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Tagalog wedding vows in the Philippines
Catholic version 

Weddings in the Philippines typically use a combination of Tagalog and English, depending on the region, the couple's preference, and the formality of the ceremony.

Other languages include Cebuano / Bisaya (e.g. in Cebu, Davao, Bohol); Ilocano (northern Luzon); Hiligaynon / Ilonggo (Western Visayas); Kapampangan; Bicolano; etc.; Latin (in very traditional or Tridentine Catholic weddings); Arabic or local Muslim dialects (e.g. Tausug, Maranao) and sometimes Spanish phrases in certain rituals.

The language flexibility is one of the cultural strengths of weddings in the Philippines. That said, most Filipino weddings are bilingual – blending Tagalog and English, as shown below.

(Note also other formats: Protestant Church vows and the couple's own vows)

The following shows the Rite of Marriage typically used in a Catholic church, along with some cultural notes to emphasise the solemnity of the occasion. The Rite of Marriage is just a short section of the entire wedding ceremony. (See a typical Order of Service,)

Cultural note: As is the tradition for wedding ceremonies, the groom typically says his vows before the bride because of historical gender roles where men were seen as the head of the household.

This practice is rooted in patriarchal societies where men were traditionally the primary decision-makers and figures of authority.

However, modern ceremonies are increasingly moving away from this tradition, becoming more inclusive and egalitarian, with couples choosing to exchange vows in an order that reflects their personal preferences and values.

Rite of Marriage

Preliminary questions

Priest:
[Pangalan ng Nobyo] at [Pangalan ng Nobya], maaari lamang na sagutin ninyo ang aking mga katanungan ng may buong katapatan.
[Groom's name] and [Bride's name], please answer my questions truthfully and with full honesty.
Honesty (katapatan) is a deeply respected trait in Filipino culture, often associated not just with truthfulness but with loyalty and faithfulness, the qualities essential in marriage.
Priest:
[Pangalan ng Nobyo], 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?
Kusang loob means "of one's own free will." Its inclusion underscores the Filipino emphasis on mutual consent and personal readiness, in contrast to traditional arranged marriages of earlier centuries.

The word pagsisilbi ("service") should not be misunderstood. It reflects a reciprocal ideal rooted in pakikisama (harmonious social relations), rather than servitude.
Groom:
Opo, Padre.
Yes, Father.
"Opo" (Yes, I do) is a formal, respectful affirmation. Its use signifies deep deference to the priest and the sacredness of the moment, reflecting the strong hierarchical respect in Filipino interpersonal culture.
Priest:
[Pangalan ng Nobya], 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:
Opo, Padre.
Yes, Father.
Priest: (to both)
Kayo ba ay pareho nang handa na palakihin bilang mabubuting Kristiyano ang mga anak na ibibigay sa inyo ng Panginoon?
Are you both ready to raise as good Christians the children that the Lord will give you?
This ties into the Filipino Catholic understanding of marriage as primarily a partnership in procreation and moral education. Children are seen as blessings (biyaya), and moral formation - especially Christian values - is a core parental duty.
Groom and Bride:
Opo, Padre.
Yes, Father.
Priest:
[Pangalan ng Nobyo] at [Pangalan ng Nobya], 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 now wish to enter into the sacred sacrament of marriage, join your right hands and declare your intentions to before God and His Church.
The joining of right hands (kanang kamay) has both spiritual and social symbolism. In Filipino tradition, the right hand is associated with making sacred oaths and blessings. The act of hand-joining evokes ancient panunumpa (oath-giving) practices in indigenous rituals. (See also Right on!)

Consent (exchange of vows)

The official wedding vows for a Catholic wedding ceremony in the Philippines, when spoken in Tagalog, are usually translated directly from the traditional Latin or English vows. These vows retain the same essence and sacramental meaning but are expressed in the Filipino language.

