One bride went the creative route for her wedding gown when she and her husband tied the knot last October at a Kasalang Bayan (mass wedding) in Quezon City.

The mass wedding was held on Oct. 17 at Fernwood Gardens in Sanville, Quezon City and saw Maricel Capinig Abaño sport a wedding gown made of paper when she married Ronald Lucena Mata.

Abaño and Mata live in Pael, Culiat where they rent a small room with their three young children. Abaño told INQUIRER.net today, Nov. 8, that Mata works as a landscaper.

“Sa Pael, Culiat Q.C. kami nakatira, nangungupahan lang po sa maliit na kwarto,” Abaño said. “Ang asawa ko lang po ang nagtatrabaho, nagtatanim ng mga halaman tapos [tatlong] anak namin maliliit pa po.”

(We live in Pael, Culiat Q.C., just renting a small room. Only my husband is working, as a landscaper. Our three children are still small.)

Abaño further shared that she did not have enough money to buy or rent a gown for her wedding so she, along with her ninang Vevencia and Ereca, resorted to creating her wedding gown instead — with bond paper.

As per Abaño, she likes art, so it was not unthinkable that she took matters in her own hands and created the dress of her dreams.

“Mahilig rin ako sa arts kaya nagtulungan kami para mabuo ang gown ko at mairaos ang aking kasal kahit napakagipit namin sa buhay,” she said.

(I am fond of arts and crafts. That is why we all worked together to create my gown and have my wedding push through despite our financial difficulties.)

In the photos she shared on Facebook last October, she can be seen wearing the finished masterpiece: a mullet pleated gown that was short in the front and long in the back.

The style was achieved by folding bond paper for a fan-like effect. She also wore a circular pleated hat made of the same material, while she held paper roses of different colors in her hands. Mata, on the other hand, wore a traditional barong.

She and Mata exchanged their “I do’s” in the presence of loved ones and other couples who tied the knot that same day.

Abaño said that despite their dire circumstances, she felt proud wearing the paper gown she made herself.

“Kahit papel po ang gown ko proud ako na isuot ito sa pinakamahalagang araw [ng buhay] ko dahil sa pinaghirapan at pinagtulungan po namin ito. At the same time, naging creative [ako] sa sarili ko.”

(Though my gown is only made of paper, I was proud of wearing it on the most important day of my life, because I worked hard on it, and we all helped each other make it. At the same time, it afforded me a chance to be creative, for myself.)

What is essential, after all, is what is invisible to the eye. JB

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