The Church Wedding Filipino Style

Music: Gaano Kita Kamahal (Filipino)

The traditional ceremonies of the candle, veil, and cord observed by traditional Filipino families are actually derived from the rites introduced in the early 18th century by the Spanish missionaries.

The Bride and Groom dressed in white, stand before the altar with several sets of sponsors.  Just as in baptism, when god-parents are second parents chosen to act as role models for the newly baptized individual.  Filipino tradition calls for principal sponsors (reverently referred to as Ninongs, male sponsors and Ninangs, female sponsors, to serve in this manner when a couple is to be married.  As wedding sponsors, they commit themselves to be a source of encouragement and guidance throughout the lives of the married couple.

The Bride and Groom, their hands joined is blessed with Holy Water by the officiating priest.  The rings are blessed and exchanged.  The bride cups her hands under the groom's cupped hands, the priest dribbles thirteen silver coins (from the Spanish word "Arras", "earnest money") into the groom's open palms, trickling like a water falls into the brides hands, and from her palms into a plate held underneath an acolyte or "sacristan".  The trickling of the arrhae or arrets or arras is"... a sign of fidelity bestowed irrevocably" and completes the marriage contract.  The priest recites prayers over the couple and will continue the nuptial mass at this point.

SANCTUS!  a point in the mass is announced by bell rings and the veil sponsor place a ceremonial veil over the groom's shoulders and the bride's head.  This symbolizes the unity of the two families into one; it is also a prayer for health and protection during their married life.  Then comes the Yufal (nuptial tie, a silken cord or strand of flowers or coins, even diamonds) which the cord sponsors entwine loosely around the necks of both bride and groom in the form of a figure eight.  The cord or yugal symbolizes the infinity of the bond of marriage, a union that lasts a lifetime.  The candles, lit by the candle sponsors, is a call for enlightment, a reminder of God's presence in the ceremony.  The cord ceremony concludes the rituals in a Filipino wedding.

Lest we forget, the American tradition of the first kiss when the priest or pastor introduces the newly weds is now part of the Filipino tradition, needless to say, the rites of the candles, veil, cord, arrets and ring will always be the basic ingredient of truly Filipino Kasalan.

Acknowledgment:
This is an excerpt from the writeup of: Ernest Punzalan, Ph.D.