Navy’S 30th Celebrates 30th With 30

For a married couple, reaching 30 years of marriage is certainly no walk in the park. Achieving this amazing feat entails a huge amount of patience, understanding and love on both parties for the marriage not to fail. Sadly, not many married couples today can readily boast of this achievement. But when it comes to Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez, Flag Officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy and his better half, Shirley, reaching 30 years of marriage means so much more than saying “I Do”.

The Navy’s 30th head honcho recently celebrated 30 blissful years of marriage with his wife in a matrimonial ceremony meant for 30 couples. Along with the renewal of matrimonial vows of the Navy’s first couple, 29 Fleet-Marine officers, enlisted personnel and their respective would-be spouses were wedded in a mass military wedding. This momentous event is the first of its kind and adds meaning and substance to the celebration of FOIC’s 30th wedding anniversary. Among the guests who made this event memorable were Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Hon Gilberto C Teodoro Jr., Secretary of Defense, Lt Gen Victor S Ibrado, Chief of Staff, AFP and Congressman Roilo S Golez of Parañaque along with several members of PMA Class ’76.

To make his 30th wedding anniversary more meaningful, Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez, Flag Officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy shouldered the expenses of this event. This gave the 29Fleet-Marine enlisted personnel a chance to wed their would-be spouses (or the one they were living with without marriage ceremony) freely. Furthermore, the Philippine Navy also provided sponsors to these newly-weds to ensure that their union is legal under the eyes of God and of the law.

After the mass military wedding, the reception was held at the Philippine Navy Officer’s Club, Bonifacio Naval Station, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. The newly-wed Fleet-Marine couples, along with VADM Golez and his better half, Shirley, celebrated the night away reminiscent of their 30 memorable years of marriage.