Foundation holds mass wedding for 20 SM employee-couples
On September 21, the Felicidad T. Sy Foundation, Inc. (FTSyFI) held a mass wedding for 20 SM employee-couples at the Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life in Pasay City.
(front; from left): Felicidad T. Sy Foundation, Inc., head of religious affairs Imelda Elido; Rev. Fr. Reynaldo Reyes, SSP; and SM matriarch Felicidad T. Sy
The employees who were married are from SM malls within Metro Manila and are members of the SM Catholic Ministry, a religious group established among employees of SM Department Stores nationwide.
Most of the couples’ needs for the wedding were sponsored by FTSyFI including wedding seminars, venue as well as the reception.
This is the FTSyFI’s second mass wedding with the first one held in 2014.
Newly-wedded couples Reynald and Mylene Apilado were all smiles after the ceremony and shared that their wedding took a long time in the making.
“We’ve been through a lot,” Mylene said about their relationship. “But after eight years of being together and overcoming hardships, we were finally able to get married. Super saya ko talaga and thankful.”
Reynald added, “Due to various circumstances, we were forced to delay our wedding many times already.”
The couple has been together since their high school days. Reynald, a Sales Utility Clerk from SM Megamall and a member of the SM Catholic Ministry Choir, immediately registered when he heard that the FTSyFI was accepting applications for its second mass wedding.
Reynald said that he was trying to hold back the tears during the ceremony. “I feel very happy for having such an opportunity like this. Thank you very much, Nanang.”
Imelda Elido, FTSyFI head of religious affairs, encouraged the new husbands and wives to share the spirituality and values that they have gained during the ceremony not only among themselves as couples but also with their families and their friends.
“In everything that we do, we make sure that God is always glorified,” Elido said. “Nanang is a proud devotee and it is because of her that we ensure that all of our programs seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
The Felicidad T. Sy Foundation is SM Foundation’s division for religious affairs. Aside from mass weddings, other initiatives of FTSyFI within the SM group include spiritual enrichment programs such as the Lectors and Commentators Formation, recollections and other liturgical seminars. In addition to this, the FTSyFI is active in supporting the spiritual development of communities through various religious projects, specifically through church renovations and outreach projects. The FTSyFI also attends to the mass requirements of 32 SM malls celebrating first Friday and Sunday masses nationwide.
