Tagalog Wedding Vows from Philippines
Weddings are conducted in several different languages in Philippines, including English, Tagalog, and Cebuano.
(American) English is is perhaps the most popular, followed by Tagalog on this page.
One quaint term in the Tagalog vows is seen in the first line: pag-iisang dibdib, which literally translated means 'union of chest'. If we consider the chest in this context as being one's heart, then we can translate 'union of chest' to mean the union of hearts; i.e., marriage. (Or we could romanticize and think of our spouse as a treasure chest.)
Either way, it shows that Tagalog, like its country and people, is both interesting and beautiful. (See also Weddings in Philippines)
Be aware that most Filipinos are Roman Catholic and in January 2016 the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said that the Rite of Marriage did not provide any option for couples to write their own wedding "consent" (vows) for the ceremony. Nevertheless, they may be invited to supplement the set liturgical script, as shown in the examples 3 and 4 below, and they can read any other personal vows at their wedding reception.
The Protestant Christian Church liturgy is also fixed, though Protestant ministers are likely to accept alternative words during the wedding ceremony, as long as the personal devotions are spoken before God sincerely and honestly.
Therefore this page shows an assortment of vows:
- read by the Catholic priest,
to which the groom and bride simply respond by saying "Opo" (I do)
- read by another minister,
to which the groom and bride simply respond by saying "Opo" (I do)
- read by the couple,
to each other as individuals, maybe their own choice of words
- read by the couple,
to each other and as a couple, maybe their own choice of words
1. Read by the priest
Preliminary questions
Priest:
(Groom's name) at (Bride's name), maaari lamang na sagutin ninyo ang aking mga katanungan ng may buong katapatan.
(Groom's name) and (Bride's name), please answer my questions honestly.
(Bride's name), ikaw ba ay naparito nang may kusang loob na ipangako ang iyong sarili sa pag-ibig at pagsisilbi sa iyong asawa?
(Bride's name), have you come willingly to commit yourself to the love and service of your husband?
Bride:
Priest:
(Groom's name), ikaw ba ay naparito nang may kusang loob na ipangako ang iyong sarili sa pag-ibig at pagsisilbi sa iyong asawa?
(Groom's name), have you come willingly to commit yourself to the love and service of your wife?
Groom:
Priest:
(Sa dalawa) Kayo ba ay pareho nang handa na palakihin bilang mabubuting Kristiyano ang mga anak na ibibigay sa inyo ng Panginoon?
(To both) Are you both ready to raise as good Christians the children that the Lord will give you?
Groom and Bride:
Priest:
(Groom's name) at (Bride's name), nais niyo rin lamang na sumailalim sa sagradong sakramento ng kasal, pagdaupin ninyo ang inyong mga kanang kamay at sabihin ang inyong mga intensiyon sa harap ng Diyos at ng kanyang simbahan.
(Groom's name) and (Bride's name), if you want to undergo the sacred sacrament of marriage, join your right hands and state your intentions to before God and his Church.
Consent (exchange of vows)
Priest:
(Bride's name), tinatanggap mo ba si (Groom's name) bilang iyong kabiyak sang-ayon sa batas na iniaatas ng ating simbahan?
(Bride's name), do you accept (Groom's name) as your husband according to the law required by our Church?
Bride:
Priest:
Ibinibigay mo ba ang iyong buong sarili bilang kanyang kabiyak?
Are you giving your all as his wife?
Bride:
Priest:
Tinatanggap mo ba siya bilang iyong kabiyak sang-ayon sa iniaatas ng batas ng ating bayan?
Do you accept him as your husband according to the law of this country?
Bride:
Priest:
(Groom's name), tinatanggap mo ba si (Bride's name) bilang iyong kabiyak sang-ayon sa batas na iniaatas ng ating simbahan?
(Groom's name), do you accept (Bride's name) as your wife according to the law required by our Church?
Groom:
Priest:
Ibinibigay mo ba ang iyong buong sarili bilang kanyang kabiyak?
Are you giving your all as her husband?
Groom:
Priest:
Tinatanggap mo ba siya bilang iyong kabiyak sang-ayon sa iniaatas ng batas ng ating bayan?
Do you accept her as your wife according to the law of this country?
Groom:
* Devotions to each other
* Priest:
Ngayon ay magharap kayo at samibitin ang inyong mga pangako sa isa’t isa.
Now face each other and present your promises to each other.
* Groom:
(Babasahin ang pangakong sariling akda)
(Reads the promise he has written.)
* Bride:
(Babasahin ang pangakong sariling akda)
(Reads the promise she has written.)
Wedding pronouncement
Priest:
Ngayong naipahayag na ninyo ang inyong sumpaan sa harap ng Panginoon, itulot nawa niya ang kanyang kabutihan at pagpalain ang inyong pagsasama. Ang pinagsama ng Panginoon ay huwag paghiwalayin ng tao.
