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Hearing Both Sides Of The Debate: Legalizing Divorce In The Philippines

Posted by Joanna L | Aug 25, 2019 | Love & Relationship | 0 |

Hearing Both Sides Of The Debate: Legalizing Divorce In The Philippines

Divorce has always been a controversial issue in the Philippines — or maybe even the world. Terminating a sacred union is still a crucial and complicated decision for both the church and the state. Moreover, several groups and organizations in the country are on both sides of the debate, slowing down the transition of the Divorce Act of 2019 into law. 

The masses are still not ready to make a decision, so the question looms: should the Philippines legalize divorce? Let’s take a look at what the public has to say.

No To Divorce

Some Filipinos are entirely against divorce because of their religious beliefs, while others cite Filipino values and culture as another reason why a man and a woman shouldn’t terminate their marriage. 

The Catholic Church itself condemns the existence of the Divorce Act of 2019, saying that it’s unconstitutional, anti-family, anti-children, and against Christian faith. More than 77 Catholic organizations have joined together to oppose the bill on divorce, influencing a vast number of Catholics to host multiple rallies.

Surprisingly, President Rodrigo Duterte also expressed his honest disagreement with the Senate on the divorce bill, letting former Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque share his sentiments: “He said the children would be pitiful if there will be divorce…And if there will be divorce, the abandoned spouse will lose the right to file cases against their spouse.”

Other public figures and prominent groups that also voted ‘no’ to divorce are the ALLiance For The Family Foundation Philippines Inc., Senator Joel Villanueva, and the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Movement (led by Bro. Eddie Villanueva). 

argumentative essay about legalizing divorce in the philippines

Yes To Divorce

Meanwhile, Filipinos who strongly believe that divorce should be legalized in the Philippines claim that the bill is “pro-women legislation”. They see divorce as the best exit for Filipinos experiencing domestic violence, abandonment, and adultery — since annulment and legal separation aren’t enough to save them from the consequences of a failed union. 

Senator Risa Hontiveros, the former representative of Akbayan in the House of Representatives, is one of the leading figures behind the divorce bill. She’s also known for her contributions in the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) law and SOGIE Equality Bill. Hontiveros is the principal author of the proposed Divorce Act of 2019. And just this year, she refiled a bill that will allow an absolute divorce in the country. 

“It’s time that we give Filipinos the chance to free themselves from abusive, loveless and unhappy relationships, and to help them find love and start all over again,” Hontiveros said in a recent interview. 

Strengthening the divorce bill is a recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). The survey revealed that “53% of adult Filipinos nationwide support the legalization of divorce for irreconcilably separated couples.” The sample population all came from the country’s three main island groups, SWS confirmed that the “net agreement with the proposition was highest in Metro Manila at very strong +35, followed by moderately strong in Balance Luzon at +23, Mindanao at +15, and Visayas at +14.”

Aside from Hontiveros, other public figures and prominent groups that are also open with the idea of divorce include Senator Grace Poe, the Divorce Advocates of The Philippines (DAP), and Gabriela Women’s Party. 

The Philippines, at the time of writing, is one of the few remaining countries where divorce is still illegal. Married Filipino couples have an option to go through an annulment or legal separation.

The state has yet to decide if the divorce bill would be made into law, so while the Senate and the House of Representatives are at it, make sure to find some private and public lawyers at Rakuboss.com that can help you move forward if you have marital problems that requires legal action.

About The Author

Joanna L

Joanna is a scriptwriter, content writer, and copywriter based in Manila, Philippines. She enjoys reading Young Adult fantasy and historical fiction novels during her spare time.

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Essay on Legalization Of Divorce In The Philippines

Students are often asked to write an essay on Legalization Of Divorce In The Philippines in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Legalization Of Divorce In The Philippines

Understanding divorce.

Divorce means legally ending a marriage. In most countries, people can divorce if their marriage isn’t working. The Philippines is one of the few places without a divorce law. Married couples there can’t easily separate, even if they want to.

The Current Situation

In the Philippines, couples can get an annulment or a legal separation instead of a divorce. An annulment is when the court says a marriage never really existed. Legal separation lets couples live apart without ending the marriage.

