Traditional Filipino weddings call for many superstitions and beliefs – wedding rings included. However, this newlywed Filipino couple decided to break from the norms and fashioned unique wedding ‘rings’ to represent their journey together forever.
Newlyweds John Paul Rivera and Mimi Miaco recently went viral on social as they shared their unique wedding tattoos with the word “palagi” that when translated from Filipino, means ‘Always’.
IMAGE Moki Cruz Photography
“If we’re talking about representing our commitment, the tattoos, for us, just felt so right—even if we bathe, get sick, and die, it’s with us. When we were thinking of a ring design, [we thought] an infinity symbol was too common. And instead of choosing “forever” or “always,” we thought of a Tagalog word that had a good ring to it: “palagi.” My husband always jokes about what palagi meant for him: palaging taga-buhat, palaging taga-abot, and the list goes on! But really, it means always choosing each other,” shared Mimi Miaco in an interview with The Female Network.
No hindrances, just happiness
Mimi’s mom, Rowena Gauna-Miaco who works as an event management professional here in the UAE, said that she and her husband agreed to what her daughter and her now son-in-law have planned for their wedding. “We will never be a hindrance to their happiness. I have never seen my daughter so happy. I don’t have anything else to ask. My son-in-law has a very good heart,” shared Rowena.
She also shared that the tattoo was but one of the many unconventional things that took place during the wedding. “As an OFW parent, i have nothing against them getting a tattoo instead of the traditional wedding ring. It didn’t surprise me at all. The tattoos is just one of the many unconventional things in their wedding,”
Other unconventional wedding things that Mimi and John Paul did were sleeping beside each other the night before the wedding, street food as their cocktail food, Mimi skipping on wearing a veil and a garter, no flowers at all during the wedding (her dried bouquet only had leaves) and they didn’t even have a strict dress code for guests!
Mimi’s dad, Romeo Miaco who also works in the UAE as a real estate valuer shares that he and his wife’s only wish for their daughter and son-in-law now that they’re beginning a new chapter in their life as a married couple is to spread happiness and positivity. “In our 28 years of marriage, ang advice namin ng mommy mo para sa inyo is simple lang anak – just stay happy and in love. Always choose each other,” said Romeo.
(From L-R Bea Miaco, Rowena Miaco, Mimi Miaco, John Paul Rivera, and Romeo Miaco
