“BILANGGO, sa rehas ng pag-ibig mo.”

In a poignant display of love transcending confinement, 26 couples, with the grooms being prison inmates, exchanged vows in the Roman Catholic ceremonies within the confines of the Cagayan de Oro City Jail (CDOCJ) male dormitory.

The event, which took place yesterday at 2 pm, saw steel bars and fortified walls serving as witnesses to the unions, where even the thickest of barriers couldn't contain the couples' affection.

WEDDING DAY. Most Reverend Jose A. Cabantan, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City officiates the exchanging of vows of a male inmate and his fiancée during the mass wedding inside the Cagayan de Oro City Jail Male Dormitory on February 19. Photo by Pat Jared V. Pangantihon

The Most Reverend Jose A. Cabantan, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City, led the solemnization, supported by ten other priests. Setting a tone of profound sincerity, Archbishop Cabantan emphasized in his homily, “True love knows no bounds, it cannot be confined.”

Injecting moments of levity into the proceedings, the archbishop humorously remarked, “Love one another, not ‘love another’,” eliciting laughter in the middle of the solemnity.

LOVE WINS. A male inmate and his fianceé during the mass wedding inside the Cagayan de Oro City Jail Male Dormitory on February 19. Some 26 couples, inmates and their fiancées exchanged vows, officiated by the Most Reverend Jose A. Cabantan, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City. Photo by Pat Jared V. Pangantihon

The initiative was made possible through the collaboration of Junior Superintendent Wiliam T. Mnengyao, CDOCJ’s warden, and the Prison Ministry of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City.

The presence of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-10 JCSupt. Cesar M. Langawin, DSC, Regional Director, along with city officials including Mayor Rolando A. Uy, underscored the significance of the event.

TULOY ANG KASAL! A mass wedding was conducted in the Cagayan de Oro City Jail Male Dormitory on February 19 at two in the afternoon. Some 26 couples exchanged vows, officiated by the Most Reverend Jose A. Cabantan, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City. Of the 26 couples, 19 were male inmates marrying their fiancées, while seven couples were both male and female inmates. Photo by Pat Jared V. Pangantihon

Mayor Uy, serving as the principal sponsor for all 26 couples, ensured the celebration extended beyond the ceremony, with provisions of lechon, rice, and cakes courtesy of the City Mayor’s Office, symbolizing communal support for the newlyweds.

WEDDING GOODIES. Lechon, bags of rice, and wedding cakes await distribution by the Cagayan de Oro City Mayor’s Office during the mass wedding conducted in the Cagayan de Oro City Jail Male Dormitory in barangay Lumbia on February 19. Photo by Pat Jared V. Pangantihon

In a rare gesture, the warden sanctioned conjugal visits for the newlyweds, allowing them to spend their first night as married couples together.

Among the notable couples was a 51-year-old inmate, marking the oldest groom, and a common-law couple celebrating twenty-five years together, signifying enduring love amidst adversity.