313 couples exchange vows in mass wedding in Ilagan City

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela–About 313 couples, including seven pairs of Agta, exchanged vows in a Valentine’s Day mass wedding at the Ilagan Community Center here on Wednesday (Feb. 14).

Civil registrar Danver Albert Arzaga said the oldest couple at the ceremony were Marcelo Labayog, 71, and Fermina Lacrado, 62, while the youngest were Elimar Tagata, 19, and Erica Bueno, 18.

A 42-year-old wheelchair-bound woman, Joylyn Maglasang, also got hitched, finally marrying Romel Quilang, 44, with whom she has three children.

Marilyn Estrada, Cagayan regional director of the Philippine Statistics Authority, said, “It is good that you (couples) already settled down because statistics shows that there are so many live-in couples now. Marriage is the best foundation.”