A vow beyond the law: love and the fight for recognition

CEBU CITY, Philippines — For three LGBTQ+ couples, a wedding they had dreamed of for years finally became a reality on August 21, 2026.

Inside a hotel in Cebu City, the couples stood before their families and friends and promised to stay together.

They were among the couples who took part in Cebu’s first Grand LGBTQ+ Mass Wedding, a religious ceremony led by Rev. Crescencio Agbayani Jr., pastor of the Quezon City-based LGBTS Christian Church Inc.

It was not a civil marriage. Under Philippine law, marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman, so same-sex couples do not have the same legal recognition and protections as heterosexual married couples.

Charmine Rone and Irene Meng Fei Pardillo show off their wedding rings after the holy union in Cebu City. 

But for the couples, the ceremony was more than a celebration. It was a public expression of love, commitment, and hope that one day, their relationships and families will receive recognition and protection under the law.

‘We are not hurting anyone’

For Charmine Rone and Irene Meng Fei Pardillo, the ceremony fulfilled a dream that had taken 22 years to reach. Their relationship went through difficult periods, including times when they separated, but they eventually found their way back to each other.

For Charmine, that was when she knew she wanted Irene in her life for good.

“I said to myself, I want to marry her and spend the rest of my life with her,” Charmine said.

She added that their love should not be judged simply because they are both women.

The couples exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment during the holy union ceremony. 

“We are not hurting anyone. Our conscience is clear. We are just human beings created by God to love and care for one another. As long as we love each other, what is wrong with that?”

“Even if it is not legal in the eyes of other people, it is still a marriage that is real to us. I hope the time will come when our relationship will be recognized.”

For Irene, having her family present during the ceremony made the day even more meaningful.

“To my family, thank you for accepting us,” she said.

The couple hopes people will look beyond the fact that their union is not legally recognized.

“I hope people will not judge LGBTQ+ people who are getting married just because it is not legal,” Irene said. “Even if it is not legal, it is still legal for us.”

For them, acceptance from family and friends is already an important part of building a life together.

‘We dreamed of being married’

Judy Ann Rivera and Eloise Dy have also been together for three years. They originally planned to get married in Canada, where same-sex marriage is legally recognized. But after seeing information about the Cebu ceremony online, they decided to take the opportunity.

Judy Ann Rivera and Eloise Dy smile as they listen to the homily during their holy union ceremony. 

For Judy Ann, the ceremony was a step toward a future where LGBTQ+ couples can enjoy the same rights as everyone else.

“We hope to have equal rights and for marriage to be legalized,” Judy Ann said. “We are just human beings too. We dreamed of being married and having that feeling of being a married couple.”

The couple said love should not be limited by gender. They also pointed to the practical reasons legal recognition matters, especially when couples build a life together. Property, healthcare, and making important decisions for a partner during an emergency can become more complicated when a relationship is not recognized by law.

For Judy Ann, however, the ceremony was deeply personal.

“I’m just happy,” she said through tears. “Before, I didn’t believe in marriage. But when I met her, she sacrificed everything for me. I felt that I was ready for this person.”

Their message to younger LGBTQ+ couples was simple.

“Just be true to yourself,” Eloise said. “Don’t be afraid to come out. It is not your fault. We were all born with free will.”

“LGBTQ+ people deserve the same chance to live openly, love freely, and build a family. We all have the right to have a voice and to be happy,” she added.

The couple also knows that not everyone will accept them. But they said criticism does not have to be answered with hatred.

“You cannot please everybody,” they said. “We cannot hate them because it will reflect your attitude and your personality.”

‘We are just human’

For Evelyn Olvido and Marlyn Crebello, the ceremony was another step in building the future they want together. The couple has been together for three years.

Evelyn Olvido and Marlyn Crebello hold hands during their holy union ceremony.

Marlyn said being in a same-sex relationship should not mean they are denied the chance to make the same commitments as other couples.

“Just because we are both women does not mean we cannot get married,” Marlyn said. “We are just human beings who want someone to be with forever.”

For Evelyn, the ceremony was not about making a statement on social media.

“Our souls and our lives are already connected,” Evelyn said. “This is not just for social media.”

The couple also sees legal marriage as important for their future plans, especially if they decide to live or travel outside the Philippines.

“There are future plans for us. If we decide to go out of the country, having our relationship legally recognized could be useful,” Marlyn said.

She encouraged younger LGBTQ+ couples not to be afraid to speak up.

“Speaking out is good. You are not doing anything wrong. Just be yourself,” she said.

Both said their families have been supportive.

“There is no problem with our family. They accepted us wholeheartedly, and we are so lucky,” Marlyn said.

For Evelyn, the hope is simple: fairness.

“I am already committed. I dream that we will have the same privileges that heterosexual couples have,” Evelyn said.

She also reminded LGBTQ+ people to trust themselves and hold on to their faith.

“It is important that you trust yourself and God,” she said. “It does not matter what your religion is. What matters is that you have faith in God.”

A call for lawmakers

For Agbayani, who presided over the ceremony, the presence of the couples was about more than a wedding. The event was organized to raise social awareness and strengthen the call for marriage equality in the Philippines.

“The call is that we hope the lawmakers will listen and create a law recognizing LGBTQ+ as a family,” Agbayani said. He noted that the ceremony challenges the idea that LGBTQ+ people cannot create families of their own.

The church he leads offers a Rite of Holy Union, a religious ceremony in which couples ask God to bless their relationship. While meaningful to the couples, it does not provide the legal rights and protections of marriage under Philippine law.

Under the Family Code, marriage is defined as a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman. As a result, same-sex couples do not have the same legal protections and recognition as heterosexual married couples, including in areas involving property, insurance, employment benefits, and decisions involving a partner.

Agbayani said opposition to marriage equality is expected, especially from religious groups.

“Religious fanaticism, they use that to justify their hate and discrimination,” he said. “It’s always there. It’s part of our struggle.”

Marriage equality, he added, will continue to face opposition. But he believes religion can also be part of the conversation.

“We’re using religion also to say that it’s not wrong, it’s not bad,” Agbayani said. “We’re asking God to bless our relationship.”

Agbayani said six couples registered for the Cebu event, while others went through their own individual holy union ceremonies. For him, every ceremony adds to a larger conversation about what it means to be a family.

“Our call is for people to be open to the concept of LGBT as a family,” he said. “They’re creating their own family.”

For the three couples who stood together in Cebu, the ceremony was not about waiting for the law to change before celebrating their love.

It was about making a promise now.

They chose each other. And in front of their families, friends, and community, they made that choice visible.