2008 Mass Wedding on Valentine's Day

About 100 couples in Olongapo City are set to wed on Valentine's Day through the City Government's Mass Wedding Ceremony to be officiated by Mayor Bong Gordon.

Mayor Bong Gordon conducts the Mass Wedding for couples who are living-in together without the blessing of the church and law. On their wedding day, Olongapo City First Lady and Zambales Vice Governor Anne Marie Gordon together with the city officials will be the principal sponsors of the brides and grooms.

As Mayor Gordon's and Vice Governor Anne's wedding gift for the newly weds, a wedding reception will follow the wedding ceremony.

Required documents must be submitted to the City Civil Registry Office, headed by Keren Cajudo, which is the lead agency in the selection of the beneficiary couples.

Qualified couples must be 23 years of age and above and have been living-in together for at least five years or more as per Article 34 of the Family Code of the Philippines. A Certified True Copy of Live Birth (Birth Certificate) of the couple must be presented as well as the Certificate of Live Birth of their eldest child of 5 years old and above.

If the couple's eldest child is 4 years old and below and/or they do not have a child, they must secure a certification from their Barangay Chairman which attests that the couple has been living together for five years or more.

In addition to the aforementioned documents, the couples must also submit their 2008 Community Tax Certificates and their accomplished application form from the City Civil Registry Office. The office is now accepting applications until February 13, 2008.

On the other hand, couples under 23 years of age or those who are living in together for less than five years must go through the normal Marriage License Application. They must secure a Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR), Parental Consent, and must undertake a Family Planning Seminar and Marriage Counseling. Submission of these documents is until February 1, 2008.

The Mass Wedding Ceremony is scheduled on February 14, 2008 at the Olongapo City Convention Center (OCCC).

From year 2004 to 2007, hundreds of couples have already been lawfully married through Mayor Gordon's Mass Wedding Ceremonies.

For more information about the Mass Wedding Ceremony, visit the City Civil Registry Office or call telephone numbers 224-3976.