JUST as she was about to exchange wedding bands with her groom, Beatriz Largo felt pain in her stomach.
The 24-year-old Largo and her 24-year-old partner Ruben Sayloon were one of 138 couples who tied the knot in a mass wedding held at the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi in Naga City.
Beatriz had gone into labor hours before the wedding. She was attended to by Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong and a medical team who rushed her to a hospital across the church. Ruben said he considers his wife’s pregnancy a good sign.
He has three children from a previous relationship while Beatriz also has two children from a former liaison. The couple had lived together for four years until they decided to formalize their union by joining the mass wedding.
Mayor Chiong said the mass wedding, the third held in as many years, is part of Naga City’s Sept. 5 Charter Day celebration.
Chiong also celebrates his birthday on Sept. 5.
Lilith Sayloon, Ruben’s aunt, said the couple have yet to name their child, a girl.
Fr. Ricardo Cañete, who officiated the wedding, said although the couple were not able to complete the marriage rites, he considered the couple married.
He said the two only had to sign their marriage contract with their sponsors to seal their union.
Aside from Mayor Chiong, other principal sponsors were Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, Vice-Gov. Agnes Magpale, Rep. Gerald “Samsam” Gullas and the city’s councilors. Correspondent Gabriel C. Bonjoc