.
Hence, we want to legitimize the union of couples because many of them are
already living together,” Leonardia disclosed.*
