A couple who had been married by civil rites for more than two decades was one of the 150 couples who finally took their church wedding vows yesterday at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.
The mass wedding was organized by the Cebu City government in time for the celebration of Family Week.
An open air reception followed at the Plaza Independencia with a lechon or roasted pig for each couple’s guests.
Roberto Mison,49, and Arlyn Suta,46, have been together for 26 years and have eight children and six grandchildren.
“Through the years, I always felt that I wasn’t ready to have a (church) wedding with him,” said Suta. She was finally convinced by Roberto to marry in church since preparations were sponsored by City Hall.
Each bride carried a bouquet of flowers and wore a veil in the ceremony, which was officiated by Msgr. Roberto Alesna, episcopal vicar for the Archdiocese of Cebu.
Another couple, Cerello Manggulang Jr. and Lorify Napores, has two children and have been living together in barangay Banilad for eight years.
“I feel very excited that we are finally blessed,” Napores said yesterday.
The couples walked from the cathedral grounds to Plaza Independencia for the wedding reception.
Cebu City Councilor Leah Japson, committee on women chairperson, said the city government spent P700,000 for the event, which included a free lechon for each couple, the pre-cana seminar and other church requirements for the couples.