167 couples wed despite rain in Parañaque's 'Kasalang Bayan'
Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez and his wife, Janet Olivarez, witness the 'Kasalang Bayan' ceremony for 167 couples at the Parañaque Coliseum. (Photo courtesy of Parañaque PIO)
Despite the rain, 167 couples formalized their unions in the city government’s "Kasalang Bayan" ceremony led by Mayor Edwin Olivarez on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Couples gathered at the Parañaque Coliseum to exchange vows and legalize their marriages under the city’s free mass wedding program.
Olivarez, with his wife Janet, witnessed the ceremony and congratulated the newlyweds as they began their married lives.
The 167 couples, representing 16 barangays, mark the largest participation in the Kasalang Bayan during Olivarez’s administration.
It was the third Kasalang Bayan under his leadership and the first staged at the Parañaque Coliseum, made possible through the support of 20 partners from the city government and private sector.
In his message, Olivarez urged the newlyweds to build their marriages on love, respect, faith, and commitment, reminding them to stay strong through life’s challenges and triumphs.
The Kasalang Bayan is one of the city’s programs designed to help couples formalize their relationships and gain legal recognition of their marriages without bearing the cost of a wedding ceremony.