Tagalog wedding vows in the Philippines
Catholic version
Weddings in the Philippines are conducted in several different languages, including English, Tagalog, and Cebuano.
This page presents the wedding vows as recited in Tagalog by a Roman Catholic priest, to which the groom and bride simply respond with "Opo" (Yes, I do)
One quaint term is found in the first line: pag-iisang dibdib, which 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. (See also Weddings in the Philippines)
(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. That Rite is just a short section of the entire wedding ceremony. (See a typical Order of Service,)
Rite of Marriage
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 truthfully and with full honesty.
(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: (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?
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 now wish to enter into the sacred sacrament of marriage, join your right hands and declare 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 offering your whole self 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 offering your whole self 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
(Reciting personal devotions to each other may be omitted.)
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. 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 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.
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.
All:
Blessing
Priest:
Babasbasan ng pari ng banal na tubig ang bagong kasal.
The priest will now bless the newlyweds with holy water.
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.
