In light of the recent Tiger Woods imbroglio, what is a wife do with a philandering husband?

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: Woods, like Pacquiao, is fair game to women because of his money. The wife should just learn to live with it.  

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: Marital infidelity hurts like death to a woman. She should be given a choice to either sever or save her marriage at her own terms.  

Men are polygamous by nature

Elpidio Que, Vigan: This should be a natural consequence of his being a humble, tall, dark, handsome man who possesses fame, glory, and billions of dollars. He is honey to all kinds of female bees. His Viking wife Elin’s whacking his SUV’s windshield with a golf club in the street, which resulted in media heat, is understandable for a woman who loves her husband. But if a woman from an obscure background agreed to marrying a superstar, with a pre-nuptial agreement, she should not expect to live happily ever after. Women should not ignore the fact that men are born polygamous.  

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: I used to be what Tiger Woods is today. Unlike a thief who hates a thief, adulterers tend to be lenient with one another. To err is human, to forgive is divine. In RP, being branded a babaero is something men are proud of. Some even convert to other religions to legalize their act.  

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: Women shouldn’t do anything because men are born polygamous, just like women are born to shop. Women should just accept it, especially if their husbands have a lot of money, because when you have money, there are women everywhere. It’s either you accept your fate or leave your husband.  

It comes with the territory

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: In our culture, it is always held that marriage should be protected and prevented from splitting at all costs. It is for this reason that the ex-First Lady stands taller than any hurt wife because she withstood all the stormy trials in their marriage life. Her known piece of wisdom is, “At the end of the day, he is still mine.” That is not an easy feat. Many Filipino wives can tolerate for a while their man’s flings with playgirls as it will pass soon. That is not, however, when the other woman bears a love child. That would be beyond the extended line, regardless of the husband’s capacity to meet financial obligations.  

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas: A celebrity wife should consider converting her whole family into Islam to effectively shoo away rumor mongers in media from her husband’s harem.

She should think it over clearly

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: I think a wife in such a situation should follow the dictates of her heart with much discernment. Men go into philandering under different circumstances and situations. Sometimes you hear a wife say, “Guwapo kasi ang napangasawa ko, eh!” or “Nagmana kasi ‘yan sa tatay niya.” The case of Tiger Woods and certain philandering men like him is uniquely theirs because of their money and fame; for others, it’s because of the power they wield, without which women would not sway in their mere presence. That should be understood well by Elin, the wife of Tiger, whom she would not have married in the first place were it not for him being already famous and wealthy when they first met. This is not to condone the wrong done by Woods. If he were truly repentant, Elin must now think hard to save the marriage. I say this as a husband married to the same very understanding woman for over 50 years now!  

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: She may set him free for good, or give him another chance to redeem himself. She has to figure out the effects of her decision.  

Bernadeth Baltazar, Isabela: We all know that the majority of women give all their trust to their husband, and that’s because of love. But once you have a philandering husband, I think you have to decide whether you’re going to ask your husband for an annulment or a divorce. Don’t jump into conclusions without gathering information or making observations. Handling it should be systematic, like in rules or policies, where we have the first, second, and third offense with the corresponding actions for each.  

She should leave him

Cris Rivera, Rizal: It’s either she packs her bags and leave or pack his philandering husband’s bags and tell him to leave.  

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: A wife should give a philandering husband a dose of his own medicine. Get rid of him and life should go on with her and her children.  

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Don’t give him the power. Stand up for yourself, be firm, and hold your head high. Walk out that door and never look back.  

Elsa Mendoza, Metro Manila: Tiger Woods seems to have been a womanizer. No matter how great a player he is and how famous he has become, I myself have lost respect for him. In a similar case, if a husband has indulged himself in philandering, the wife, hurt and shamed as she is, upon discovery, should cut and cut cleanly. She has all the right to have peace of mind and keep her self-respect.  

Krisha Cate Esquivel, Nueva Ecija: Get a divorce or an annulment. That’s the most practical way to evade philandering husbands. Besides, they don’t deserve the love and trust their wives are giving them.  

Rey Onate, Palayan City: A successful man is a superior head of the family. His wife should dump and damn him.  

Juanito Lumibao Jr., Gapan City: Can you still trust a person whom you loved so much if he betrayed you, not just once, twice or thrice but over ten times? I don’t think so.  

His wife should be understanding

Lolong Rejano, Marinduque: Personally, I committed what Tiger Woods has done to his wife. It was only for fun, to explore something different. I can honestly say that was only part of the challenge of family life. I believe what he did was only for his own satisfaction without the intent to compromise his love for his wife and family. He only needs to let the situation cool down and beg for forgiveness so they can start all over again. Understanding on the part of wife would make their family tough and give them lasting happiness and peace.  

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Wives should realize that there is no such thing as a perfect husband. They can only tame the tiger in their husband.  

Tony Gomez, Parañaque City: Many women take advantage of celebrities by offering them their bodies. Men are men and sometimes temptation is very difficult to resist. Even priests succumb, so what can Tiger do? Elin must give a little allowance for this, especially since Tiger is showing genuine repentance for his transgression.  

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: It must have been very painful for his wife to know that he was unfaithful, but he should be given a second chance.  

