THIRTY-three couples tie the knot in a mass wedding on Valentine’s Day at the public plaza of E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental. (Photo courtesy of E.B. Magalona PIO)

BACOLOD CITY – Thirty-three couples were married in the 22nd mass wedding this year in the municipality of E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental on Valentine’s Day at the public plaza.

Mayor Marvin Malacon officiated the mass wedding which he has been doing for seven years since he became mayor in 2016.

The oldest among the couples were Melchor Alota, 51, and Ellen Sedon, 40, of Barangay Alicante, while the youngest were John Rey Paloma, 21, and Jonalyn Barios, 19, also of Barangay Alicante.

Couple Elijah Nathaniel Chua, 24, and Kim Mariel Tabora, 27, of Barangay 3, led the signing of marriage contracts, with Malacon and Vice Mayor Eric Matulac, and witnessed by the members of the municipal council.

Malacon, in his message to the couples, underscored the indispensable role of parents in raising responsible children who will become responsible adults and make up a caring and loving community.

The local government provided the couples with 25 kilos of rice each.

Special awardees received a complete set of two-burner gas stove each.

Best in wedding attire were Chua and Tabora.

Early bird awardees were Alvin John Murillo, 31, and Rhea Gonzales, 23, of Barangay San Isidro, who arrived at the venue at 3:51 a.m. for the mass wedding which started at 9 a.m.

Jonas Dales, 22, and Jessa Divinagracia, 24, of Barangay Batea, received a cash gift for doing the longest kiss.

Antonietta Gador, statistical specialist of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) here, was guest of honor and speaker, representing Luis Gonzales, chief statistical specialist of PSA Bacolod.

The mass wedding was part of the town’s activities for the month of February as Civil Registration Month.

This year’s theme is “PSA @ 10: Providing Efficient and Effective Civil Registration and Vital Statistics through Digital Transformation.’’

Prior to the mass wedding, the couples attended a solid waste management (SWM) orientation and later planted 200 mangrove seedlings at the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail in Barangay Tomongtong to symbolize their shared commitment and responsibility to protect the environment.

#EB MAGALONA

33 couples tie the knot in Negros mass wedding