Arguments for Legalization

Some people say divorce should be legal in the Philippines. They believe it can help those stuck in unhappy or unsafe marriages. It’s about giving people the freedom to choose what’s best for them.

Opposition to Divorce

Others argue against divorce, worried it might harm family values. They fear it might make ending marriages too easy. The Catholic Church, very influential in the Philippines, also opposes divorce.

Whether or not to legalize divorce in the Philippines is a big debate. It’s about balancing personal freedom with traditional values. The decision will affect the lives of many Filipinos.

250 Words Essay on Legalization Of Divorce In The Philippines

Divorce is when two people who are married decide they want to end their marriage. They go to court, and if the court agrees, they are no longer husband and wife. Many countries allow divorce, but in the Philippines, it is not allowed except for Muslim Filipinos who have their own laws.

Why Some People Want Divorce Legalized

Some people in the Philippines want to change the law to allow divorce. They believe that if two people are very unhappy together, it’s better for them to separate and live happier lives apart. They also think that if someone is in a harmful marriage, they should be able to leave for their safety.

Arguments Against Divorce

Other people think divorce should not be allowed. They feel that marriage is very important and should last forever. They worry that allowing divorce could lead to more families breaking up and could hurt children who need both parents.

What Could Happen If Divorce Is Allowed

If the Philippines decides to allow divorce, it would mean that people who want to end their marriage could do so legally. The government would have to create new laws to explain how divorce would work and to make sure that children and both partners are treated fairly.

In conclusion, the idea of allowing divorce in the Philippines is a big topic with strong opinions on both sides. It’s important for people to talk about it and think carefully about what is best for families and for the country.

500 Words Essay on Legalization Of Divorce In The Philippines

Introduction to divorce in the philippines.

In the Philippines, the topic of divorce is a big deal. Right now, the country does not allow divorce, which means that if two people get married, they cannot legally end their marriage through divorce. This is different from many other countries where divorce is allowed and is a common way to end a marriage that is not working anymore.

What is Divorce?

Divorce is when a husband and wife decide to end their marriage through legal means. It is a way for people to stop being married when they feel that they cannot be together anymore. In places where divorce is allowed, it is a process that the court handles to make sure everything is fair, especially when it comes to taking care of children and sharing property.

Arguments for Legalizing Divorce

Some people in the Philippines want to change the law to allow divorce. They say it is important because sometimes marriages can be really unhappy or even harmful. For example, if one person is being mean or hurting the other, it might be better for them to separate. Allowing divorce could help people leave bad situations and start fresh.

Another reason is that people change over time. What if they find out they are not a good match anymore? Divorce could give them a chance to find happiness with someone else. Also, for those who are separated but not legally divorced, it can be hard to move on with their lives, like getting remarried or even just being able to make big decisions on their own.

Arguments Against Legalizing Divorce

On the other side, some people in the Philippines do not want divorce to be legal. They worry that it might break families apart and could be bad for children. They believe marriage is a promise that should last forever, and facing tough times is part of it. They also think that the current laws, like annulment, which is a way to say the marriage was not valid from the start, are enough to handle situations where a marriage needs to end.

Right now, the Philippines offers annulment and legal separation. Annulment is a long and costly process that says the marriage was never right from the beginning. Legal separation allows couples to live apart and divide their property, but they are still married in the eyes of the law. This means they cannot remarry.

The legalization of divorce in the Philippines is a topic that gets people talking. It has supporters who believe it can help people in bad marriages and opponents who worry about its effects on families. As of now, there is no divorce in the Philippines, but the conversation about it continues. It’s important to think about what is best for people’s happiness and safety when discussing this topic. Whether or not the law will change is something that only time will tell.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Should Divorce be Legalized in the Philippines?

