Judging from church and embassy records, more Filipinos are finding love and settling down in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Since the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Al Ain first conducted wedding ceremonies in 1983, there have been 108 marriages between overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE.
On its first year, only two Filipino couples got married at St. Mary's.
Nowadays, an average of about four Filipino couples a year tie the knot at that church.
The year 2004 saw the highest number of marriages between OFWs at St. Mary's —12 couples.
“Filipino marriages here are more prevalent. They say marriage in the Philippines is so expensive. So what they do is marry through a civil marriage first before marrying in the church,” said Fr. Anthony Puthenpurakkal, parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Al Ain.
“In the biblical point of view, marriage is a sacrament. In it is a mission that God has empowered men and women to do: continue His creation,” he added.
Civil marriages
Meanwhile, Consul General Jose Jacob of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, in an email to GMA News Online noted about 2,521 weddings took place among Filipinos in the whole emirate of Abu Dhabi in the last five years.
These included:
* 490 weddings in 2011,
* 464 weddings in 2010,
* 516 weddings in 2009,
* 498 weddings in 2008, and
* 553 weddings in 2007.
An OFW love story
Jhes Perfinan, 32, a Filipina nurse in Tawam Hospital, shared her love story with her husband, Jhon Perfinan, 33, an accountant for the Badawi Azour Trading & Contracting.
They were a part of a mass wedding the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Al Ain held last June 2010.
“Ang paghanga ko kay Jhon ay nagsimula nung kami ay nasa elementarya pa lamang. Grade Five ako noon at Grade Four siya. Anumang sports o gawain sa eskwelahan na kasama siya ay sinasalihan ko din para lang lagi ko siyang makita at makasama,” Jhes said.
“Nanatili ang paghanga ko sa kanya hanggang nagtapos ako ng elementarya. Kaya tuwang-tuwa ako ng malaman ko na dun din siya mag aaral sa paaralang pinapasukan ko sa high school. Linigawan niya ako pero para lang magkaroon siya ng back-up sa isang military training kung saan officer ako,” she said.
Eventually, they became a couple. Jhes went on to work in Manila for two years, communicating with Jhon only through letters.
When she returned to Bicol, Jhes broke up with her boyfriend. However, Jhon persisted. They got back together a year later, and are still together until now.
“Pinakasalan ko siya dahil para sa akin she is the perfect woman, the perfect wife and the perfect mother for our kids. She accepts my imperfection and I love her so much,” Jhon said.
Since the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Al Ain first conducted wedding ceremonies in 1983, there have been 108 marriages between overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the UAE.
On its first year, only two Filipino couples got married at St. Mary's.
Nowadays, an average of about four Filipino couples a year tie the knot at that church.
The year 2004 saw the highest number of marriages between OFWs at St. Mary's —12 couples.
“Filipino marriages here are more prevalent. They say marriage in the Philippines is so expensive. So what they do is marry through a civil marriage first before marrying in the church,” said Fr. Anthony Puthenpurakkal, parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Al Ain.
“In the biblical point of view, marriage is a sacrament. In it is a mission that God has empowered men and women to do: continue His creation,” he added.
Civil marriages
Meanwhile, Consul General Jose Jacob of the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, in an email to GMA News Online noted about 2,521 weddings took place among Filipinos in the whole emirate of Abu Dhabi in the last five years.
These included:
* 490 weddings in 2011,
* 464 weddings in 2010,
* 516 weddings in 2009,
* 498 weddings in 2008, and
* 553 weddings in 2007.
An OFW love story
Jhes Perfinan, 32, a Filipina nurse in Tawam Hospital, shared her love story with her husband, Jhon Perfinan, 33, an accountant for the Badawi Azour Trading & Contracting.
They were a part of a mass wedding the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Al Ain held last June 2010.
“Ang paghanga ko kay Jhon ay nagsimula nung kami ay nasa elementarya pa lamang. Grade Five ako noon at Grade Four siya. Anumang sports o gawain sa eskwelahan na kasama siya ay sinasalihan ko din para lang lagi ko siyang makita at makasama,” Jhes said.
“Nanatili ang paghanga ko sa kanya hanggang nagtapos ako ng elementarya. Kaya tuwang-tuwa ako ng malaman ko na dun din siya mag aaral sa paaralang pinapasukan ko sa high school. Linigawan niya ako pero para lang magkaroon siya ng back-up sa isang military training kung saan officer ako,” she said.
Eventually, they became a couple. Jhes went on to work in Manila for two years, communicating with Jhon only through letters.
When she returned to Bicol, Jhes broke up with her boyfriend. However, Jhon persisted. They got back together a year later, and are still together until now.
“Pinakasalan ko siya dahil para sa akin she is the perfect woman, the perfect wife and the perfect mother for our kids. She accepts my imperfection and I love her so much,” Jhon said.
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