BACOLOD CITY - Twenty-two couples tied the knot in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental on Friday, despite the ongoing threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. solemnized the couples’ union during a mass wedding ceremony while strictly observing COVID-19 safety protocols.
The couples were wearing face masks, observed physical distancing, and only a limited number of participants and guests was allowed to attend the ceremonies staged in selected areas within the city.
The newly-weds were from Barangays Mambagaton and Talaban. Love gifts were also prepared by the city government for them.
Prior to the health crisis, the city has been organizing annual mass weddings as part of the city’s Charter Day celebration in March.
It might have been a little different this year because of the pandemic, but Tongson believed that no matter how challenging and uncertain these days may be, as long as the nation will continue to act in unity and love, there will certainly be hope for everyone.
The series of clustered weddings accommodating couples from all 19 barangays was still ongoing according to schedule.