Profile image of Cindy Lorreine deLeon

Fellow debaters, Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. Philippines have many unhappy, troubled, and failed marriages. Couples in such marriages are imprisoned and deprived of the quality of the life they deserve due to lack of remedy in our present law. Although we have legal separation, declaration of nullity of marriage, and annulment; these remedies do not directly answer the problem of a marriage which was seemingly good at the start. Representative Luzviminda Ilagan, one of the authors of the divorce bill, stated that spouse should have another legal remedy out of unhappy marriages and abusive relationship. The problem with the present law is that, our legal separation only perpetuates a dead marriage, a marriage folding in paper and that the grounds for annulment and declaration of nullity require a juridical antecedent which is unlikely found. In additional, some individuals who do not want annulment because one has to be declared psychologically incapacitated and majority...

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Repeated family transitions raise the likelihood of adverse child outcomes, and parental separation and divorce can transform the family structure from a two-parent biological family to a lone parent or stepfamily status. Although divorce is permissible in Islam, it lays great emphasis on its being a concession and measure that must be resorted to only when there is no alternative. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study is to describe the experiences of Muslim Families in Southern Philippines in Islamic Divorce. In this study, divorce practices were explained in detail to acquire a comprehensive understanding of how the Islamic law of divorce functions. This also describes how the couple arrived at their decision of having divorce. Results revealed that introspection and contemplation, consultation with family members, decision to divorce, Iddah, and processing the divorce were the divorce practices. Determination, avoidance and redirection, settling issues with children, and counting on support mechanisms were the coping mechanisms. Divorce should be avoided, divorce requires careful and thorough deliberation, collateral damage is on the child and there is life after divorce were the insights learned.

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Divorce is the process that legally ends the marriage between husband and wife. The Philippines and Vatican City are the two remaining states in the world where absolute divorce remains essentially impossible. While the Philippines recognizes legal separation as termed under its Family Code, it has not sanctioned absolute divorce. During the pre-colonial period, divorce was already practiced in some ancestral tribes in the Philippines and is already part of Filipino customary laws. Hence, divorce is not something new to Filipinos. While others see legal divorce as inevitable given the continuing trend of increasing public support for the issue, many still vehemently oppose it. The progressive lawmakers had consistently filed and re-filed related measures for years and failed. In contrast, some lawmakers continuously oppose proposals for legalizing divorce due to its impact on religious beliefs. This descriptive-correlational research tackles the area of social psychology that unveils the differences in the attitudes of Filipinos towards divorce and proposed divorce law in the Philippines, considering their variations based on religion, religiosity, educational attainment, and age cohort.

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Like marriage, divorce has remarkable effects on individuals, family and society. Marriage performs many basic and social functions whereas divorce involves diverse social impact (both positive and negative) on the divorcees. In Bangladesh, divorce has not received significant attention from the research community yet, though both marriage and divorce are socially sanctioned that recognize the changing patterns of the most important institutions-family and marriage-in the society. In order to explore the adverse effects of divorce, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007 over Sylhet district (north-east part of Bangladesh) by applying 'Case Study' as method and 'Interview and observation' as data collection techniques with a sample of twenty divorced women. The study elicited that child marriage still occurs though the rate is not higher than that of before. Polygamy is increasing at high rate resulted from the exercise of modern norms and values, satellite culture, professional and occupational diversity, reconstitution of nuclear family breaking down the joint family, poverty, and the like. Divorce rate is steadily increasing and its social effects are many and multi-facets. Women are the primary victims who carry most of the instantaneous consequences of divorce and ultimately pay most of the costs of its adverse effects.

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Divorce, due to any reason and in any kind, has the result of collapsing the family in which both parties have peace and causes the disorganization of children. Perhaps, both parties get divorce willingly but they bore grudges and develop the sense of pessimism. Divorce is among the downfalls of life and affects the children by psychological distress and its ominous impacts remain throughout life. Miseries caused by divorce are not repairable in many cases. Divorce makes the boys and girls pessimist to marriage, educates people of the society with complexes, it develops revenge in the society and deliver anxious people to community.

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Divorce Is Prohibited In The Philippines, But Moves Are Underway To Legalize It

Michael Sullivan

argumentative essay about legalizing divorce in the philippines

Anti-divorce protesters marched in Manila in February. The Philippine House of Representatives passed a bill in March that would legalize divorce. Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

Anti-divorce protesters marched in Manila in February. The Philippine House of Representatives passed a bill in March that would legalize divorce.

