“May forever ba kayo?” Municipal Civil Registrar Ismael Malicdem Jr. teased his audience of 100 couples inside the Sangguniang Bayan Session Hall on February 6 by testing their resolve in making the proverbial leap.

The couples are set to get married in civil rites this coming Valentine’s Day, with Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao standing as the solemnizing officer and Vice-Mayor Raul Sabangan and the rest of the SB serving as wedding sponsors.

In the briefing he expertly gave with a good dose of humor, Malicdem kept on advising the would-be official couples to firm up their decision because, he said, marriage is no joke. “Married life is not an easy thing – and very costly to take back. In fact, annulment these days can set you back by P200,000,” he explained.

Malicdem then walked the couples through their upcoming attendance to the mass wedding as well as the intricacies of processing their Certificate of Marriage.

Just in time, Vice-Mayor Sabangan arrived in the middle of the proceedings, and he was called upon to give an inspirational talk, in which he encouraged the couples not to hesitate to seek advice from him and the other ninongs and ninangs (wedding sponsors) should they encounter difficulties in their married life.

Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Lerma Padagas spoke next, reminding the partners that there are laws that exist to protect the marriage institution, women and children. Being a constant counselor to warring couples on the verge of a break-up, she also gave tips on how to handle relationship problems between husbands and wives and their children and in-laws. “Ang pinaka-common na reason ng hiwalayan ng mag-asawa ay ang awayan ng asawa at biyenan,” Padagas revealed.

Lastly, Alta Grace Evangelista took the stage to discuss in detail why pre-marriage counseling is an important prerequisite to getting married. Her topics were: what is marriage; marriage and relationship; building the family; maternal, neonatal and child care; family planning and responsible parenthood; and managing the home.