Divorce in the Philippines
By astreadido
@astreadido (608)
Philippines
August 17, 2010 10:22pm CST
Being a dominantly Catholic country, we have no divorce in the Philippines. Married couples who wants to split up permanently only have the options of legal separation and annulment. With the new administration, a divorce bill is being renewed in Congress to legalize divorce in the country. There are pros and cons of a divorce on both parties and most especially the effects it has on the children. It can be beneficial in some instances (maybe in cases of abuse or battery) but some other may just take it for granted (entering into marriage with the mindset that you can always have a divorce if it fails). So which weights greater, the pros or the cons?
3 responses
@bingskee (5234)
• Philippines
18 Aug 10
it would be difficult for the Filipinos to welcome divorce at first but once it is there already, you will be surprised at how many would want to file.
i believe it would benefit the aggrieved party if divorce will be legalized. a lot of women in the Philippines are abused emotionally and/or physically. the same thing happens to some men. having an option will give a chance for the abused to make her or his self whole again. being in a dysfunctional relationship shatters a person's individuality and to keep being in such a situation will not help the person.
it is hypocrisy to say that "i don't want to have a broken family". a broken family does not necessarily mean one will leave, or each of them will leave separate lives. a broken family can occur even with the two partners living together. the circumstances of wife/husband beating, verbal abuse, emotional and physical abuse, etc are indications that the family is not intact anymore, with the head and the light not loving each other anymore. these are also shared by the children. so how will one consider it not a broken family?
2 people like this
@deriellevc73 (982)
• Philippines
18 Aug 10
i totally agree with you on this bingskee! a broken family indeed does not necessarily mean the mother and father is separated physically or lead separate lives. broken family can exist even when the family is intact physically, living together. the dissension, lack of respect and love and the abuse (verbal or emotion or physical) will take care of that.
divorce is not the be all or end all of a bad marriage. it is an option for people who have no other option out of an abusive, loveless and conflict-ridden marriage which causes far more damage on the emotional stature of the children, than divorce will. i am pro-divorce. not because i had also been on the receiving end of an abusive relationship, where my children's life and safety was at stake, but because i believe that people, should have an option when these situation arises.
the government however should just make sure that divorce won't be taken lightly and be the only option for people opting out of marriage. they should ensure that divorce would be the final option however, the last recourse when all else fails.
@raynejasper (2322)
• Philippines
18 Aug 10
..hi.. for me, the cons still weigh greater.. I for one wouldn't like my family to be broken for the sake of my child.. I don't understand why our politicians are not satisfied with the legal separation bill.. in cases of battered wives, I think that can always be settled in the court.. I would still prefer that marriage in our country will be deemed sacred and the vows made by the two partners should not be broken just because of some test in the marriage.. there is no perfect relationship and we always have misunderstandings.. now, if the divorce bill will be approved, what will become of our family.. I hope those people pushing the bill will be enlightened more.. I just don't know if those people belong to a broken family that's why it's fine with them having a divorce.. I'm praying that the bill won't be approved..
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
4 Sep 10
I don't think divorces should be granted except in cases of infidelity or abuse of some sort. I don't think this "incompatible" issue should even be considered. Marriage should be for life. However, I am very happily divorced! But there was much abuse...it has been 17 years now and I have not remarried....I'm happy!
