JEDDAH, 8 December 2005 — There was no walk along the aisle, no flower girls, no maids of honor or best men. Even their parents were not around to greet them on their wedding day.
But that didn’t deter Ryan Maun and Kristin May Boniel, Willy Bautista and Nordeliza Acuzar, Jay Marzal and Laarni Liwag, Lolita Geralde and Nilda Denero, from exchanging “I dos” during a mass wedding presided over by Consul General Pendosina Lomondot at the consulate.
This year, there was a remarkable increase in the number of marriages in the Western Region. Lomondot was happy to tell Arab News that the number of OFWs applying for marriage has increased in the last few months of this year.
“Here in the consulate in Jeddah the average of marriages we solemnize is around 10 in a month. Most of the time, we perform mass weddings so that those who are getting married will have more fun. Our kababayans have no qualms about it, they like it (mass weddings),” Lomondot told Arab News.
Lomondot, however, reminded that they are strictly scrutinizing the papers of those applying for marriage. “We see to it also that all the necessary papers, especially from the National Census and Statistics Office (NCSO), marriage certificates and affidavits are in order before we solemnize any marriages,” he said.
Arab News was shown folders of the four couples that contain various documents, specifically the document from the NCSO certifying that those applying for marriage are single or has not contracted any previous marriages.
The wedding ceremony was simple. After a short lecture about the responsibilities of husband and wife, he then told the couples, “When you say ‘I do’, you take the ring and put it on the finger of your wife and vice versa.” After that, Lomondot declared the “four pairs as husbands and wives.”
There was differing reaction when Lomondot said, “You may now kiss the bride!” His instruction was for the couples to kiss for three minutes. Couples who didn’t want to show their emotions in public were a bit hesitant. The others jumped at the chance to finally kiss the person they love.
Ray Maun said, “What a wonderful feeling it is on your wedding day, especially if many pairs are involved. Usually, it is just one pair, and in a church.”
Kristin May Boniel, Ryan’s wife, agreed: “To be wed in Jeddah is wonderful. I thought weddings here are simple, but it turned out to be grand and full of fun!”
