MANILA, Philippines -- The Home Development Mutual Fund, more popularly known as Pag-IBIG Fund, will sponsor a mass wedding for its members on February 14, Valentine’s Day, to be simultaneously held at the SM Mall of Asia and other SM Malls in Baguio, Naga, Bacolod, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

Dubbed as “I Do. I Do. Araw ng Pag-IBIG,” the event will allow couples to get married or renew their wedding vows in civil ceremonies. 

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay will attend the mass wedding ceremony to be held at the Bacolod New Government Center in Bacolod City, which will be attended by 600 couples.

Similar events will also be held in Calamba and Kidapawan, co-sponsored by the respective local government units. LGUs of the areas where the mass weddings will be held also supported the fund’s undertaking through the speedy or free processing of the required documents.

“With this activity, Pag-IBIG hopes to help couples who wish to be married but have no monetary means to do so,” said Atty. Darlene Marie B. Berberabe, Pag-IBIG chief executive officer, said in a statement released on Monday.

“We also hope that these couples will see Pag-IBIG as its partner, an integral part of their lives as they build and provide for their own families.  After all, the first thing that newly-married couples usually think of is having their own house as they start their families,” she added.

Pag-IBIG said it also hopes to use the event to promote financial literacy and greater appreciation of the concept of savings among the newlyweds.   

To add to the festive atmosphere, participating couples will be eligible to win raffle prizes.  A grand prize of one house and lot package from the Pag-IBIG Fund’s pool of acquired assets valued at around P400,000  will be awarded.  Home appliances will also be raffled off.