The month of June has always been traditionally associated with weddings.
According to some beliefs, June was chosen as the ideal month for weddings because in ancient Rome, couples who marry during that month are assured of a prosperous, happy and blessed life together. The tradition has since spread, even in the Philippines where June usually meant the start of the rainy season.
Nevertheless, this served to remind the brides and grooms who were feted at the recent "Kasalang Bayan" of the city government of Biñan, Laguna last June 14 of their vows to love and cherish each other, no matter what the season is.
The Kasalang Bayan is a regular program of the city government of Biñan City that gives couples a chance to have their unions legitimized in the eyes of the law – which gives them and their children added protections under the law.
The 100 couples who were wed at the Kasalang Bayan in Biñan City, held at the Alonte Sports Arena were also given freebies and gifts by the city government, including free marriage licensing, photoshoots, free wedding cakes courtesy of Vice Mayor Gel Alonte and the city council, and gifts courtesy of Mayor Arman Dimaguila.
Life lessons
This year’s Kasalang Bayan, meanwhile, also gave city officials led by Mayor Arman Dimaguila the ideal opportunity to stress to the newlyweds some of the life lessons they have learned in their own married lives.
Dimaguila, for instance, who officiated the ceremony, pointed out that the old-fashioned mindset of a woman sacrificing all for her marriage should not be the case in today’s world.
“Sa panahon po ngayon, hindi na po ako naniniwala na ang mga babae na lang ang laging nagsasakripisyo sa kanilang pag-aasawa: parang napaka-unfair po naman,” he related.
“Para sa akin, mas maganda na ang nagbibigay o ang nagpaparaya ay ang mga lalaki. Bakit? Mas maigi po na mag-give way tayong mga lalaki, lalo na sa mga pagtatalo, nang sa gayon mas matututo po ang ating mga asawa kapag mali sila, at mas magiging perpekto ang relasyon.”
Dimaguila also stressed the importance of mutual respect between couples and warned against marital violence as being detrimental to relationships.
“Ito po ang payo ko sa mga kababaihan: the moment na saktan kayo ng inyong mga asawa, nakatikom man o bukas ang palad, iwanan ninyo ang iyong asawa. Walang reason na makisama ka sa isang lalaking nananakit,” he stressed.
‘Respeto, pagmamahal at tiwala’
Vice Mayor Gel Alonte, on the other hand, emphasized the vital importance of trust, respect and love to make a relationship work.
“Ang recipe po namin mag-asawa, kung kaya po kami nagtagal ng halos 22 taon na, ay ang tinatawag naming ‘RPT’: Respeto, Pagmamahal, at Tiwala sa isa’t isa,” was how Alonte summed up his own life lessons.
Aside from these three traits, the vice mayor also urged the couples at the Kasalang Bayan to make each day special and memorable to each other.
“Sa araw-araw na kayo’y magkasama, gawin ninyong espesyal ang bawat araw na iyon. Lagi kayong mag-explore kasama ang isa’t isa. At ang pinakamahalaga, siyempre, ay ang bukas na linya ng komunikasyon – kahit pagod na kayo sa trabaho, huwag kalimutang mag-usap kayo kahit kaunti. At lagi kong sinasabi na huwag kang maghanap ng taong makakaintindi sa iyo; ang hanapin mo ay yung taong kahit hindi ka naiintindihan ay hindi ka iiwanan,” he added.
Lovers must also be friends
Meanwhile, City Councilor Jonalina “Dada” Reyes emphasized the value of keeping the “friendship” aspect of being a married couple.
“Kami po ng asawa ko ay tatlong taon na pong kasal, ngunit 2015 pa lang po ay magkaibigan na po kami. Ang nakakatuwa po ay kahit iba po ang karelasyon namin noong mga panahon na iyon, kapag nagkakaroon po kami ng mga problema, sa kanya pa rin po ako dumudulog for advice at ganoon din naman siya sa akin,” she recounted.
Reyes added that this “friendship” aspect of marriage should sustain them long after the passions have cooled.
“Kaya ko po ibinabahagi ito, kasi sa mga susunod na panahon na kayo ay mag-asawa, mawawala naman talaga yung kilig. Katunayan nga po, noong tinanong ko po yung asawa ko kung kinikilig pa siya sakin, di rin siya nakasagot. Minsan nawawala na rin po iyon, pero yung friendship na para bang lagi kayong mag-best friend, iyon po ang huwag nating kalimutan,” she advised.
But the most important lesson city officials could give to the newlyweds who took their vows at the Kasalang Bayan is that they should let God be at the center of their new lives as married couples.
“Malungkot man o masaya, huwag po nating kakalimutang magdasal, magpasalamat, humingi ng kapatawaran at sa mga challenges na inyong pagdadaanan. Kumuha po kayo sa Kanya ng lakas kasi hindi magiging madali sa mga susunod na panahon dahil iba-iba tayo ng pagdadaananan,” Councilor Reyes advised.
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