'Ang sarap magpakasal sa Ormoc'

Mayor Eric C. Codilla and wife Jingjing listen to the program during the opening of the Wedding Fair. Also in photo are (from left) OHRA Treasurer Apple Alagon, OHRA President Amparo Tan and beauty expert Dettie Panis. Behind Mayor Codilla is STI College Administrator Maricel Reyes-Ngo.

THE local government unit (LGU) successfully mounted the 2nd Wedding Fair from June 4 to 8. The first event last year attracted bookings for participants that the Ormoc Hotel and Restaurants Association decided to make it an annual affair. This year’s event attracted 34 participants and exhibitors from last year’s 24, making it the biggest wedding fair in Region 8.

This prompted Councilor Lea Doris Villar, vice chair of the City Tourism Council, to propose to Mayor Eric C. Codilla to hold the event next year at the Superdome. The affair was held at the spacious City Hall grounds where a bridal fashion show was also mounted on the third day.

The event, held in June being a traditional month for weddings, served as a venue where suppliers of wedding-related businesses can showcase their products and services. A visitor from Tacloban who saw the availability of all products and services needed for weddings was overheard saying: “Ang sarap magpakasal sa Ormoc.”
Those who took part include hair and makeup artists, bridal gown designers, videographers, events organizers, travel and tour operators, housing developers, wellness centers, pastry shops, etc. Also participating are the Ormoc Choreographers Guild, Ormoc Photographic Society and visual artists. Four schools offering tourism-related courses also put up their booths.

The event was even made bigger with the simultaneous holding by the Tourism Department of the Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions/events) Conference which aimed to consolidate the key players of the Mice industry. “We have the best hotels, restaurants and venues for conferences,” Villar said.

The Wedding Fair culminated with a Kasalang Barangay last June 8 at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church administered by Rev. Fr. Gilbert Urbina. Eleven couples who were wed in civil rites were chosen for an all expense paid church wedding courtesy of the LGU and sponsors who are also participants of the fair.

Each couple was handled by a team of wedding experts for the contests on Most Photogenic Couple, Best Makeup Artist and Most Organized Wedding Team. There is also a photo contest for the pre-nuptial photo session at Ormoc’s historical sites. Jules Penserga, one of the grooms, is thankful for being chosen, saying he cannot afford a church wedding being an average wage earner.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of June 4-10, 2010)