Couples who otherwise may not afford an expensive ceremony seize an opportunity for a grand expression of love at the “Kasalang Bayan” set at Manila’s historic district of Intramuros, timed on what better occasion than Valentine’s Day. According to the Intramuros Administration, which organized that event together with the Office of the Vice Mayor, 116 couples exchanged “I do’s” in that mass wedding set at 4 p.m., a good hour or two before Manila’s famed sunset. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
HEALING FROM DUTERTE’S ‘WAR’
Families of victims of the drug war during the previous administration of President Rodrigo Duterte join a “Celebration of Healing Hearts” gathering in Makati organized on Wednesday by the Divine Word Seminary, as they reminisce about their relatives slain in that brutal law enforcement campaign and also take this opportunity to forge deeper friendships. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
ANOTHER FORAY INTO SENATE RACE
Activist Windel Bolinget on Tuesday speaks at a campaign rally in Baguio organized by party list group Kabataan, as activist groups again take another crack at the senatorial race. Both the ruling coalition led by President Marcos and his estranged allies, the Dutertes, have fielded candidates from among their loyalists, established reelectionists and families long entrenched in politics. But activists under the Makabayan coalition continue to challenge these choices as they count on mobilizing the sizable yet still dispersed voting bloc of the youth. The 11-member Makabayan slate consists of party list Representatives France Castro (ACT) and Arlene Brosas (Gabriela), former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza and former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, indigenous activist Amirah Lidasan, Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Jerome Adonis, Pamalakaya vice chair Ronnel Arambulo, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chair Danilo Ramos, Mody Floranda of transport group Piston, Mimi Doringo of urban poor group Kadamay and Jocelyn Andamo of Filipino Nurses United. —PHOTOS COURTESY OF KABATAAN