After 10 years of marriage to a husband she says was a philanderer, and dealing with her suffocating in-laws, Alpa Go, a mom in Metro Manila, threw in the towel. She wanted out, for herself and her two children.

"I just wanted to cut ties with him," she said speaking in Tagalog. "If I ever achieve my goals, I don't want to do it carrying his name. And if I acquire properties in the future, I don't want to have to share with him. What if I'm gone?" she asks — meaning what if she's dead. "Then he would benefit instead of the kids."

What Alpa Go wants — but can't get — is a divorce. The Philippines, where roughly 80 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, is one of only two countries in the world where divorce remains illegal (with exemptions for the roughly 5 percent of the population that's Muslim). The only other country where divorce remains illegal is Vatican City.

With divorce out of the question, Go did the next-best thing. She filed for an annulment. But they're expensive and out of reach for many Filipinos, whose jobs bring them only a few dollars a day.

Go was lucky in the sense that she'd saved enough money to try. She paid the equivalent of $5,000 to file. It didn't work.

"I filed on the grounds of psychological incapacity," she explains, one of the official grounds for annulment. "But [the court] said it wasn't enough."

Later, she says, her friends told her the judge in Metro Manila's Antipolo municipality, where she filed, wasn't a fan of annulments. So Go gave up.

Laywer Clara Padilla, the executive director of EnGendeRights , a Manila-based nonprofit that advocates for women's rights, says Alpa Go's story is far from unusual. She has heard far worse.

"Women, even if they're in an abusive relationship where their husbands would batter them, even if their husbands are drunkards or are alcoholic or engage in extramarital affairs, even if they do drugs — their wives are unable to dissolve the marriages," she says.

But a bill passed in March by the Philippines House of Representatives is giving hope to proponents of divorce. It would allow divorce for a variety of reasons, including irreconcilable differences, abuse, infidelity and abandonment.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Has A New Adversary — The Church

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Has A New Adversary — The Church

To become law, the bill needs to be passed by the Senate and approved by the president. But the House bill, which passed by a vote of 134 to 57, is significant since no divorce legislation has ever made it this far in the Philippines, says sociologist Jayeel Cornelio of Manila's Ateneo University. He calls the bill "unprecedented," but also logical in a country where a recent survey showed more than half of Filipinos are in favor of allowing divorce "for irreconcilably separated couples."

"The influence of the Catholic Church, when it comes to political matters and private moral affairs, is becoming weaker and weaker in the country," Cornelio says. "The resistance of the Catholic Church to the divorce bill is increasingly seen as not in the interests of the public but only the interests of the Catholic Church."

Cornelio says a divorce bill is a sensible, and even "inevitable" next step after the passage of the country's reproductive health law in 2013, which allowed poorer Filipinos in particular access to birth control. Many municipalities have been slow in implementing the reproductive health law, which took more than a decade to pass — evidence of how much power the Church still enjoys.

Still, there is an unusual level of bipartisan support for the divorce bill — a matter of concern for the Catholic Church.

"Yes, it is worrisome for us," says Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. "According to our Philippine constitution, now we are supposed to be pro-family to protect the family, and strengthen the family, and divorce will not help our people at all."

Pabillo acknowledges that there are cases where women who are emotionally or physically abused by their husbands need to get out. But in those cases, he says, "She can legally be separated from the man, so we also [offer] a way out."

It's not a way that allows them a divorce to start life anew in the eyes of the government or the Church. But Pabillo is firm.

"We cannot make a policy for certain cases when the whole society would suffer in the long run," he insists.

Nonsense, says Padilla. She says the Philippines remains "pretty much behind the rest of the world" — in the "dark ages," even, she says — when it comes to issues like divorce and LGBT rights.

"The Philippines should be a secular state where there should be separation of church and state," Padilla says, "where the Catholic Church should not be able to influence their religious beliefs in the passage of laws."

