Standing ankle-deep in swamp mud, couples have wed in an unusual Valentines Day' ceremony on this western Philippine island, that marked their commitment to the environment.The 100 barefoot couples, dressed in white, stood in the swamp facing the sea and exchanged vows in a ceremony officiated by the city mayor.
"You will be an example of true love not just to your partner but to the environment," Mayor Edward Hagedorn said in a short speech after marrying the mostly poor couples from
The official ceremony was free of charge for the couples in exchange for planting mangrove saplings in the swamp and helping further to protect their island.
This strange combination of environmentalism, romance and aid to the poor has become an annual event in Puerto Princesa which has been pushing an image of cleanliness and ecological activism to attract tourists to
For seventy-two year old farmer Protacio de Ocampo, the free ceremony was a chance to make official his relationship with 67-year-old partner Teofela Apolinario.
The pair have been together since 1958 but de Ocampo has been too embarrassed to approach officials to arrange a traditional wedding because he is illiterate and could not sign the marriage license.
No comments:
Post a Comment