Here’s something to brighten your day despite the rain: Two Filipina artists just got hitched! Congratulations to newlyweds musician Nica del Rosario and actress Justine Peña.
Earlier today, Aug. 23, the couple shared gorgeous photos from their wedding ceremony held in Sydney, Australia. ICYDK, it’s legal for same-sex couples to get married in Australia even if they’re only holding tourist visas. Just a handy tip from one queer to another.
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But back to brides del Rosario and Peña. They exchanged vows right at the edge of Sydney Harbour, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House in view. Among those who greeted the couple are director Samantha Lee, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Kerwin King, and Cherry Pie Picache.
We’re kind of obsessed with their wedding outfits. While del Rosario wore a white blazer over her dress, Peña’s dress seems to be a corset jumpsuit with sheer puff sleeves and a detachable skirt. After donning their veils, del Rosario wore a snapback while Peña wore a tiara.
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Their union is worthy of celebration—but we’re also reminded yet again of the need to legalize same-sex marriage in the country. “I’m honestly a tad sad, not because I’m not ready for this commitment, but because I know that when I get back to the Philippines, it won’t matter. It won’t matter that my wife-to-be and I will have tied the knot abroad. It won’t even matter that it’ll be considered valid in other countries. When I sign any legal documents back home, I’ll still have to mark myself as ‘single.’ It’s a sad reality isn’t it?” Peña wrote in a post a day before the wedding.
My fiance, the panday https://t.co/co0wM1ma89
— Nica del Rosario (@nicadelrosario) August 16, 2022
Peña added on a more hopeful note, “Yes, we won’t have rights as a couple, but we’re hopeful that one day that will change. For now, we’ll keep fighting by loving freely and openly.” Love won today and may the Filipino LGBTQIA+ community continue to get even bigger wins.
Photo from Nica del Rosario’s Twitter
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