The Filipino Yugal Ceremony: A Meaningful Tradition for Weddings and Vow Renewals

The Filipino Yugal Ceremony, or Cord Ceremony, is a ritual traditionally done in Catholic church weddings.

Recently, a couple reached out to me to perform their vow renewal. After reading their enquiry, with the wife being terminally ill and their wish to spend each moment of her life with meaning, and the proposed date being on my birthday, I offered to do it for free. There was nothing more that I wanted than to help them to focus on time well spent, than time left.

However, they refused this offer, wishing not to take advantage of my generosity. So I simply charged them a travel fee and a little extra for time spent (which equates roughly to my coffee budget).

Then, after the initial consultation done via phone call, it was so clear to me that this couple was truly made of star stuff. Both each other’s second marriages, meeting later in life, the groom simply said “when you know, you know”. It did not take them long to decide that they were to be married and married three times! (In different locations due to families living in different countries).

This couple truly value ceremony so I was determined to write them a ceremony that was true to them and true to me. Immediately hearing their story, I knew a handfasting ritual would be perfect. However, after having met Kate at The Celebrant Society’s Conference

last year, hearing her speak then perform a handfasting, I knew that I did not know enough to do this sacred practice justice. 

Kate Ryan-Taylor from Ready Set Love demonstrating a handfasting ritual at The Celebrant Society's Conference in Sydney

I was not deterred and researched similar rituals that I would feel comfortable performing. Then eto na! As a Filipino marriage celebrant, I had forgotten that filipinos do a Yugal or Cord Ceremony. 

After my attempt at doing research on the Yugal ceremony, it was difficult to ascertain its origins. So to my Filipino Netizens out there, if you know the history, please comment below!

However, what I did find is that it is a tradition that is often associated with Catholic church wedding ceremonies and the cord is looped in a figure eight. Of course, this figure eight represents an eternal bond. 

I thought that I can do this! But also, I liked the idea of binding hands as a physical representation of connection so I thought let us combine the Yugal with a handbinding, where I get the couple to first join hands then do a figure eight around their shoulders, then lastly their hands. 

Just a snippet of the script, I would then say:

May this binding remind you that even when time feels fragile, love can remain steady. In the mystery that is the universe, the energy of love is ever persevering.

Though my couple are not of Filipino heritage, they were happy with this and I absolutely love that I work with couples who lean into trust. This Yugal and Handbinding Ceremony adds a deep history of couples who have all held their promise, as well as reminds us of the fleeting nature of time. 

In this context, it is about knowing how the story transpires but still choosing the same story. 

To my couple Wendy and Michael, thank you for choosing me and I am looking forward to your vow renewal. I am also looking forward to sharing this story.