Divorce in the Philippines Say NO to It

Divorce in the Philippines is planning to take over Filipino values and culture. Its all over the news, the Philippine Congress is now pushing forward the Divorce Bill right after they have put forward the Reproductive Health Bill. This is exactly what I have been worrying about. Just a couple of weeks ago, when I attended our Baptist Convention Meeting here in the Visayas, this issue was brought up. And just as what I have stated, RH Bill can also lead to the Divorce Bill because they have the same proponents. I know lots of Evangelical Christians are pro-RH Bill. But what they dont know is that the proponents of RH Bill are also the proponents of Divorce Bill. And now that they almost got what they want, they are now preparing for another wave of controversial bill which will open a highway for immorality and degradation of Philippine culture and religious standards and beliefs. Here is a list of the known supporters of RH Bill and Divorce Bill RH-Bill Liza Maza Risa Hontiveros Janette Garin Edcel Lagman Luzviminda Ilagan Divorce Bill Liza Maza Risa Hontiveros Janette Garin Edcel Lagman Luzviminda Ilagan

Now if you are pro-RH Bill but Anti Divorce THINK AGAIN!!!

Why I am Against Divorce

It is not what God wants. Since I started Biblical studies nothing in the Bible that will tell you that God favored and felt better for divorce. It was only allowed due to the hardheadedness of men. God did not made man and woman to be united and then separated if they got into some problems. If you fear the Lord and his commands, there is no way that you will agree on divorce. This is not what God wants. As simple as it is. Even if some pastor and theologians quantify it as a necessary amputation as far as I remember what my American Theology professor said, I would say that divorce is divorce, and God hates it. It was only men who wants it, not God. It is not the answer to the growing violence against women and children. Most divorce advocates gives emphasis on the growing children and women abuse. But I really do not see it as a solution for these problems. In fact it extends to the growing problem of immorality and sexually related diseases and problems such as unwanted pregnancies and sexually related diseases. And I believe that you will agree with me that these problems are a threat to women, children and even family. But why? Simply because people were given the so-called choice and chance to change while the fact is, it is where the so-called rights is abused. It is where many people make use of the right and abuse it for their

own self-centered selfish quest for happiness and will only bring them to the same situation again and again and again. Thats why you will see people divorced not just once, nor twice, but multiple times. It gives a wider path to domestic problems. As I mentioned earlier this right has proven to be easily abused. And we are not actually giving people a solution to their problems, but a chance to repeat the same mistakes. Divorce is like a medicine but an unrecommended one. For example, there is a an abusive husband who have been divorced by his wife. This husband will then just look for another woman to abuse. While the woman if shes the one having some problems, she will just look for another guy and if things will not get well, all she has to do is to apply again for divorce. Ridiculous isnt it? It is just a picture of FREEDOM TO TRY MARRIAGE. It gives a wider path for immorality and marital infidelity. Immorality. I guess this is not so much in nowadays. Its something that most people dont want to talk about except those that are of the religious sectors and religious people. I hate to say this but the Philippines have a steep moral degradation and that is why most of these divorce proponents put forward a SILLY SOLUTION for various problems. Did we not learn from the US? Did the stats of violence against women and children dropped by the use of divorce law? We talk much about the positive things that we can get from the divorce law, while the negative effects far out weighs the positive. Heres the summary of the advantages of divorce: Spouses will have a second chance for a happier life. Spouses will have a second chance for a non-violent life.

