Around 240 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) couples exchanged vows and rings that symbolize their love for each other in a commitment ceremony sponsored by the Quezon City government on Valentine’s Day.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte led the commitment ceremony at the Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC).
The couples exchanged vows and ring, sliced and ate wedding cakes, and drank wine together.
Belmonte reminded the couples that the city government is always there to support their community.
"Here in Quezon City, I want you to feel that you are special. I want you to feel that your love is just as important as the love of a heterosexual couple," she said
Miss TransGlobal 2020 Mela Habijan, former QC Pride Council Vice President Ging Cristobal, actress Liza Diño-Seguerra, and singer Ice Seguerra shared their inspiring messages reminding the couples to communicate and always choose each other all the time.
This is the third commitment ceremony for the LGBTQIA+ couples organized by the city government (first was in 2019 with around 200 couples and then in 2022 with 250 partners).
Meanwhile, 35 couples in Valenzuela City tied knots during the "Kasalang Bayan" held at the WES Events Space in Barangay Dalandanan on the same day.
The Valenzuela City government gave bouquets of flowers to the brides and prepared a buffet, cocktails, wines, and chocolates for the couples and their families.
Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie "Wes" Gatchalian also gave each couple P500 worth of SM gift certificate.
The newlywed couples also brought home five kilograms of rice, a bag of ham, and gift cheques from the city councilors.
“Kung may oras tayo sa ating barkada, sa basketball, sa trabaho, kung tayo po ay pumasok sa ganitong commitment, dapat gagawa at gagawa tayo ng oras sa ating maybahay. Iyan po ang importante sa isang relasyon (If we have time for our friends, for basketball, for work, if we enter into this commitment, we should make time for our partner. That's what's important in a relationship)," Gatchalian said.
The Kasalang Bayan is part of the city's 25th Charter Day celebration on Feb. 14.