After more than 13 years of being together, two seniors in Quezon Province have finally made their union official following a month of courtship.
Merianita Barbon, 60, and Apolinario Roldan, 72, got married in a civil ceremony officiated by Mulanan Mayor Aris Aguirre on Wednesday, August 27, inside the mayor’s office.
According to the mayor, the couple had been in a long-term relationship for over a decade, but it was only a month ago that they formally entered into a courtship before deciding to wed.
“Age is just a number, love wins!” Aguirre wrote in a Facebook post.
“Nakakatuwang isipin na isang buwan lamang silang nagligawan, ngunit ang kanilang pagmamahalan ay tumagal ng higit sa isang dekada,” he added.
“At ngayon, pinili nilang gawing legal at pormal ang kanilang pagsasama — isang patunay na ang tunay na pag-ibig ay walang pinipiling edad. Congratulations!” the mayor said.
In the Philippines, living together for many years or even decades does not automatically constitute a legal marriage.
Couples must still formalize their union under the law to gain the legal rights and protections afforded to married spouses, such as joint property ownership, spousal inheritance, and the ability to make legal or medical decisions on each other’s behalf.
