172 couples say ‘I do’ in Naga
Fr. Nick Sagnoy officiate the ceremony of a mass wedding at the St. Frances de Assisi parish in Naga City. The celebration is part of the celebration of 7th Charter day of the city. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
Eighteen years together as unwed couple, Mercedez Paner, 49 and Felipe Dugso, 54 finally said their “I dos” together with 172 couples at the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in the City of Naga yesterday.
“This wedding will strengthen our belief in Him and strengthen our relationship as a couple,” Mercedez said.
The couple met in Lanao del Sur and moved to Naga, Mercedez’s hometown, to start a new life as partners.
They were blessed with two children now aged 18 and 13.
Felipe works as a tricycle driver while Mercedez tends to their small sari-sari store.
The mass wedding was officiated by seven priests headed by parish priest Fr. Orly Ruiz. The ceremony was sponsored by the City of Naga government.
City Hall paid for the processing of the documents as well as for the marriage counseling. Each couple got a wedding cake.
Gov. Hilario Davide III and Rep. Samsam Gullas (1st District) attended the event.
The mass wedding has been a yearly activity which was started two years ago as part of the city’s Charter Day celebration.
Naga as a city will turn seven on September 5.
Mayor Valdemar Chiong said the project aims to allow those who have long been living together as a couple to finally be married in church.
“I’m happy they got married in a church because their mayor was never married. I just hope their marriage stays strong,” he said./With a report by USJ-R Intern Chens Judale Pleños
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