Leyteño weddings were characterized by two celebrations. The first, henbabayehan is in honor of the bride. It precedes the bridegroom’s party. The expenses for it are borne by the bride’s parents. The bridegroom is never represented here by anybody, not even by proxy, as nobody from his family is invited as per tradition. The bride’s relatives and friends constitute the guests.
The bridegroom’s not being represented, however, seems to be only theoretical, for undercover men are actually sent there by the bridegroom’s parents, not so much as to participate in the feasting but to spy on the food and entertainment fare so that the same may not be repeated in the henlalakehon, or the bridegroom’s party, which must have a completely different but better fare.
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Source:
Anima, N. 1975. Courtship and Marriage Practices among Philippine Tribes. La Loma: Omar.