It’s up to the wife

Dencio Acop, Benguet: Let the wives answer this question. Mine says if the wife truly loves her husband and so long as the husband is repentant and vows to never do it again, then she should forgive him and open the door to a new beginning. But if the husband does it again later on down the road despite his promise, then she should leave him for being unfaithful. This is only one school of thought. However, the Christian school of thought teaches a doctrine of magnanimity even to a philandering husband.  

Rowena Remiendo, Makati City: The only reason given by the Bible to allow divorce is adultery, so it’s up to the wife to decide.  

Diony Yap, Bacolod City: If the philandering husband is rich and famous, take the matter to the paparazzi. If he is a nobody, leave it to the Almighty.  

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: A wife should know what a wife should do.  

Give him a second chance

Loi Castillo, Davao City: Give him a second chance. A husband, even when caught, will still choose to come home to his family.  

Randolph Hallasgo, Misamis Oriental: Forgive and forget!  

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: She should talk to him sincerely so he will be guided by the flickering hope of light to save the family and give him a chance to prove his undying love and affection.  

Maricel Maralit, Naga City: Let him explain. Give him another chance. But the next time he fools around, leave him. Once is enough, twice is too much.  

Family solidarity must be upheld

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Tiger Woods is a rare big man, like Kobe Bryant or Bill Clinton, who are ladies’ men regardless of their having sweet loving wives. But that doesn’t mean they will be at ease when their wives get hurt because of their flamboyant affairs outside marriage life. In our Filipino culture, both spouses must be forgiving if the offender amends and begs for forgiveness. Family solidarity must be upheld, unless already totally wrecked.  

Felix Ramento, Manila: This question puts me on the spot. Anyway, the lesson is it all depends on how the guy handles the situation. A husband could prove his virility without putting his wife and family’s well-being on the line. The wife should always remain beyond compare.  

Leonard Villa, Batac City: A suffering wife of a philandering husband shouldn’t forget that marriage is for better or for worse, ‘till death do them part. Marriage is a lifetime contract ordained by God and it must be sustained. Philandering acts or trials could be overcome through God’s blessings.  

Louella Brown, Baguio City: With a philandering husband like Tiger Woods, a wife should take the initiative for a marriage or family counseling. She must save the family.  

Ed Alawi, Davao City: If the wife thinks the guy is worth fighting for, she can find many ways to cut his philandering. But if the guy is irrational, she should sue him and say bye-bye.  

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: With the number of mistresses he’s had, I have a feeling that Tiger has problems with his relationship with his wife or problems with his own childhood and he’s probably sick. In our culture, the family should be preserved at all costs.  

The couple must have a heart-to-heart talk

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Tiger Woods has no intention to leave his wife despite his affairs with prostitutes and waitresses. I guess it’s just that all work and no play makes Tiger a dull boy.  

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: She can neutralize it by having a heart-to-heart talk for the sake of their family and take the initiative for them to be both closer to God.  

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: In our country where there is no divorce,the only option left for a wife is to have a heart-to-heart talk with her husband.  

June Deoferio, Cavite: There must be understanding and open communication with the husband for the sake of the children and the family.  

Arvin Padual, Quezon City: When a wife discovers the philandering activities of her husband, she should not nag or quarrel with him, but instead talk to him nicely.  

Castrate him

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: Putulin, my auntie said, ang maling gawain. Remember the Lorena Bobbit mutilation case? The best way to deal with philandering husbands or wives is through an honest introspection on why one’s partner went astray. Fidelity is the key to avoid this pitfall.  

Elizabeth Oximer, Negros Occidental: Castrate him, gawing eunuch!  

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Putulin ang kanyang pag-aari! But that’s not a lasting solution; it’s better for both partners to talk and solve the problem in a civil manner.  

A wife must protect herself and her kids

Dianne Aquino, Caloocan City: Set the husband free, make it legal, then start a new life, not necessarily to find another partner, but to live alone peacefully with kids.  

It’s often the wife’s fault

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: There is no such thing as a philandering husband, but only one pushed to do so due to some circumstances which are almost always the fault of the wife. In some cases, the wife would start revealing her true character. The wife would constantly nag without reason and find fault in her husband. To solve the problem, the wife must change her attitude and character. Otherwise, divorce would be a big possibility.  

The wife should keep her pride

Rose Leobrera, Manila: These are what I did as a wife and, after so many trials, we are now on our 26th year, still happy together: 1. Remember that the wife has the edge over the querida. That alone, is already security above anything else; 2. Never quarrel with the querida. 3. When talking to your husband, keep your cool, even though you want to tear him into pieces, and let him choose. It’s better that he make the decision. 4. The paawa style won’t work. Use finesse and konting pride. Huwag mamalimos ng pagibig.  

It’s hard to rein in a rich, philandering husband

Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: A philandering millionaire of a husband is hard to rein in by an originally less wealthy wife.  

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: Wives can be assertive of equal rights and status if they are as productive as their spouses. Clinging to an abusive husband is a necessity to most.  

Tiger’s wife almost killed him

Lincoln Alagad, Parañaque City: I think what happened to Tiger Woods would serve as a test case to all women with good-looking husbands. Tiger almost died because of Mrs. Woods. What can I say? It’s marital law without respect for husband’s rights. Wife attacked an already fleeing Tiger and, in the process, almost killed him.  

Tiger should be punished

June Deoferio, Cavite: Mr. Woods must be punished and apologize to his wife.  

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: A wife might say: “Think hard, and think again. What you can do, I can do better.” Oh, I am just thinking.  

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