BEFORE February comes to a close, I would like to share a story that I believe is worth reading.
It is about the mass wedding held in the town of Moises Padilla in central Negros Occidental on February 13. The event is an annual activity of the town and marked the third time it has been conducted under the leadership of Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo.
So yes, it may seem like no shock-and-awe spectacle at first glance.
Mass weddings are often considered routine events during “Love Month.”
But not this one.
This year’s ceremony, where 50 couples exchanged their “I dos,” carried a deeper and more profound meaning. Beyond romance, the event highlighted environmental protection at a time when residents of this third-class municipality are still reeling from the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm “Tino” (Kalmaegi), which battered the town on November 4, 2025.
WORST-HIT
Recall that Moises Padilla, located at the foot of Mount Kanlaon, was among the worst-hit areas in the 4th and 5th congressional districts of Negros Occidental during Tino’s onslaught, which ravaged both Cebu and Negros.
Sixteen residents were confirmed dead, while more than a dozen remain missing after flash floods—mixed with mud and logs and later dubbed a “brown tsunami”—swept through 15 barangays.
More than 1,000 families were displaced, and damage to agriculture and infrastructure reached P373 million.
According to longtime residents, the deluge—marked by flash floods that rose as high as rooftops—was unprecedented in the town’s 75-year history. Moises Padilla, formerly known as Magallon, was founded on October 16, 1951, through Republic Act 631.
In the aftermath of Tino, Mayor Ella resolved that every town-initiated activity must carry a strong reminder about environmental protection and preservation.
This year’s mass wedding became one such example.
Green was chosen as the motif—a symbolic highlight of the town’s renewed commitment to caring for nature.
URGENT MATTER
The nature-inspired “green wedding” symbolized not only love and commitment among the 50 couples but also a collective pledge to build sustainable, eco-friendly, and disaster-resilient communities across Moises Padilla.
Town officials hope the initiative will raise public consciousness about environmental protection and preservation, instilling in people’s minds the priceless value of nature as the “first line of defense” during disasters.
They do not want a repeat of the tragedy triggered by Tino.
For Moises Padilla, the call to protect nature is no longer optional—it is urgent.
Thus, the town’s traditional mass wedding became a platform for that vital message.
WORST THING
One of the newlywed couples, Ian Salmorin and Ninena Blasa, both 27 and residents of Barangay Crossing Magallon, spoke emotionally about the event’s deeper meaning.
The couple was among the thousands affected by Tino. They lost their home to the raging flash floods that, in their words, “tragically swallowed” their community.
“It was the worst thing that happened in our lives. But still, we’re grateful that we all survived,” Ninena, a mother of two, told this writer.
Their story added emotional weight to this year’s mass wedding, held just two months after Tino’s rampage.
REAWAKENING
Randy James Rojo, founder of the Group of Environment Socialists (GOES), praised the local government of Moises Padilla for staging what he described as a routine yet meaningful green mass wedding.
He emphasized that the initiative carries significant meaning.
“Environmental protection needs a collective effort. Such a mass wedding serves as a reawakening not just among the people, but for government officials as well to prioritize nature protection and conservation at its core,” he said.
Rojo added that programs centered on environmental protection must be pursued holistically and decisively, while environmental laws must be implemented fairly.
An admirable perspective from a respected environmental advocate on Negros Island.
CARE FOR NATURE
Indeed, Moises Padilla’s mass wedding stood out among similar events held by other local government units in the province.
It was not “bongga” or extravagant.
But by highlighting the town’s grim experience during Tino, it became distinctive and meaningful.
Recovering from such devastation is not easy.
Mayor Ella deserves commendation for her determination to continually remind her constituents about caring for nature.
The approach may appear simple.
But when done with sincerity and persistence, it can gradually instill in people’s minds how vital nature is in protecting communities from calamities.
Science supports what many already know: protecting nature is essential to human survival.
The global message on environmental protection is clear: “Save nature, and nature will save you. The earth heals when we save nature.”
Even the Greek physician Hippocrates of Kos once said, “Nature itself is the best physician.”
Mayor Ella’s advocacy is both valid and timely.
It is not too late to do what is right for the environment. For Moises Padilla, this could mark a new beginning—one whose positive impact may safeguard not just the present generation, but the next and the next.
Tino’s lessons may have been savage, but they serve as a powerful reminder—especially for the people of Moises Padilla—to listen carefully to what nature is whispering right now.
Because remember this: nature is a powerful buffer against disaster./PN