The Philippine Supreme Court recently ruled that Filipinos married to foreigners can get divorced abroad and be recognized as such at home.

Even though the divorce bill had strong support in the House, in the Senate, resistance is much stronger.

"Unfortunately for those who are proposing it, I don't believe in it," says Senate majority leader Vicente Sotto III . "As far as I'm concerned, it's not a priority," he says, though he admits he's taking heat from his four daughters — all of whom, he says, support the right to divorce and want him to consider the bill.

Sotto's own opposition, he says, won't keep him from allowing a vote in the Senate. "We'll discuss it," he says. "I am not going to stymie the bill because I'm not in favor of divorce, that does not mean I'll not do my job. If a senator comes to me and says, 'please, have it in the agenda because we want it discussed,' after discussing in committee, so be it. We'll do it."

A Senate version of the bill could come up for consideration in the next few months, and both Sotto and Pabillo put the chances of passage at about 50-50. Even if the Senate does pass it, the bill would still need to be approved by President Duterte, whose own marriage was annulled.

Duterte has expressed his opposition to divorce in the past. But he's also been a fierce and foulmouthed critic of the Catholic Church, when it comes to the Church's condemnation of his war on drugs, which human rights groups say has claimed more than 12,000 lives since it began nearly two years ago.

If enough Filipinos make a public show of supporting a divorce bill, the populist Duterte might go along. Giving the people what they want while giving the Church a black eye, some observers suggest, might be a twofer Duterte simply cannot resist.

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ALLiance for the Family Foundation Philippines Inc.

DIVORCE … Why Not?

1. Divorce in the Philippines is not legal but it looks like there are more couples getting an annulment. Isn’t this enough reason to legalize divorce?

The increasing numbers may be due to a greater awareness of this procedure than before. We get to know more about annulments or separations today especially if they involve movie or society personalities. The media loves to elaborate on the details but no one seems to be paying attention to the millions of good marriages around, which do not see print.

2. The Philippines is now the ONLY country (aside from the Vatican) where divorce is not legal. Isn’t that rather strange?

Even if all the countries in the world, except ours, have legalized divorce, this is not a forceful reason for us to have it. If our Constitution is the only one in the world that guarantees the protection of the institution of marriage as a lasting and permanent union, then this unique and fundamental law must be something to be proud of! (Article XV, Sec. 2 “Marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the foundation of the family and shall be protected by the State”).

A lasting marriage stabilizes the family and society as a whole. Divorce divides and destroys the family. Marriage is not a 50-50 arrangement. Divorce is. Marriage has to be 100-100. “It isn’t about dividing everything in half, but giving everything you’ve got.” If one gives 80, then the other must give a 120.

3. If the criteria for granting a divorce are well thought of and strict, those applying for divorce can be forewarned that they must have a truly valid case to pursue its filing. Would this be another convincing reason for legalizing divorce?

Most countries where divorce is legal have now gone a step further down by accepting what is called a “no fault divorce”. This means that couples do not need a valid or compelling reason to separate; only a simple agreement to end the marriage is enough. This paves the way for flimsy excuses (or none) to be legal grounds for ending a marriage. The petitioner for divorce could cite “irreconcilable differences” without having to validate what he or she means.

4. Divorce advocates argue that it is a solution to failed, if not oppressive and dehumanizing unions. Shouldn’t divorce be a consideration to properly address this and other irreconcilable differences between married couples?

If a spouse proves not only to be overbearing but also abusive and cruel, or if there are situations in which living together becomes practically impossible, there are sufficient provisions in the Family Code that provide for legal separation of the spouses. In some cases, there is even annulment of voidable marriages. There are also salutary provisions in Republic Act No. 9262 (An Act defining Violence against Women and their Children, providing for protective measures for victims, prescribing penalties therefore, and for other purposes) for the protection of women and their children. Legal Separation may be the only recourse to ensure not only the legal rights and care of the children but also spousal support, visitation rights, etc.

