By Digna Banzon/PNA
DAVAO CITY — A hundred couples from the Davao region said “I do” in the annual mass wedding sponsored by the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG Fund on Valentine’s Day Thursday.
Now on its eighth year, the mass wedding rites dubbed “I Do, I Do Araw ng Pag-ibig” was officiated by Judge Emmanuel C. Carpio at the Ritz Hotel, Garden Oases, this city.
Of the number, 85 were from Davao City, six from Tagum City, seven from Digos City, and two from Panabo City.
From 2012 to 2019, Pag-IBIG Fund sponsored the wedding of 1,239 couples in the Davao region and 21,000 couples across the country.
The mass wedding was held simultaneously in 12 other sites in the country at the National Capital Region; Ilocos region; Cagayan Valley; Central Luzon; southern Tagalog region; Bicol; northern, southern, and western Visayas; northern, south western, and western Mindanao.
Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer Acmad Rizaldy Moti, in a video message during the ceremony, said the Fund remains strong with the support and trust of members.
“If the trust and support of our members were the reasons that made our Fund strong, your trust with each other will also make your marriage stable and strong,” he said.
Pag-IBIG Fund chairman of the board of trustees Eduardo del Rosario, who is also chairman of the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), told the couples to build good memories, always be inspired and willing to share.
He said, “As we hold this yearly undertaking, we wish to be a significant part of the members on this special occasion.”
He advised couples to take care of their relationship, respect each other’s opinions and rights, reminding them that “Pag-ibig” or love is the guide to a peaceful and smooth relationship as husband and wife.
Five-year-old Kelly Gestupa, who witnessed the union of her parents, Leonard and Marie Grace, said she was so happy.
Leonard Gestupa, who works in a hardware store, has been a Pag-IBIG member for three years.
He knew of the activity through Facebook and signified to join the ceremony through the Pag-IBIG Fund Davao Central Office.
Marie Grace, who is five months pregnant for their second child, said they were thankful for the program as it has been their wish to legalize their relationship.
“We are all happy and we see in Kelly how happy she was,” she added.
The Handog ng Pag-IBIG Fund I Do. I Do, Araw ng Pag-IBIG in Davao was spearheaded by the Southern Mindanao group, led by its area head Manolito Olegario. It was graced by the Fund’s Board of Trustees member Pedrito G. Angeles; Vice President for Members Services Operations for Visayas/Mindanao Rio R. Teves; Vice President for Housing for Visayas and Mindanao Marie Antoniette Diaz, and other officials.
The “I Do, I Do” event has won several awards for Pag-IBIG Fund. In 2013, the event won the first Philippine Quill for a Government Communication Program for the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.
The following year, it was given the Bronze Award by the Advertising Foundation of the Philippines for Advocacy Communications for promoting the values of reverence for the family unit or marriage and responsible parenthood.
It also was cited on the same year by the TV show Philippine Book of Records as having the “most number of couples in a nationwide mass wedding.” In 2016, the ASEAN Social Security Association (ASSA) gave it the Excellence Award under Strategic Communication.