. second chance . second chance . second chance

to be happy to be happy to be happy. My goodness is there any solid advantages of divorce bill than being self-centered and selfish reasons??? What about your family??? What about your children??? Thats what family is for Divorce is not only antiFilipino, but is anti-Family and anti-marriages. It simply opens a wide range of disadvantages over the family. But heres the list of what they are not talking about: 1. One out of every two marriages ends in divorce. 2. In 1991, only 50.8% of American children were living with a mother and a father. The numbers have worsened since that study. 3. Approximately 4% of American children are living only with their father. 4. The vast majority of children who are raised in a two-parent home will never be poor during childhood. By contrast, the vast majority of children who spend time in a single-parent home will experience poverty. 5. Children from female-headed homes are five times as likely to be poor as children in two-parent families. 6. Four times as many divorced women with children fell under the poverty line than married women with children. 7. Children from disrupted marriages experience greater risk of injury, asthma, headaches, and speech defects than children from intact families. 8. Suicide rates for children of divorce are measurably higher than for children from intact families.

Read more about the Side Effects of Divorce and see that there are more side effects than that of a solution.

So Whats The Real Answer?

Fear of God and teach Morality Morality and Morality. If we have the fear of God and we understand what morality means, then we understand the real answer to the growing problems related to violence against women and children. Divorce is definitely NOT a TRUE medicine nor a solution to the growing domestic problems. I see it just like illegal drugs which may have a little benefit of easing the pain of the patient. But in most cases, it is an addictive medicine that can kill and destroy life and relationships. And finally, let me state this as Filipino as possible:

HWAG PO TAYO MAGING GAYA-GAYA SA IBANG BANSA. Nag-approve lang ang Malta na magkaroon sila ng divorce, tayo gusto na rin natin. Wala na bang maisip na batas ang mga Congressman and Congresswomen natin kundi mga gaya-gaya na batas?
It is NOT TRUE that you will be happy with second chance. It is NOT TRUE that you will gain your happiness back when your marriage fail and divorce is the solution. The only solution for marital problems is to adhere what the word of God says. Wives, submit to your husbands. Husbands, love your wife as you love yourselves (Ephesians 5:22-33). This is where you gain happiness and fullness of marital life and your family. Want Deeper Advise on Marital Problems and Biblical Teachings About Marriage? You can read: Biblical Teachings About Marriage and Divorce How to Resolve Marital Problems If you are pro-divorce then you are anti-family, at least to Biblical standards.

Be a Pro-family. Be an Anti-divorce!!!
Save Your Christian Marriage Now!!! If you are NOT a Christian and cant accept the Bible to help save your marriage, FINE! Here are some other resource materials that might help you save your marriage!!!
Even the secular world wants to save your marriage. simply because it is the basic foundation of the so-called family!
Save My Marriage Michael Cross Your Marriage Savior Stop Divorce

June 21, 2011

9 Reasons to Support the Legalization of Divorce in the Philippines

The Philippines is now the only country without divorce. Here are 9 reasons why we should enact our own divorce law. By Ana Santos

It is

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official. The Philippines is now be the only country with no divorce law. Until recently, there were two countries in the world where

there was no divorcethe Philippines and Malta. However, a recently concluded referendum in Malta showed that majority of the devoutly Catholic country were in favor of divorce so their government is now taking the necessary steps to craft their countrys first divorce law. Now that Malta is joining the rest of the world in legalizing divorce, here are 10 reasons why the Philippines should follow suit.

1.

CURRENT LAWS THAT ALLOW FOR LEGAL SEPARATIONS AND ANNULMENTS ARE FLAWED.

For couples who want to dissolve their union or live apart, there are two options: legal separation and annulment. A legal separation allows a couple to divide their properties and live apart, but it does not dissolve their marriage, i.e., they cannot remarry. In annulments and declaration of nullity of marriage, you have to prove that the marriage was invalid from the start according to a certain set of reasons such as impotence, homosexuality, mistaken identity, or psychological incapacity, among others. Both are options are flawed. In legal separations, everything but the marriage is dissolved. Quite literally, the couple remains married only on paper. In an annulment, you must prove that your reason for wanting to nullify the marriage existed even before the marriage--this requires one to declare and prove that his or her partner is incapable of functioning as wife or husband. The idea of couples wanting to end their marriages is not a new to Filipinos. As womens rights advocate Beth Angsioco wrote in her column, "We already have laws for those who only want property settlement, and those with void and voidable marriages. Why not a law for valid but failed marriages?"

