Mary Lonena Oclinaria of Hastings and Alan Svitak of Grand Island were united in marriage on Jan. 12, 2008, at North Shore Assembly of God Church in Hastings with Pastor Millard Huett officiating. The matrimonial ceremony was held in Filipino tradition.

Parents of the bride are the late Lope and Vicenta Oclinaria who were represented by Melvyn Jurisprudencia of Houston, Texas, and Bethany Pamplin of Green Point, Forster, Australia. Parents of the groom are Vernon and Evangeline Svitak of Chapman. Godparents of the couple are Ted and Julie Bird of Rapid City, S.D., and Mark and Chris Brosnihan of Hastings.

Maid of honor was niece of the bride, Michelle Byrnes of San Francisco. Bridesmaids were Alexandra Brosnihan of Hastings, friend of the bride, and Elizabeth Pamplin of Green Point, Forster, Australia, the bride's niece.

Best man was Douglas Bird of Rapid City, S.D.; groomsmen were David Duncan of Lincoln and Scott Morrison of Houston, all are friends of the groom.

Flower girl was Lily Kyes of Kearney, the groom's cousin. Ring and coin bearer was the groom's nephew Anthony Buettner of Chapman.

Candlelighters were Debra Svitak, sister-in-law of the groom, and Russell Svitak, brother of the groom, both of Chapman. Veil sponsors were Joanna Reimers and Bob Reimers of Grand Island, friends of the groom. Cord sponsors were Connie Payne and Sean Brosnihan of Hastings, friends of the bride.

Ushers were friends of the bride Dan Dowling, Dean Taubenheim, Julius Teano of Hastings and Ranilo Perez of Omaha and friends of the groom David Nielsen of Aurora, and Dusty Neville of Chapman.

Pianist was Deb Dowling of Hastings, friend of the bride. Soloist was Lexi Norcross of Hastings. Guest book attendants were Angela Meyer of Chapman, friend of the groom, and Gerarda Daming of San Francisco, aunt of the bride. Personal attendant was Meda Taubenheim of Hastings and program attendant was Yvonne Lamb of Hastings, friends of the bride.

Others who helped in the celebration were Margie Bhar and Dennis Bhar of Hastings, friends of the bride, Virginia Fay of Bradshaw, aunt of the groom, Guntamanee Mattley of Hastings, friend of the bride, Georgia Lonena Luzande, sister of the bride, and Mary Munoz, sister-in-law of the bride, both in the Philippines.

A reception at the Hastings Convention Center, Quality Hotel followed the ceremony.

The bride graduated from South Western University, Cebu City, Philippines, and works for Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings as a medical technologist.

The groom, a graduate from Northwest High School in Grand Island, works for Heartland Pella as a semi-truck driver, and is also a farmer.

Alan and Mary spent their honeymoon cruising the trails of the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas and saw the interesting scenic views, important historical attractions, and the above-the-ground fun and amusements. They stopped-by in Albuquerque, N.M., to meet the cousin of the bride whom she has never met, which was a heartwarming moment.