E. B. Magalona Mayor Marvin Malacon underscored the indispensable role of parents in raising responsible children who will later become responsible adults and make up a caring and loving community, during a Valentine Mass Wedding at the Public Plaza on morning of February 14, 2023.

Mayor Marvin Malacon, Vice Mayor Eric Matulac, Sangguniang Bayan Members and other officials with the 33 Saraviahanon couples at a Valentine Mass Wedding at the Public Plaza.

“Nagapati ako nga ang tanan nga nagakatabo sa komunidad halin sa panimalay. Ga-reflect ina kun ano kamo nga klase ka mga ginikanan. Ang inyo hatagan tsansa ang inyo kabataan. Kun kamo may kabataan nga retobado, nagahalin ina sa panimalay,” Malacon, who solemnized the wedding of 33 Saraviahanon couples, said in his inspirational message at the ceremony.

Mayor Marvin Malacon, assisted by Vice Mayor Eric Matulac, led the marriage rites as solemnizing officer of the Valentine Mass Wedding

“Kun ang aton mga kabataan indi naton matalupangdan, indi naton mahatagan sang matuod-tuod nga obligasyon, dira masugod ang problema sa komunidad,” Malacon emphasized.

This is now the seventh year that Malacon officiated the Valentine Mass Wedding in E. B. Magalona since he became mayor in 2016.

The oldest couple was Melchor Alota, 51, and Ellen Sedon, 40, of Barangay Alicante, while the youngest couple was John Rey Paloma, 21, and Jonalyn Barios, 19, of Barangay Alicante.

Antonietta Gador, statistical specialist of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Bacolod, served as guest of honor and speaker. She represented Luis Gonzales, chief statistical specialist of PSA Bacolod.

Also witnessing the mass wedding were Vice Mayor Eric Matulac, Sangguniang Bayan Members Gilda Parcon, Edgardo Agravante Jr., Wyndel Depasucat, Jovie Madayag, Reylan Gamboa Sr., Joey Pugales, Isidro Gomed Jr., and Edgar Jun Agravante, who is the president of Sangguniang Kabataaan Federation, and BAKAS (Barangay Kagawads Association of Saravia) president Matthew Louis Malacon.

Joining them were DILG-E. B. Magalona head Joji Kristine Barcelona, Municipal Planning and Development Office head Engr. Erwin Poniado, Local Civil Registrar’s Office head Mercedes Recla, Executive Assistant Debbie Ann Dioneo-Monte, Human Resource and Management Office head Isabel Armila Patrata, and Municipal Tourism Officer-designate Ma. Teresa Alvarez.

Recla said this year is now the 22nd mass wedding in E. B. Magalona. The conduct of mass wedding is part of their activities for the month of February as Civil Registration Month. This year’s theme is, “PSA @ 10: Providing Efficient and Effective Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Through Digital Transformation.”

Couple Elijah Nathaniel Chua, 24, and Kim Mariel Tabora, 27, of Barangay 3, led the signing of marriage contracts, with Malacon and Matulac, and witnessed by Sangguniang Bayan members.

Also shown in the ceremony was a pre-nuptial video taken of the 33 couples who earlier attended an orientation on Solid Waste Management (SWM) and planted 200 mangrove seedlings at the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail, to symbolize their shared commitment and responsibility to protect the environment.

The Municipal Government gifted all the 33 couples with 25 kilos of rice each.

The special awardees also received a complete set of two-burner gas stove each:

SPECIAL AWARDS:

BEST IN WEDDING ATTIRE: Elijah Nathaniel Chua, 24, and Kim Mariel Tabora, 27, of Barangay 3

OLDEST COUPLE: Melchor Alota, 51, and Ellen Sedon, 40, of Barangay Alicante

EARLY BIRDS: Alvin John Murillo, 31, and Rhea Gonzales, 23, of Barangay San Isidro, who arrived at the venue at 3:51 a. m. for the mass wedding that started at 9:00 a.m.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATOR: Jennelyn Pasamanero, who celebrated her 28th birthday

LONGEST KISS: Jonas Dales, 22, and Jessa Divinagracia, 24, of Barangay Batea

Meanwhile, the couple who answered the challenge to do the longest kiss received a cash prize.*

E. B. MAGALONA PIO