Mayor Baba officiates wedding

Of 42 at Kasalan sa Tagbilaran

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb 15 (PIA)—In line with the Civil Registration Month in February, Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II along with the City Hall Family solemnized the civil wedding of 42 city resident couples in a ceremony dubbed a Kasalan sa Tagbilaran 2020, on the day of hearts, February 14, 2020.

The City Government, through the mayor has earlier announced the free Kasalan, in January to inform couples who have been living together outside wedlock, to take the chance and have their kids finally legally registered as their own.

By operation of law, mayors of cities and towns, ordained ministers, priests or rabbi of any regularly established church or congregation, judges, justices of peace, are authorized to perform marriage ceremonies.

To make the event even sweeter, the day being that of hearts, the city government also gave free corsage and bouquet for the males and a bridal bouquet for the females, two layered wedding cakes, two bottles of sparkling wine, a table and food for 12, free souvenir photos and a same day video edit on the event, shared Bianca Olalo of the Office of the City Mayor.

And for a grand venue, the city hall atrium was spruced up with an aisle and two floral arches, with a red carpet rolled out and round table settings with fine china, for the wedding guests.

The whole city hall atrium and extending to the alleys of the building’s second floor buzzed with activity as camera flashes punctuated the clinking of long stemmed glasses and the happy occasion garnished by the Tagbilaran City Chorale under Dr. Butch de Juan, which flooded the venue with ambient lovesongs.  
  

The wedding banquet also featured cake slicing and a ceremonial toast by the couple.

Tagbilaran City Civil Registrar Virginia Incog in an interview said she is happy that the people responded well to the invitation to finally legitimize their living together, as this saves her office countless problems in the provision of quick services to the city constituents.

Kids born out of wedlock, even if they are born from cohabitating parents are not legally acknowledged as such and may have problems with identity and status as well as child support, inheritance, and other rights that a legitimate child gets.   

Couples, some with kids already in the elementary, and some with infants to prove their union as couples, marched the aisles and had their souvenir shots taken with the city mayor and his wife, who each gave every newly-wed wedding gifts and tokens.

For the newly-weds with kids who could only be legitimized once the parents are legally wed, Incog said, they have to file for legitimation for each child.

The Kasalan sa Tagbilaran is among the City Government’s highlights for February as Civil Registration Month. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)

BRIDAL TRIKE. A newly wed couple of the City’s Kasalan sa Tagbilaran hies off in a tricycle with lucky number 13. This couple is just one of the 42 married on that day when the city government offered the mass wedding on Civil Registration Month. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)

LOVE IS THE AIR. The 42 couples wed during the Kasalan sa Tagbilaran got this customary shoot at the stairs of the City Hall with Mayor John Geesnell Yap and wife Jane Cajes-Yap, as the city offered a mass wedding with freebies for those who availed of the service. (rahchiu/PIA_7/Bohol)