87 couples say “I Do”

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (16 February 2015) – City Mayor Ronnel Rivera played cupid to Egmedio Corpuz, 77, and Julieta Binson, 69, as he solemnized their marriage after 52 years of living in.

The couple and 86 others finally forged their relationship through a mass civil wedding entitled “I Do. I Do.” sponsored by the Pag-IBIG Fund and in partnership with the city government on February 12 at the City Plaza.

The Corpuz couple already has seven children and a couple of grandchildren.

According to Egmedio, it was poverty—unfortunately—that had delayed their marriage for 52 years.

“Despite that, we stuck together to fend for our children. We have to be together because we love each other,” Egmedio said.

And on February 12 the two finally exchanged their first kiss as legal couple, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Mayor Rivera, who also solemnized the marriage of 86 other couples, expressed his delight for letting him be the key to fulfill their vows.

He also gave a piece of advice as a married person himself.

“Our love should be tight.”

Mayor Rivera, married for 16 years, shared some of his secrets of having a happy family.

“In our relationship, we should have God in the center. And if we have Him, then all the things that we seek will be given to us,” the mayor said.

“And of course,” Rivera added, “mutual understanding between each other (couples) and cleanliness of each respective home are also necessary for a happy family life.”

Mayor Rivera is married to Jane Gollon-Rivera. They have four children.

The “I Do. I Do.” is an annual mass civil wedding activity of the Pag-IBIG Fund every February. It is their way of helping unmarried Pag-IBIG members tie the knot and enjoy the legal benefits of marriage.

In the entire Philippines, around 4,000 couples were also simultaneously wed through the same program.

In Gensan, this event has been running for three years already in constant coordination with the Local Civil Registrar and City Population and Management Office.

Manolito Olegario, Pag-IBIG Fund South Western Mindanao Area head, also detailed out some of the legal benefits of marriage such as easier management of properties.

He also commended Mayor Rivera for making Gensan a beautiful place to conduct a wedding rite.

“Last Christmas, my in-laws visited Gensan. They really appreciated the Oval Plaza especially the white Christmas lights and the ‘Frozen-themed’ Plaza,” Olegario said.  (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John M. Lagare)