Now that you have declared your oath before the Lord, may he grant his goodness and bless your marriage. Whom the Lord has joined together, let not man put asunder.
Prayer
Groom and Bride:
Itulot mo sa amin, O Panginoon, na kami’y maging isang puso’t kaluluwa, mula sa araw na ito, sa lungkot at ligaya, sa hirap at ginhawa, sa sakit at kalusugan, hanggang kamatayan.
Grant us, O Lord, that we may be one heart and soul, from this day, in sorrow and joy, in hardship and comfort, in sickness and in health, until death.
Priest:
Nawa’y saksihan ang kapangyarihan ng simbahan, ay pinagtitibay at binabasbasan ang pag-iisang dibdib na ito. Sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak, at ng Espiritu Santo.
May the power of the Church be witnessed, affirming and blessing this unity. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All:
Blessing
Priest:
(Babasbasan ng pari ng banal na tubig ang bagong kasal.)
(The priest blesses the newlyweds with holy water.)
* The personal devotions to each other may be omitted. Examples are shown in section 3 and section 4, below
2. Read by the minister
Minister:
Sisimulan na natin ang pag-iisang dibdib nila (Groom's name) at (Bride's name)
We will now commence the marriage of (Groom's name) and (Bride's name)
(Groom's name), tinatanggap mo bang maging kaisang dibdib si (Bride's name),
na maging kabiyak ng iyong puso,
sa habang buhay,
sa hirap at ginhawa,
sa sakit man o kalusugan,
at mamahalin mo siya
sa habangbuhay,
gaya ng sagradong utos ng Panginoon?
(Groom's name), do you accept (Bride's name) to be your wife,
to be part of your heart,
forever,
in hardship and in pleasure,
in sickness or in health,
and you will love her,
for all eternity
as the sacred ordinance of God?
Groom:
Minister:
(Bride's name), tinatanggap mo bang maging kaisang dibdib si (Groom's name),
na maging kabiyak ng iyong puso,
sa habang buhay,
sa hirap at ginhawa,
sa sakit man o kalusugan,
at mamahalin mo siya
sa habangbuhay,
gaya ng sagradong utos ng Panginoon?
(Bride's name), do you accept (Groom's name) to be your husband,
to be part of your heart,
forever,
in hardship and in pleasure,
in sickness or in health,
and you will love him,
for all eternity
as the sacred ordinance of God?
Bride:
3. Read by the couple
From the groom to the bride, and from the bride to the groom.
Groom:
Mahal kong (Bride's name), sa harap ng Diyos at ng mga taong naririto ngayon, ako'y nagmamahal, at tinatanggap kang aking asawa.
Ipinapangako ko na magsisilbing gabay at kakampi mo sa lahat ng panahon.
Sa hirap at ginhawa, sa kalusugan at sa sakit, sa yaman at kahirapan, pangako kong hinding-hindi kita pababayaan.
Ito ang aking sumpa, at ito ang aking pangako sa iyo.
My beloved (Bride's name), in the presence of God and the people gathered here today, I love you, and accept you as my wife.
I promise to serve as your guide and ally at all times.
In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, I vow to never leave you.
This is my oath and my promise to you.
Bride:
Mahal kong (Groom's name), sa harap ng Diyos at ng mga taong naririto ngayon, ako'y nagmamahal, at tinatanggap kang aking asawa.
Ipinapangako ko na magsisilbing kasama at katuwang mo sa lahat ng oras.
Sa hirap at ginhawa, sa kalusugan at sa sakit, sa yaman at kahirapan, pangako kong hinding-hindi kita pababayaan.
Ito ang aking sumpa, at ito ang aking pangako sa iyo.
My beloved (Groom's name), in the presence of God and the people gathered here today, I love you, and I accept you as my husband.
I promise to be your companion and your partner in all times.
In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in poverty, I vow to never leave you.
This is my oath and my promise to you.
4. Read by the couple
To each other, and as a couple. Read either in turn or in unison.
Groom and Bride:
Sa araw na ito, naglalakbay tayong dalawa sa bagong yugto ng ating buhay.
Sa harap ng Diyos at ng mga saksi, ipinapangako ko ang aking walang hanggang pagmamahal.
Haharapin natin ang buhay na may pagtitiwala, pag-unawa, at pagmamahalan.
Pangako ko na maging kasama mo sa ligaya at lungkot, sa kalusugan at kahinaan.
Ibibigay ko ang aking buong puso at kaluluwa para sa ating pagmamahalan.
On this day, we both travel to a new stage of our lives.
Before God and witnesses, I pledge my eternal love.
We will face life with trust, understanding, and love.
I promise to be with you in happiness and sadness, in health and weakness.
I will give my whole heart and soul for our love.
