A total of 16 couples got married in a mass wedding dubbed as “Kasalang Bayan” officiated by Mayor Gian Carlo Occeña on May 15, 2024 in Sitio Tinubuan, Barangay Calog, Sibalom, Antique.

This was the 7th in a series of mass weddings in far flung barangays of municipality which kicked off in February this year during the Civil Registration Month celebration.

The Local Government Code of the Philippines gives mayors the power to solemnize marriages and since economic concerns was pointed by most couples as the main reason why they live together, but do not formally marry, the Municipal Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sibalom has shouldered not only the gifts for the couples but also the expenses to conduct the ceremony. It was even brought to the community together with the processing of documentary requirements and registration of the event as facilitated by the Municipal Civil Registry Office led by Engr. Edsel Feranil, Sibalom’s Municipal Civil Registrar, who was also present in the event.

Also in attendance were the personnel of Philippine Statistics Authority Antique Provincial Statistical Office led by Chief Statistical Specialist Randy Tacogdoy who delivered a message on the basic of civil registry laws particularly on marriage laws, the importance of the ceremony and on the role of PSA in the registration and in ensuring the safekeeping and integrity of the couples’ Certificates of Marriage among other civil registry documents. Members of PSA Antique Musical Group also rendered serenade songs for the couple during the traditional wedding dance.

Using the Civil Registration Month as the staging platform, the PSA and LGUs annually take an extra push to encourage Filipinos to register their births and marriages for them to obtain legal documents to establish their family relationships, civil status and legal identity, thereby facilitating their participation in society and the realization of their 
civil rights and privileges.

The next mass wedding will be held in Barangay Nazareth of the said municipality on 
June 5, 2024.