Santuario de San Antonio Parish to review wedding rates following backlash

After netizens reacted negatively to the new wedding rates of Santuario de San Antonio Parish (SSAP) in Forbes Park, Makati City being circulated online, its parish priest issued a statement saying it will "review all concerns."

In the letter posted on social media and the SSAP's official website, Fr. Reu Jose C. Galoy, OFM, addressed the attendees first with "pax et bonum" or peace and goodwill, thanking them for "engaging in a fruitful discussion on improving the Parish services."

Galoy said that they believe that the rates presented were fair and "well thought out", but conceded that it should have been presented as a "work in progress, rather than a final product."

"Rest assured that the Committee will review all concerns brought up, taking into consideration all input and suggestions and arrive at a sensible set of rules that would address the interest of all concerned," he wrote.

The photos taken during a recent wedding congress showed the parish's new wedding rates, which started at P40,000 for residents on weekdays and Saturday mornings to P65,000 for non-residents for weekends and holidays. 

Per online directory Bride Worthy, the rate for other historic churches like the Manila Cathedral is P32,000 to P42,000.

Marock Entertainment, an events organizing company, released a statement in response to the new rates.

"This is to inform everyone that we will be avoiding the Santuario de San Antonio Parish for any coverage," their statement read.

Marock Entertainment enumerated their problems with the arrangements with the parish:

1. Seminar for accreditation has a fee of 300php which is already done as of the moment.
2. One of the topic of the seminar is to charge every suppliers as posted in the photo. (Annual Accreditation fee)
3. There is also a bond fee for every suppliers as posted also in the photo (Aside from the annual fee)

Accreditation for suppliers such as videographers and florists ranged from P10,000 to P50,000. 

Other organizers additionally took issue to the implied mandatory P2,500 donation for the use of the Convento Garden for outside shooting.

Marock Entertainment called on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to act on the matter.

A representatives from the CBCP told GMA News Online via a phone interview on Friday that the Parish is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila.

GMA News Online has been advised by the press office of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila to wait if or when they will issue a statement. —KG, GMA News