Will you Divorce me?

Issue 3 A.Y. 1112

After the issue on the Reproductive Health bill, Filipinos are once more at odds with each other in considering another contentious and controversial piece of legislation, the Divorce Bill. After citizens of Malta voted for divorce in a referendum, only the Vatican City and the Philippines remain in the list of states that prohibit divorce - and it seems that Philippines doesn’t want to be  left behind. The debate on legalizing divorce in the country started when this news of Maltese referendum favoring divorce reached the Philippines recently; this eventually encouraged and provoked various groups to make a stronger call for the country to follow in Malta's steps and permit divorce in this predominantly Catholic state.

Comparatively, both countries are the last fortresses of Catholicism, Malta in Europe and Philippines in Asia. Malta is more predominantly Catholic, around 95 %, than Philippines with around 80 %. Also, both countries experience conflicts between the Government and the Church in many aspects.

Recently, the Philippine Congress started working on House Bill 1799, An Act Introducing Divorce in the Philippines, with Gabriela Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emmi de Jesus as the principal authors. It gained supporters and opponents. House of Representatives Speaker Feliciano Belmonte threw his support, as well as Former Gabriela Representative Liza Maza and Akbayan Party Spokesperson Risa Hontiveros. On the other side, Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, echoing the sentiments of the Catholic Church, took a conservative stand on the bill.

We all know that family is the most basic social institution; a family must not be destroyed, and according to Anti-Divorce people, Divorce destroys the family. Well, for me, Divorce cannot destroy something that is already destroyed. Family members seeking divorce implies that for them, there is no more sense of being a family. Divorce does not destroy the family - only the members of the family can do that. We should recognize the fact that some marriages work, whereas some really don’t. And in cases like these – where a union of two people is more damaging than beneficial – a divorce can be a way of severing ties with your partner.

Physical abuse, irreconcilable differences and conflicting personalities, sexual infidelity, and loss of affection are just some of the many other reasons why marriage doesn’t work. Keeping a couple together locked in their irreparable marriage, would not only mean suffering for them but for their children as well. People against the bill argue that the children suffer if their parents are not together anymore. However, I believe that it is more unhealthy and painful for the children to see their parents always at each other’s throats for the smallest reasons, rather than having parents who are perfectly fine with each other although they are separated and not married anymore.

Divorce offers us a choice. It is not a highway for immorality and degradation of Philippine culture and religious standards. We can legalize divorce here in the Philippines without being a nation composed of people who marry just because divorce is just around the corner in case it fails. We just have to remember and continue living with these culture and religious standards.

It is time to move forward, away from the past and into the modern era. Divorce offers each and everyone the opportunity to start a new life - be it by remarrying or remaining divorced. The rest of the world has given this choice to their citizens; let us offer the same right and opportunity to our fellow Filipinos.

 - Emmalyn Escanilla, 10A

* Notice to readers: The views expressed in the Weekly Perspective do not necessarily reflect those of the Academic Committee or UP POLITICA.