8 couples join gay wedding in Baguio

By Ma. Elena Catajan
Saturday, June 25, 2011
BAGUIO CITY — The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Metro Baguio performed on Saturday wedding rites for eight gay couples in Baguio City while New York became the sixth and largest state in the US to legalize gay marriage.
The wedding rites were patterned after the traditional Catholic ceremonies at the Ayuyang Bar and Restaurant in Baden Powell Inn, and officiated by pastors Mike Sotero, Egay Constantino, Ceejay Agbayani and Regen Luna of MCC.
There were three couples from Baguio City while the rest came from as far as the United States to wed their life partners in the first of its kind wedding the city has known.
Teary eyed couples walked in the processional under the curious eyes of media. Jam packing the small venue, most of them tried to shield their faces from the cameras but were visibly happy to be married.
Rose petals were scattered in the walkway for the couples to pass through with a band and singer to make the ceremonies more intimate. Bible passages were recited throughout the rites.
Sotero said a lot of couples are still suffering from the harshness of society. Placards and signs adorned the wedding hall with messages like “Would Jesus discriminate and I married my mahal,” empowering the couples’ decision to tie the knot.
Sotero said Saturday’s wedding ceremony gathered the biggest number since 2003. “They can use the documents we give here when they go to countries which allow same sex marriages.”
Sotero’s rites are binding in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities and considered sacred by those who believe in its sanctity. “Marami na ang humihingi sa amin ang kasal (There were already a lot asking the wedding rite).”
Richard McLeland, who is 64 years old, and Jon Jon Punzal, who recently turned 22, were among the more open couples in the wedding, welcoming media interviews and candid photo opportunities.
The rest shied away from the limelight, requesting anonymity.
McLeland said: “Jon Jon is now my family, he is my darling.”
The two met in the social networking site Facebook and have been a couple for two years.
The young Jon Jon said McLeland is only his second partner. “Di ko maisplika kung bakit kami nagpakasal agad, basta alam ko na siya na (I can’t explain why we got married, but I know that he is the one).”
Jon Jon said his partner is very kind and has decided to live in the Philippines.
Couples spent their honeymoon at the Baden Powell Inn after the ceremony with Might Gupit, the owner, allowing the ceremony to take place there, saying: “Ayuyang means a meeting place of all, we do not judge here.”
Earlier, Baguio-Benguet Bishop Carlito Cenzon criticized the same-sex mass wedding, saying the wedding is wrong and cannot be called a holy union.
“Wedding should involve only a woman and a man,” the bishop added.
Meanwhile, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill legalizing gay marriage in New York just before midnight Friday (Saturday Philippine time).
At New York City’s Stonewall Inn, the Greenwich Village pub that spawned the gay rights movement on a June night in 1969, Scott Redstone watched New York sign the historic same-sex marriage law with his partner of 29 years, and popped the question.
“I said, ‘Will you marry me?’ And he said, ‘Of course!'” Redstone said he and Steven Knittweis walked home to pop open a bottle of champagne.
New York becomes the sixth state where gay couples can wed, doubling the number of Americans living in a state with legal gay marriage.
“That’s certainly going to have a ripple effect across the nation,” said Ross Levi, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda. “It’s truly a historic night for love, our families, and democracy won.”
“We made a powerful statement,” Cuomo said. “This state is at its finest when it is a beacon of social justice.”
The leading opponent, Democratic Sen. Ruben Diaz, was given only a few minutes to state his case during the Senate debate.
“God, not Albany, settled the issue of marriage a long time ago,” said Diaz, a Bronx minister. “I’m sorry you are trying to take away my right to speak,” he said. “Why are you ashamed of what I have to say?”
The Catholic Bishops of New York said the law alters “radically and forever humanity’s historic understanding of marriage.”
“We always treat our homosexual brothers and sisters with respect, dignity and love,” the bishops stated Friday, “We worry that both marriage and the family will be undermined by this tragic presumption of government in passing this legislation that attempts to redefine these cornerstones of civilization.”
Legal challenges of the law and political challenges aimed at the four Republicans who supported gay marriage in the 33-29 vote are expected.
“State legislators should not decide society-shaping issues,” said the Rev. Jason McGuire of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms. He said his organization would work in next year’s elections to defeat lawmakers who voted for the measure.
The big win for gay rights advocates is expected to galvanize the movement around the country after an almost identical bill was defeated here in 2009 and similar measures failed in 2010 in New Jersey and this year in Maryland and Rhode Island. (Sun.Star Baguio/AP/Sunnex)
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on June 25, 2011.
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2011/06/25/8-couples-join-gay-wedding-baguio-163230

Subic is a popular destination for visitors from Manila bringing family out of town for a short getaway to the north. Many visitors stopover in Clark Philippines for gourmet dinner at Yats Restaurant & Wine Bar and shop for fine vintage wine in Clark Wine Center which offers over 2700 selections of fine and rare vintage wines only available in the Freeport zone. With the SCTex – Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway – now opened and the travel time between Clark and Subic reduced to a mere 30 minutes, Clark is much more accessible to residents of Subic. Residents of Subic and nearby towns of Pampanga such as San Fernando frequently travel to Clark to wine and dine at this top rated restaurant. Many stay on after dinner to relax and unwind in the beautiful wine bar called The Magnum Room.

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Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

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Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

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Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

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Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
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