Divorce must NEVER be considered. There is no difficult situation that cannot be addressed in an adequate way. Many difficult situations are worsened by the stubborn and blind passions of hate or indecisions caused by infidelity or an unmentioned third party. Behind most divorces in the West is an untold story of irretrievable loss and betrayal by one or the other. The marriage fails because one or the other party wanted it to fail.

5. Please explain the following terms further – Legal Separation, Annulment, Declaration of Nullity

Legal separation allows the parties to live separately, but the marriage is not dissolved and neither party can contract marriage with a new partner. Civil Annulment recognizes the existence of a marriage until the time it is invalidated. The consent of one or both parties to the marriage must be proven to be faulty at the time of the exchange of vows. After an annulment, parties are restored to their single status. Declaration of nullity means that there was no valid marriage at all in the first place. The parties could remarry afterwards because they have, technically, never been married.

6. But divorce advocates insist that everyone deserves to have another chance to be happy or at least have the right to re-marry. Why not?

This argument is incorrect. There is NO GUARANTEE that the next union will be happy and successful. In fact, studies in the U. S. prove that first marriages are the ones that really last and remarriages ultimately fail. See “The High Failure Rate of Second and Third Marriages” (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-intelligent-divorce/201202/the-high-failure-rate-second-and-third-marriages).

If legal separation, annulment and declarations of nullity are juridical options which are already available, why would one want a divorce that will ultimately hurt the family and damage society? Difficult marriages can be repaired. There are programs that couples can attend to help them out. Besides divorce being costly, it becomes an easy way out, a way to end a marriage in order to remarry or to start a new life without the burden of a family.

7. How costly is divorce?

Church laws are against divorce and Civil laws should not favor divorce. If we speak here of financial costs, yes, it is costly for not everyone will be able to afford it. In addition, having another family will mean more expenses to support both families. The effects of divorce are not limited to the incremental financial expenses. Studies have shown the destructive consequences of divorce: the devastating emotional and psychological effects on the separating spouses and the children. The children of divorce will become the parents of tomorrow. They may also fail to prioritize the strength of their families.

8. But these are more of an exception and it affects only certain cases. The granting of divorce may even be simpler and cheaper in the long run, isn’t it?

Divorce also damages the stability and unity of the family, which is the most enduring human institution, honored and encouraged in all cultures and by every religious faith. If proponents of divorce claim that this will be cheaper than other legal options, they should instead encourage the Government to make the present options more affordable. Couples may try to convince themselves that it is a simple matter and that everything will end in a peaceful and amicable way. Unspoken and undefined, but clearly evident, are the layers of pain and hurt underneath that falsely “calm” façade of most of those undergoing divorce. You can’t just commit your life to a person and then let it go. Divorce causes trauma to the abandoned spouse and unspoken pain to the departing spouse, however indifferent he or she may pretend to be.

Couples, who fail to patch up their differences, blame each other and then choose to separate. Separation and divorce adversely affect children’s values system as well as their emotional growth. When children were involved, social studies have shown that divorce was a life-changing, negative experience that altered their childhood, adolescence and adulthood. In addition, divorce increased problems associated with a missing parent or parents — juvenile delinquency, lying, criminality, and school dropout. Some effects can be staggering like drugs and even suicide!

9. A recent survey showed 60 percent of Filipinos want divorce made legal. Why does the Catholic Church still insist on not legalizing what most Filipinos (including their flock) are urging them to do?

The Catholic Church cannot conform her teachings on preferences that are suggested by surveys, most of which are emotionally driven and difficult to translate to relevant actions. The sanctity of marriage is embodied in the moral code that is eternal and immutable. The Church, in objecting to legalize divorce, is reiterating a position she has held since the time of Christ. The Church doctrine on divorce is unchangeable because it is a Divine Law. Those in favor of divorce and re-marriage are effectively claiming human laws are superior to God’s laws.

10. What do you think are reasons why marriages fail to work?

There are many possible reasons, and foremost is the lack of preparation. Most couples whose marriages failed have entered into it impulsively or for the wrong reasons. An example is when the marriage begins because the girlfriend has become pregnant before marriage or when the couple makes a hasty decision based on physical attraction.

