Family celebrates five weddings on Valentine’s Day

Rodel and Elynor Daquioag first exchanged vows 23 years ago and have three children together. Yet, on Saturday afternoon, they celebrated Valentine’s Day by getting married at St Mary’s Church.

Loved one filled the pews, of course – but also the altar. Four other couples, branching from Rodel’s family tree, wed at the same ceremony.

Five-at-once nuptials may be unusual for Marlborough. However, in the Philippines, from where they hail, joint weddings are common. “We are very respectful to honour our culture,” Rodel said outside the church door, pausing briefly from welcoming guests as impeccably dressed as he.

Rodel and Elynor shared their joy with Vicente and Cherry Cablarda, Jhonny and Grace Montalan, Mahesh and Carmie May Mullangie, and Marvin and Leticia Robinson. Among them were a cousin, a niece, and their younger daughter’s godmother.

Though the Daquioags had a civil ceremony, they long wanted to get married in a church. Filipino-Kiwi religious leaders in Christchurch recommended the familial tradition “so that our weddings would have good blessings,” Rodel explained. “We also wanted to encourage our family to come.”

Along with relatives and friends, the guest list included Kaikoura Electorate MP Stuart Smith and New Lynn Electorate MP Paulo Reyes Garcia, the first Filipino to serve in Parliament.