Ivatan marries US Corps volunteer
(by Juliet P. Cataluña, Bandillo Batanes)

Maldo Estrella married US Peace volunteer Carrie Toth last April 8, 1999. Estrella is a sanitary inspector in the Municipality of Ivana while Carrie has been with the Batanes Development Foundation Inc. since July of 1997.

Maldo, 28, is the fifth of eight children of Pacifico and Aurora Verso -Estrella. Carrie on the other hand, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Toth of New Hampshire, Connecticut in the USA.

The wedding ceremony, officiated by Rev. Father Gumersindo Hernandes, O.P., was held at Ivana Parish Church. It was attended by about 300 friends and relatives of the couple. On hand to give away the bride were Mr. and Mrs. Irineo Pama, chosen by bride since her parents could not come it to the wedding.

As to their plans for the future, Carrie said she is leaving for the US to continue her studies. She plans to take up a masters degree in Education. She said, however, that she would immediately work on petitioning her husband so he could follow her to the US.

Carrie, who now has many friends in Batanes-especially in Basco and Ivana, added that she and her husband would strive to return to the province for a vacation at least every two years. She also said that after retirement, they plan on coming back to stay for good in Batanes.

The newlyweds spent their honeymoon at the Batanes Resort courtesy of USPCV's Christy Heitmiller and Evan Hendrix.