Seven couples say “I do” on Valentine’s Day

By FLOR JACKSON, PIA Biliran
February 15, 2011

NAVAL, Biliran  –  Seven couples from the Philippine National Police - Biliran Police Provincial Office said “I do” on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2011 during the mass wedding sponsored by PNP-Biliran through Police Senior Superintendent Alfredo Sabornido, PNP Provincial Director of Biliran in a grand ceremony at the PNP chapel located inside the headquarters.

The couples whose partners were members of the PNP in the province were PO2 Jose Bacalla and Clemencia Dimaslan; PO3 Sebastian Dagalea and Evelyn Brazil; PO2 Ramil Velasco and Jennelyn Orias; PO2 Raul MOnterola and PO3 Lynn Conge; PO2 Ryan Bunani and Irene Ponferrada; PO2 Felmin Regir and Cheryl Raga; and PO1 Jimmy Regir and Mary Jane Sabuya received the sacrament of matrimony officiated by Police Major Ricardo Piañar, Regional Chaplain of PNP in Eastern Visayas.

The wedding sponsors were Congressman Rogelio Espina who was represented by former Director of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Region 8, Tiburcio Morales who also represents the private sector in the province of Biliran; Governor Gerardo “Gerryboy” Espina, Jr. also represented by Brigido Caneja, III, SP Member of Biliran; Police Senior Superintendent Alexander Ignacio, PNP-8 Chief Directorial Staff who represented PNP-8  Regional Director Arnold Revilla; PSSupt Alfredo Sabornido and Atty. Lolita Casas-Nueve, Provincial Director of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) in Biliran, among others.

The crowd which was composed of relatives and friends of the couples, heads of some national government agencies, men and women of PNP-Biliran, the media and other guests were touched by the solemnity of the mass wedding.

The setting at the reception area within the compound of the PNP provincial headquarters was so festive.  Fresh flowers artistically arranged outside the chapel along the center aisle going to the altar added life, joy and color to the occasion.

One couple, PO2 Raul Monterola and PO3 Lyn Conge assigned at the PNP Police Station in Naval, the capital town of Biliran province and the PNP-Biliran headquarters respectively wore the PNP uniform together with the rest of the grooms who were PNP members, while the non-PNP brides wore formal ecru-colored dress.

PO3 Conge wore a nice ecru headress with an almost 10-meter long train.

The baptism of the eight month old son of PO2 Monterola and PO3 Lynn Conge was an added highlight after the wedding rites.

The couples were married in civil rites ranging from two months and a few years until they decided to be married in church.

According to PSSupt. Saborndio, the plan to have a mass wedding was conceived when the PNP in the province had their Christmas party in December last year.

Since then, he said, members of the PNP in Biliran province who were not yet married in church started to signify their intention to receive the sacrament of matrimony until a group of seven couples were gathered.

He added that in one of their staff meetings, they decided, that instead of the usual get together on Valentine’s Day, they might as well hold the mass wedding on February 14, 2011, so that the wedding anniversary of the couples will be well remembered on this very significant day of families and lovers.

Furthermore, he said that PNP-Biliran foot the bill for the wedding reception and other incidental expenses relative to the mass wedding.

“The mass wedding was part of my program to strengthen the spiritual life of the PNP men and women in the province,” he said.