•5:53 PM
Yesterday, September 8, 2008, was a very important day of my younger sister, Mae. Her boyfriend asked her hand from my parents. Earlier today, she and her fiance informed me that their wedding is scheduled on May next year.
Pamalaye ( Cebuano term) or Pamanhikan (Tagalog term) is the traditional way of asking the hand of the bride from her parents. It's when the groom asks permission from the parents to marry the bride.
In pamalaye, the groom and his family including his relatives meet the family and the relatives of the bride. They go to the house of the bride-to-be to formally ask her hand from her parents. Aside from asking the hand of the bride, there are other important things to be discussed on that day; e.g, the schedule of the wedding, the expected amount of money needed on the wedding day, the principal sponsors, etc.
Moreover, the groom has to give money or things to the family of the bride. The parents of the bride will be the ones to decide whether they ask for money or things; likewise, how much money or what thing they gonna ask. Both parties have to agree on this matter.
Also, the family of the groom has to bring something to eat on the Pamalaye. Because, it's not only the family and relatives of both parties are there on that occasion, there are also neighbors and friends who serve as additional witnessers. Most importantly, they have to prepare food for the chairman or the presiding officer of the Pamalaye.
Prior to the wedding, the groom-to-be will often go to the house of the bride-to-be to do some household chores like fetching water, cutting firewood etc.
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