While attraction may have resulted in dating, it must develop into a commitment, a covenant, something spiritual. Pleasure without commitment is not love at all. Human love should become conjugal love, the characteristic of which is complimentarity, a convergence of aspirations and dreams. Divorce is a betrayal of love. This is precisely why it is important for children to learn fidelity and commitment from their own parents’ marriage.

11. Is this the only reason for what is termed as failure in marriage?

A common reason for married couples who suddenly consider divorce is selfishness of one or the other. Selfishness to appreciate that everyone changes through the years and to make allowances for it. Selfishness to depreciate a spouse who has less education or a spouse whom one believes he or she has outgrown and is no longer “suitable” for his or her professional or intellectual life.

Another reason is that many couples do not work to keep their marriage alive, engaging and worthwhile. After a time, they take each other for granted. They no longer ensure their best manners for their spouses. Indifference leads to lack of respect and eventually one or the other “falls out of love.” While there is something stable in marriage and love, maybe those whose marriages “failed” did not nurture and attend to this love every single day of their married life.

12. You must be talking of easy-to-mend marriages or minor problems that can easily be solved. What about marriages that failed because of major difficulties? Or… what if the marriage is not working, in this case, there is a failure in love isn’t it?

Most marriages go through situations that make the couple feel that the marriage is threatened or that love has gone. Instead of giving up, the couple must find a new way to make things work. If the issues appear irreconcilable from the viewpoint of the couple, they may need professional help or an external party to guide them.

13. What can be done to save a marriage?

There may be an urgent need for professional help with a marriage counselor to help them work it out. Unfortunately, there are spouses who may refuse to give counseling a try. Problems are part of life. The existence of marital difficulties can be a means for them to work on their love and respect for each other. They should not only resuscitate their affection, but also have to learn to forgive each other because mercy is the perfection of love.

To save a marriage, it is most important that couples recognize their own failings first and secondly, to be willing to negotiate and work out a solution.

A failure of marriage does not mean an invalid marriage. It can mean that the parties involved should wake up and make up, rather than think their marriage has to end.

There is no perfect marriage as there is no perfect love in this world. Marriage and love have to be worked on and developed in time, using whatever problems and difficulties the couple may meet, to learn virtues and thus strengthen their love and their life together. Young love should develop into a lasting love and, in old age, into devotion.

14. How must one prepare oneself before getting married?

Couples must know, before marriage, the necessary requirements to get married like consent, validity and the dispositions of those entering into marriage. They must primarily focus on the sacredness of marriage. Unity and the indissolubility of marriage are necessary for the pact of love to last. They must know that marriage is a life-long commitment of mutual, exclusive, total, irrevocable and sincere self-giving and sacrifice. It is entered into with open eyes, a lot of reflection and logical thinking, maturity and a lot of preparation knowing the other person extremely well and knowing that the union is not just based on mere passion or convenience. In other words, those contemplating marriage must make a sincere and diligent effort to know and understand the future partner’s character and background including that of his/her family.

Marriage fulfills natural law. It is not just a piece of paper signed in a ceremony. It is a promise, a vow, and there is a purpose to this vow. The vow keeps the bridegroom and his bride together for life in an unbreakable bond of love, respect, trust and safety needed to safeguard a very clear outcome of the union – a home, a family, children. Every baby deserves a family and every child has the right to have both a father and a mother together. 

Rosie B. Luistro Chairperson Alliance for the Family Foundation Philippines, Inc. (ALFI) October 1, 2023

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  1. Argumentative Essay about Legalization of divorce in the Philippines

    According to the Legal Dictionary, Divorce is the legal termination of a marriage by a court in a legal proceeding, requiring a petition or complaint for divorce (or dissolution in some states) by one party.

  2. Divorce Should Be Legalized in the Philippines

    Argumentative Essay About Divorce: Divorce Should Be Legalized in the Philippines Divorce Should Be Legalized in the Philippines Categories: Divorce Family Philippines Download Essay, Pages 12 (2856 words) Views 139861 I. Introduction Marriage is meant to last forever and vows usually include the phrase, "'til death do us part".