Here are two alternative versions which typically appear in Tagalog:

  • Version 1

    Priest:
    [Pangalan ng Nobyo], tinatanggap mo ba si [Pangalan ng Nobya] 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?
    The dual reference to Church law and civil law later in the vow highlights the Filipino approach to marriage as both a spiritual and legal contract. Filipinos are predominantly Catholic, but civil law also plays a strong role in family life.
    Groom:
    Opo, Padre.
    Yes, Father.
    Priest:
    Ibinibigay mo ba ang iyong buong sarili bilang kanyang kabiyak?
    Are you offering your whole self as her husband?
    Groom:
    Opo, Padre.
    Yes, Father.
    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:
    Opo, Padre.
    Yes, Father.
    Priest:
    [Pangalan ng Nobya], tinatanggap mo ba si [Pangalan ng Nobyo] 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:
    Opo, Padre.
    Yes, Father.
    Priest:
    Ibinibigay mo ba ang iyong buong sarili bilang kanyang kabiyak?
    Are you offering your whole self as his wife?
    Buong sarili ("whole self") echoes the Filipino virtue of pag-aalay (self-offering or sacrifice). This concept reflects love not just as emotion but as dedication, a theme common in folk epics and courtship customs.
    Bride:
    Opo, Padre.
    Yes, Father.
    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?
    This line acknowledges the importance of the Philippine Family Code, which governs marriage. Including it reaffirms the wedding's legal legitimacy in addition to its spiritual binding.
    Bride:
    Opo, Padre.
    Yes, Father.

  • Version 2

    Groom:
    Ako, [Pangalan ng Nobyo], ay tinatanggap kita, [Pangalan ng Nobya], bilang aking asawa, mula sa araw na ito, sa mabuti at masamang kalagayan, sa mayaman at mahirap, sa kalusugan at karamdaman, upang ikaw ay mahalin at paglingkuran, hanggang sa kamatayan ay maghiwalay sa atin.
    I, [groom's name], accept you, [bride's name], as my wife, from this day forward, in good times and bad, in wealth and poverty, in health and illness, to love and serve you, until death do us part.
    Bride:
    Ako, [Pangalan ng Nobya], ay tinatanggap kita, [Pangalan ng Nobyo], bilang aking asawa, mula sa araw na ito, sa mabuti at masamang kalagayan, sa mayaman at mahirap, sa kalusugan at karamdaman, upang ikaw ay mahalin at paglingkuran, hanggang sa kamatayan ay maghiwalay sa atin.
    I, [bride's name], accept you, [groom's name], as my husband, from this day forward, in good times and bad, in wealth and poverty, in health and illness, to love and serve you, until death do us part.

Devotions to each other

Reciting personal devotions to each other may be omitted.

In traditional Filipino weddings, vows were often formulaic and given under Church guidance. The modern practice of reciting personal vows reflects Western influence, but its inclusion or omission varies depending on the couple’s preferences and how traditional their ceremony is.
Priest:
Ngayon ay magharap kayo at sambitin ang inyong mga pangako sa isa’t isa.
Now turn to face each other and exchange your promises.
Groom:
(Reads the personal vow he has written.)
Bride:
(Reads the personal vow 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. What God has joined together, let no one separate.
This is a direct echo of Biblical phrasing (Mark 10:9) and expresses the indissolubility of marriage. This is particularly important in the Philippines, where divorce is not legal under civil law (only annulments are permitted). This reflects both religious doctrine and national policy.

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 of one heart and one soul, from this day, in sorrow and joy, in hardship and in comfort, in sickness and in health, until death.
This line resonates deeply with the Filipino value of damay (shared emotional burden). Unity in both joy and suffering is essential in Filipino family life. The vow's phrasing also mirrors local folk expressions of pagkakaisa (oneness).
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 authority of the Church bear witness as it affirms and blesses this union. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The quaint idiom pag-iisang dibdib literally means "union of chests" – a phrase symbolising two people becoming one in heart. This illustrates that Tagalog, like its country and people, is both interesting and beautiful.

A lesser-known but meaningful tradition is the deeply symbolic use of the word kasama, which means "companion" or "partner." The word comes from sama, meaning "together," and ka, a prefix denoting closeness. Thus, to call someone your kasama is to say not just that you are together now, but that you are meant to walk through life side by side. In the context of wedding vows, this reflects a Filipino cultural value: that marriage is not just a romantic union but a lifelong companionship built on mutual presence, even in silence or hardship.
All:
Lahat:
Amen.

Blessing

Priest:
Babasbasan ng pari ng banal na tubig ang bagong kasal.
The priest will now bless the newlyweds with holy water.
Holy water (banal na tubig) is a sign of purification and divine protection. In Filipino belief, it also wards off masamang espiritu (evil spirits), reflecting the country's syncretic blend of Catholicism and indigenous animistic beliefs.

Most Christians in the Philippines are Roman Catholic, but we also have vows for Protestants here and for couples who wish to recite their own vows, here.

In the Philippines, wedding vows are most commonly recited in English, followed by Tagalog, as reflected in the example provided on this page.

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