2.

DIVORCE USED TO EXIST IN THE PHILIPPINES

According to Atty. Fred Pamaos, thePhilippines once had a law on divorce. Before the Spanish colonial rule in the early 16th century, absolute divorce had been widely practiced among our ancestral tribesthe Tagbanwas of Palawan, the Gadang of Nueva Vizcaya, the Sagada and Igorot of the Cordilleras, the Manobo, Bila-an and Moslems of Visayas and Mindanao islands, to name a few. During the American period and Japanese occupation, some form of divorce was already in place. It was actually the 1950 Civil Code of the Philippines that abolished these laws.

3.

THERE ARE SECTORS IN PHILIPPINE SOCIETY THAT PRACTICE DIVORCE.

The Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines allows for divorcehowever, with stipulations: namely, a man can divorce his wife, but a woman cannot divorce her husband.

4.

IT IS A RECOURSE FOR WOMEN WHO ARE IN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS.

According to the Philippine Commission on Women website, physical injuries and/or wife battering remains to be the most prevalent case across the twelve-year period, from 19972009, accounting nearly half (45.5 percent) of all reported violence against women (VAW) cases nationwide. In the Philippines, spousal abuse and infidelity are not grounds for the annulment of marriage.

5.

THE STIPULATIONS OF AN ANNULMENT ARE DESTRUCTIVE.

The most commonly used reason for an annulment is psychological incapacity. It requires that you prove that your spouse (or both of you) is indeed psychologically incapable of performing the responsibilities that come with being married. In legal terms, that means presenting evidence that proves this allegation. To back up your claim, you need to get a psychological report which can be expensive.

6.

DIVORCE HAS NO RELIGIOUS BIAS.

Because of the separation of Church and State, getting a civil annulment will only mean that your civil union has been dissolved. This is fine if you were married in City Hall, but if you had a church wedding, this means that your church union is still intact. To nullify your church wedding, you need to go through the whole process again, this time with the archdiocese. This action will cost more and take longer. Many opt to get only a civil annulment, but the drawback is that if you chose to re-marry, you cannot do it in church.

7.

PEOPLE ARE IN FAVOR OF DIVORCE.

According to a Social Weather Station survey conducted in March 2011, 50 percent of adult Filipinos agree and 33 percent disagree with the statement: 'Married couples who have already separated and cannot reconcile anymore should be allowed to divorce so that they can get legally married again. In 2005, a similar survey was conducted which showed that 43 percent of adult Filipinos were in favor of divorce and 44 percent were not. This shows that the public, regardless of their marital status, is now more open to accept the possibility of divorce.

8.

AN ANNULMENT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROCESS THAT NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD.

The cost of proving grounds for an annulment, such as psychological incapacity, requires the hiring of specialists and the like, which can cost thousands of pesos--not something everyone can afford. Clare Padilla, Executive Director of EnGenderights, an NGO that provides legal services, pointed out that the current situation [no clear law on divorce] puts wives in abusive relationships in a bind: Many women end up cohabiting with their current partner without having their marriage nullified. And because of this, some women are dismissed from government service precisely because of these 'immorality issues.'

9.

DIVORCE DOES NOT DESTROY THE FAMILY.

Divorceon any law, for that matterwill not destroy the family. It is only the members of the family who can do that. Putting a clear divorce law in place recognizes that some marriages work and some dont. In cases where a union is more harmful than beneficial, a divorce can be a benevolent and less hurtful way of severing ties with your partner.

Just before the intense debate on the Reproductive Health bill, Filipinos are once more at odds with each other in considering another controversial piece of legislation: the Divorce bill.

The debate on legalizing divorce took a kick-start when news of Maltese referendum favoring divorce reached the Philippines a few days ago. This has prompted progressive groups to make a bolder call for the country to follow in Malta's steps and legalize divorce in a predominantly Catholic nation. The debate on divorce is nothing new, see here AttyatWork's round-up of talking pointson the issue from last year.