  3. Should divorce be legalized in the Philippines?

    Should divorce be legalized in the Philippines? April 2018 Authors: Erica Kimberly King Ateneo de Manila University Abstract Divorce is a difficult topic to discuss, more so among Filipinos,...

  4. Hearing Both Sides Of The Debate: Legalizing Divorce In The Philippines

    The Divorce Act of 2019, which allows absolute divorce in the Philippines, is facing opposition from the Catholic Church and other groups. Some Filipinos, on the other hand, support the bill as a way to protect women and children from domestic violence and abandonment. Learn more about the arguments and the public opinion on this controversial issue.

  5. Essay on Legalization Of Divorce In The Philippines

    January 7, 2024 Students are often asked to write an essay on Legalization Of Divorce In The Philippines in their schools and colleges. And if you're also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic. Let's take a look… 100 Words Essay on Legalization Of Divorce In The Philippines Understanding Divorce

  6. Philippines: House of Representatives Bill on Divorce Approved in

    On August 17, 2021, the Philippine government announced that a bill proposing the legalization of divorce in the Philippines had been approved by the Committee on Population and Family Relations of the House of Representatives.

  7. Legalizing Divorce in the Philippines: Pros and Cons

    💔 00:00 Divorce should be legalized in the Philippines to give people a second chance and to separate church and state. 01:41 Divorce should be legalized in the Philippines to provide an option for people in abusive relationships to escape. 🤔 02:40

  8. Should Divorce be Legalized in the Philippines?

    Divorce is the process that legally ends the marriage between husband and wife. The Philippines and Vatican City are the two remaining states in the world where absolute divorce remains essentially impossible. While the Philippines recognizes legal separation as termed under its Family Code, it has not sanctioned absolute divorce.

  9. Divorce Is Prohibited In The Philippines, But Moves Are Underway To

    The Philippine House of Representatives passed a bill in March that would legalize divorce. After 10 years of marriage to a husband she says was a philanderer, and dealing with her suffocating in ...

  10. Legalizing divorce in the Philippines: What you need to know

    legal separation by judicial decree for at least two years. psychological incapacity. irreconcilable marital differences. The bill also seeks to penalize a spouse found guilty of coercing his or ...

  11. Divorce Should Be Legalized in the Philippines

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  13. DIVORCE … Why Not?

    A lasting marriage stabilizes the family and society as a whole. Divorce divides and destroys the family. Marriage is not a 50-50 arrangement. Divorce is. Marriage has to be 100-100. "It isn't about dividing everything in half, but giving everything you've got.". If one gives 80, then the other must give a 120. 3.

  14. A position paper on Legalization of Divorce in the Philippines

    Charly Ashlee Yuson · Follow 5 min read · Sep 19, 2023 I. INTRODUCTION In the legal sense, divorce refers to the dissolution of a marriage. Despite the fact that divorce is not yet legal in...

  15. Should Divorce Remain Illegal in the Philippines? Arguments ...

    The document discusses whether divorce should be legalized in the Philippines. It argues that divorce should not be legalized for several reasons. Legalizing divorce could make people view marriage as something that can be easily undone if minds change, wasting the value of marriage.

  16. Legalization of Divorce in Philippines

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  18. Divorce In The Philippines Essay

    The wife who is being abused by any means of their husband doesn't just need an annulment, divorce is a must remedy, because in the life of a married person, even though you know each other very well, you were so closed with each other and you share your lives together, respect is still important to have a strong and satisfying …show more content…

  19. 6

    According to Meyer (2017), "a divorce is a legal action between married people to terminate their marriage relationship. It can be referred to as dissolution of marriage and is basically, the legal action that ends the marriage before the death of either spouse. The purpose of a divorce is to terminate the parties' marriage."

  20. Persuasive Essay

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  21. Advantages Of Divorce In The Philippines

    Ray Marchan CE1-B15 Argumentative essay: "Should we legalize divorce in the Philippines?" Divorce: A way to get out of nightmares A lot of sufferings encountered when you are married. If the problem became huge like adultery and/or domestic violence then it's time to file a divorce papers.

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