Divorce in the Philippines
I recently read in the papers that the Catholic Church is again blocking Rep. Liza Masa’s recent attempt at a Divorce Bill. A Bishop has alleged that a divorce bill would be unconstitutional because the constitution says something about the protection of the family as the basic social unit.
However, this argument can be used for both sides of the debate. The pro-divorce side (which, I am so obviously on) can contend that by legalizing divorce, the sanctity and quality of marriages can be improved. The debate boils down to staying in an unhappy and irreparable marriage or giving up on it despite the promise to love each other “til death do us part.”
For me, however, the biggest arguments against divorce are the consequent illegitimacy of the children and the high price (both financially and emotionally) of annullment. Once a marriage is considered null, the children of the un-couple immediately become “illegitimate” and would consequently take on their mother’s maiden family name. ISN’T THAT JUST PLAIN CRUEL??? It’s a cliche but children are unwilling victims here. And considering the majority of the Philippines are tethering below the poverty line, the time, money and resources needed to file and get an annullment is beyond the regular Filipino’s means. Thus, a lot of them resort to “informal”/illegal separations and/or co-habitation which yield more “illegitimate” children. Moreover, they are deprived of leaving their failed marriage behind.
I guess the opposition of a lot of people to divorce stems from the divorce culture in other countries such as USA. However, we should note that the grounds and requirements for divorce that are proposed in Rep. Maza’s bill are more stringent than those imposed in the USA. We can have legalized divorce here in the Philippines without being reduced to a nation composed of people who marry just because divorce is just around the corner in case it fails.
257 Responses to “Divorce in the Philippines”
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28 years old from Davao City, blogging since 2004. :)
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… i am pro divorce.. give me some ideas 4 that plssss…we have debate kz thisweekk..
i recently got divorced from my russian wife because she is a very irresponsible woman.`-,
can you give some examples how to win in the debate?we are pro in DIVORCE
and the evidence also
thanks…
Divorce is always a bad news among married couples. Some couples just cannot iron out their differences.`’*
Divorce will always lead to depression and anger towards the other party. As much as possible avoid divorce;;”
we are anti the divorce bill in the Philippines…can you please give me some ideas and evidences as well
I go for divorce legalization in the Phil. i had been separated (unlegally)15 yrs ago I filed an annulment in 2002 but unfortunately it was not granted. My ex husband has now a new family with 2 kids and because of annulment not granted, the kids of ex husband are now illigitimate because of non marriage of parents. It’s sad that these kids will not be legitimated in anyway unless their father will be widowed by me. How long will these kids be able to have the chance of being legitimized. Poor kids and poor mother of the kids as well because she can never claim herslf as a legal wife of my former husband. I hope divorce in the country so as to give those deprived the chance to live a better life and standing in the society. Couples who can’t stand and live together should be given the right to live freely and enjoy life and not in the bondage of marriage that will never work anymore that full of agony and hatred to one another also physical, emotional abuse occurs as well. Divorce is better than annulment because children in annulment makes the kids illigitimate and also the rich and the privelege individuals are most likely being favored. Divorce still keeps the ligitimacy of the children. If and only if the annulment has gone thru well in my caes then the kids of my former husband will all be ligitimate. Just imagine what’s the big effect of these to the innocent kids, annulment not granted ending up to having more problems of illigitimacy.