By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, officiated the wedding of 53 couples who tied the knot on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2025, at the town gymnasium.
Garcia-Yulo said many of the couples had been living together for years without the benefit of marriage, and some already had children. One couple had six children before deciding to wed.
The couples, aged 18 to 50, were mostly from the town’s upland barangays.
Garcia-Yulo said they took advantage of the local government’s free wedding program, Birada sa Kasanag nga Kasalan 2025.
The couples did not have to pay for anything, including the reception held at the gymnasium. They were also provided with free wine.
“All they had to spend on was their wedding attire,” Garcia-Yulo said.
She noted that for many couples, marriage was no longer a priority because they were focused on providing for their daily needs, especially those with children.
“So we made it free for them,” she added.
Garcia-Yulo said she initiated the program to help strengthen families through marriage.
She encouraged the newlyweds to seek their church’s blessing despite having their union solemnized by the local government.
In her message, she urged the couples to support and understand each other.
Her husband, Pimpoy Yulo, advised them to be patient and considerate, saying, “If one is fire, the other should be water” to prevent conflicts from escalating.
Rep. Dino Yulo (5th District, Negros Occidental) attended the event and congratulated the newlyweds.
Several town councilors and department heads also served as witnesses.