Filipino Thinkers has a great digest of how the debate was settled and how the referendum unfolded in Malta. More importantly, it provides a side by side comparison of the issue between the Philippines and Malta: Aside from the happy ending, which left the Philippines the only country without divorce1, the story of Maltas divorce referendum shares similarities with our own reproductive health (RH) debates: both countries are last bastions of Catholicism: Malta in Europe, the Philippines in Asia; both countries are predominantly Catholic: 95% in Malta, 80% in the Philippines; and both battles are primarily between progressive Catholics and conservative bishops. And in both cases, the conservative bishops use fear mongering to keep their flock in line. For a quick refresher on the differences between divorce, annulment and legal separation, Lyle R. Santos has a quick guide in layman's terms. With Malta's approval of divorce, the Philippines is now the lone country in the world that prohibits it. For Blue Dela Kanluran, the debate on divorce should not be framed on this fact alone: As i had stated earlier my stand is against divorce however, I will not begrudge a sovereign nation of their right to decide whats best for their country and themselves as Malta has displayed here. (See, that is an example of the separation of Church and State). Which leads me to wonder, what effects will the stigma of the only country which outlaws divorce have on the Philippines? Personally, I think this will make pro-divorce legislation in the future more difficult not only because of the meddling of the Church but with the stigma earlier stated as well (Which is not how legislation should be argued). Cocoy views the near-approval of the Reproductive Health and now the Divorce bill as a reboot of the Philippines, moving from a predominantly religious state in a secular one: If the Reproductive Health bill becomes law, and it is followed by a divorce bill? That would be one continuity reboot for the Philippines. It signals that the nation is slowly becoming secular and less under the thrall of the Vatican. As a Catholic, for me, it presents an opportunity for the Church to focus on the spiritual. I want sermons and direction that make me a better person. I dont need the Church to tell me what is wrong with government. Filipinos everywhere already know whats wrong with our nation. It is that time in history that we fix it. I need my church to help guide that poor maid who is always beaten up by her husband. I need a Church that guides street children away from the streets, and into education. I need this church to be relevant. Dreamwalker takes delight in the fact that this proposed laws, no matter how dividing and controversial, sparks debate among society, thus encouraging everyone to take part in the national discourse:

I continue to be amazed by how Filipinos seem to be more aware of what is happening in the country and how we seek to be more informed about our laws - both proposed and existing. In my opinion, this can only lead to more good. Never mind that there will always b Maju brings forward a valid point in cautioning that our lawmakers should take up the divorce law with a keener eye: We should also get onto considerations on how good or bad are existing divorce laws. In many countries, notably those under the Sharia, the rights of women and men in divorce are not the same. Lastly, here's a good discussion by a lawyer, Connie Veneracion, about annulment, legal separation under current Philippine laws and how divorce could plug the holes in the current Family Code: Later on, however, it became clear that despite the leeway allowed by the concept of psychological incapacity, there was a huge gaping hole in the law. Annulment is a very expensive legal procedure beyond the financial capacity of majority of the Filipinos. The laundrywoman living in the slums who is physically abused by the drunken jobless husband could not afford it. In addition to the expense, the process was a long and tedious one. Eventually, the divorce advocates started making noise again. As expected, the Catholic church is getting more imaginative in coming up with arguments against divorce. It is sad that most Filipinos cannot view marriage independently from its religious context. It is even more sad that most Filipinos do not consider themselves validly married unless married in church. Very sad indeed. So, will the passage of a divorce law patch the loopholes in the Family Code? It depends on what the law will allow as valid grounds for divorce and what the required procedure will be. It has happened before that a law is passed as some sort of pacifier. Congress can pass a divorce law which such narrow grounds and complex process that it will effectively negate the very purpose of a divorce. You know, just so it can be said that a divorce law has been passed. I doubt if that will satisfy the progressives and the divorce advocates.