Filipino-Australian couple Ann and Rica went to Boracay Island in Visayas, Philippines to hold their wedding ceremony.
The couple were afraid that they wouldn’t find wedding suppliers in the Philippines that accepts same-sex couples as their clients. However, once they started liaising, the suppliers gave them nothing but “unwavering support, encouragement and love.”
Ann and Rica also spent some time researching a church that would officiate their wedding. Luckily, they found Open Table MCC (which was known as MCC Quezon City during the time) who were open to any religious denomination and focused on services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups. Even if Ann and Rica are Catholics, Open Table MCC still accepted them, since MCC is an ecumenical Christian church, meaning that members from other churches and denominations are welcomed.
Despite the Catholic church’s unwavering stand against same-sex marriage, Rica shared that God and the church still play an important part in their relationship.
“Our faith is part of our foundation in love. God is our anchor always bringing us back closer” – the couple said during an interview with Buzzfeed.
Ann and Rica’s wedding celebration may not be traditional, but it involved the pair being in love and being surrounded by their loved ones.
Oly Ruiz / Metrophoto
Boracay was where Ann proposed to Rica five years earlier, so the pair decided it would be the perfect place to hold their intimate wedding of 80 guests there.
Since the proposal in 2010, the couple have grown emotionally and spiritually stronger. Being together for a strong 13 years, Rica and Ann first met in high school, 14 years ago, through Ann’s twin sister.
Despite the stigma surrounding same-sex relationships in the Philippines, Rica shared that her family are very open minded and coming out was easy for her because her grandmother and aunt are also lesbians. For Ann however, she only revealed to her family that she was in a lesbian relationship when she was ready to sponsor Rica to live in Australia. “She had a lot of fear and anxiety about it, but in the end her family gave her 100% support” – Ann tells Buzzfeed.
Ann moved to Sydney in 2003, and Rica followed in 2012, where the pair can at least register their relationship.
“It’s a stepping stone towards same-sex marriage,” Rica tells Buzzfeed. “It starts with recognising two individuals regardless of gender engaged in an exclusive relationship.”
Source: Buzzfeed
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