TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb. 15 (PIA) -- In line with the Civil Registration Month in February, Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II solemnized the civil wedding of 42 couples in a ceremony dubbed Kasalan sa Tagbilaran 2020 on Feb. 14, 2020.
The City Government, through the mayor, has announced the free wedding 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.
The city government also gave free corsage and bouquet for the males and a bridal bouquet for the females, two-tiered 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.
Children born out of wedlock, even if they are born from co-habitating 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 receives.
Couples, some with kids already in the elementary, and some with infants to prove their union as couples, marched down the aisle and had their souvenir shots taken with the city mayor and his wife, who each gave every newlywed wedding gifts and tokens.
For the newlyweds with children 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. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)
By Rey Anthony H. Chiu
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