After living together for 31 years since 1995, couple Juanito and Bernadette Mendija finally achieved their dream of getting married.

They were among the 50 couples from different barangays who tied the knot during Taguig’s Kasalang Bayan held on June 26 at the Lakeshore Hall in Barangay Lower Bicutan.

The free wedding ceremony was organized by the Taguig City Civil Registry Office to give couples the opportunity to solemnize their unions.

The oldest couple in the batch were Joseph Lubo, 46, and Myrna Lubo, 63, of Barangay Pinagsama.

The Mendijas were honored as the couple with the longest period of cohabitation, while Servillano and Nellie De Guzman of Barangay Bagumbayan received the Best-Dressed Couple award.

The De Guzman couple shared their secret to lasting love: commitment.

"Ang sikreto ng pagmamahal ay kailangan may commitment ka talagang mahalin ang isang tao. Walang taong perpekto -- may mga flaws at pagkakamali tayong lahat. Pero ang sikreto sa long-term na relationship ay palagi mong pipiliin ang taong kasama mo. Sa kabila ng mga challenges, downfall, at paghihirap na nararanasan ninyo, ang commitment at ang pagpili sa isa't isa ang pinakamahalaga (The secret to love is that you have to be truly committed to loving someone. No one is perfect -- we all have flaws and mistakes. But the secret to a long-term relationship is that you always choose the person you're with. Despite the challenges, downfalls, and hardships you experience, commitment and choosing each other is what matters most),” they said.

Mayor Lani Cayetano reminded the couples that marriage is a lifelong commitment.

"Hinahangad ko na hindi ninyo lang pinag-isipan ang desisyong ito, kundi taimtim din ninyo itong ipinanalangin. Ang kasal ay hindi para sa ilang buwan o ilang taon lamang, kundi isang commitment na gagawin ninyo sa isa't isa habang kayo ay nabubuhay (I hope that you have not only thought about this decision, but also prayed about it sincerely. Marriage is not for just a few months or a few years, but a commitment that you will make to each other for the rest of your lives),” she said.

Also present at the ceremony were Vice Mayor Arvin Ian Alit, First District Rep. Ricardo Cruz Jr., and Second District Rep. Jorge Daniel Bocobo.