Never-say-die Nani

By Al S. Mendoza

NANI Braganza, the never-say-die mayor of Alaminos City, has never stopped amazing me.

Look, he just held his “Hundred Kisses at Hundred Islands” mass wedding ceremony by way of commemorating the Day of Hearts – Valentine’s Day to the purists.

Where in the world could you find such event?

This year, more than 140 couples said their “I dos” before Mayor Nani on February 14, the feast of lovers.

Mayors in this country, as in many other countries in the world, can wed couples but only those involving the opposite sexes, though.

This was the fourth time that Mayor Nani has done it. And I can only raise my glass, again, to him.

When he first started it in 2005, Mayor Nani had 75 couples exchanging their “I dos” for the first time, and 25 other couples renewing their wedding vows.

In her report at the Star, the distinguished Eva Visperas wrote that in 2006, Mayor Nani wedded 130 couples.

Last year, it wasn’t only a record 159 partners that were wedded. They said their “I dos” before Mayor Nani in the first sunset wedding in the city held at the Lucap Wharf.

To those not in the know, the Lucap Wharf is where you board a motor boat in going to the island of your choice among the 100 islands off Alaminos’ gulf spilling into the South China Sea.

Because Mayor Nani had also stood as the major sponsor to the four mass wedding ceremonies, he might yet end up holding the record for the most number of wedding godfather stints in the world.

To make this year’s event doubly memorable, Mayor Nani supplied food, wine and roses to the couples, including souvenir photos and bands that provided music as romance wafted in the cool evening breeze by the sea.

Of course, Mayor Nani wasn’t alone as Eva reported that Vice Mayor Teofilo Humilde Jr., the 12 city lawmakers and 39 barangay captains tossed in their own resources to ensure the success of this momentous occasion.

A permanent fixture of the event is the waiving of the fees of marriage certificates by way of Mayor Nani’s added gift to the newlyweds.

If that’s not originality, what is?

Add all the wedded partners from 2005 to 2008 that Mayor Nani had stood as wedding sponsor to his romantic constituents and that would total to 529 couples – and counting.

At the rate he is going insofar as endearing himself to his town mates, Mayor Nani might yet build a solid base to make him a city icon primed to soon scale the heights of a politically correct and a morally upright fiefdom.

I will not be surprised when that day is finally here.

I will  just be amazed – amazed at how this once fiery student leader, a venerated street  parliamentarian, has metamorphosed so quickly into a mature, politicized public official, dedicated to the ideals of true service to the people.

May his tribe increase.

(Readers may reach columnist at also147@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/general-admission/ For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments