What does it mean to you that the Philippines is the only country without a divorce law?

Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City: We should take pride in being the only one astride with the Vatican. This time, “only in the Philippines” connotes our great morals/values.

Reynold Fulgencio, Metro Manila: Legislators don’t want to earn the ire of the CBCP. In this issue, we’re being more ignorant than conservative.

Sanctity of marriage

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: It means that we honor and believe in the sanctity of marriage, through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, poor or wealthy, homeless or not, employed or unemployed, etc.

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Being a practicing Christian country, it is appropriate for our beloved Philippines to remain without divorce, even if Rome is into it. Let us remain steadfast in observing God’s will that what He had put together, let no man put asunder.

Women empowerment

Belle Tugonon, Metro Manila: Ermmm, we had better think about it (about havin’ one.) It will help lots women out there being beaten up by some jerk husband. So I say, goooo for it. Sa akin lang po, sa dami ng mga walang kwentang lalaki na drug addict, sugarol, bugbugero, kaliwete, iresponsable, if there’s divorce in the Philippines, the wife and children won’t be left crying. It’s hard to get out of a relationship crashed and crushed.

Ron Paolo Valenzuela, Manila: What are marriage vows for - “to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part”? Since most of us say that divorce is a means to free women from abusive relationships, I think women empowerment is a better option than divorce.

Filipino males are chauvinists

Pat Demaclid, California: It simply means that we still are not free - free to get out of any relationship/union that has gone wrong. You know why most men (in Congress) are against divorce? This is simply a reflection of men in the Philippines, most of whom are chauvinists. They treat women as their trophies, that even in separation, they don’t want to let go. They still consider women as their own, even when they have their own concubines.

A badge of honor

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: This means that our majority Christian nation clings to the teachings of our religion, as laid down in our Holy Bible. I am proud of this, and I am even more proud to be counted as a Christian.

Felix Ramento, USA: That marriage is still generally accepted in the Philippines as a sacred vow is something that we should be proud of as a people. With a divorce law, the haphazard selection of a future mate and the prospect of more broken families among Filipinos would ensue. 

Edwin Chinel Monares, Rizal: It is an affirmation that the Filipino people value the family as the basic unit of society. The Philippines is firm in holding on to what is right.

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: Being the only country without a divorce law means that our country values the sanctity of marriage and the importance of the family to our society.

Eduardo Santos, Metro Manila: The Philippines is a predominantly Christian country, and it follows its doctrines and values. Family ties are the most important values Filipinos have.

Dr. Mel Jaingue, Quezon City: The Philippines, being the only country without a divorce law, means to me a very good reputation to us as a Catholic nation. We are true and loyal followers of Christ and his teachings and the reason why we have endeared ourselves to Vatican and to Blessed John Paul the Second.

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: The Philippines is a Catholic country that places a high regard for the sanctity of marriage. We live in a conservative society where divorce is a big no-no.

Elmo Cruz, Manila: Although the Philippines is prone to keeping up with the Joneses in the practice of worldly values, she remains distinctive in keeping spiritual values intact. God forbid that she succumb in joining all other nations in legalizing divorce.

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: Kung kilala man ang Pilipinas sa pagiging bansa ng malubhang korapsyon, kahirapan at kagutuman, nawa ay manatili sa pagtalima sa katuruan ng Banal na Kasulatan na ang mag-asawang nagsumpaan sa harap ng Diyos at ng mga tao ay magsama sa hirap at ginhawa, sa kagutuman at kabusugan, maghanggang kamatayan.

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: The Philippines is the only predominately Catholic country in the whole world, thanks to the great influence of the powerful Roman Catholic Church. We will remain that way.

Stuck in our self-righteousness

Rogr Caravana, Bulacan: Being the only country without a divorce law only shows that events have overtaken us and that we still live in the Fr. Damasonian era of hypocrisy.

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: The Philippines is a backward country and should not be an extension of the Vatican City.

Mat Tandan, Metro Manila: We are a nation of hypocrites. It’s time to disobey the Pope. We are ruled by the Catholic Taliban.

Deteriorating values

Iam Lenie, Batangas: The divorce law should be amended here. Iba na kasi ang ugali ng Pinoy ngayon, masyado na’ng modern at liberated, and those who cannot cope with the trend ay kawawa lamang, nagiging battered and bitter sa kanilang marriage. Madaming nagkalat na tukso sa paligid.

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: It’s no big deal, really. Even without a divorce law, the sanctity of marriage has already lost its relevance to many Filipinos, especially among the rich and famous. Many couples are now raising their families without the benefit of marriage, church or civil. Under these circumstances, vaunted strong Filipino family ties are now besieged by such deteriorating values.

In the eyes of God

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: Do we really need divorce here? Being the only country without a divorce law does not make us lesser or better beings in the eyes of God.

Keep religion out of government

 Ian Rommel Gulbin, France: Again, that’s just too bad for our country. I think people should consider asking for real separation of church and state. People should also start thinking that having many children is a big issue.

Dr. Manolo Cristi, Quezon City: Ang divorce law ay iiral lamang sa ating bansa kung hindi pakikialaman ng simbahan ang ating mga mambabatas.

Richard Decena, Quezon City: Tungkol po sa divorce, naalala ko ang sinabi sa akin ng isang Singaporean: Keep religion out of the government. Isa daw pong problema ‘yan ng gobyerno.

A nation of blind people

Elpidio Que, Vigan: It only means that our roaring politicians are afraid of losing church support for their political ambitions. They do not fear ex-communication, with so many of them having strings of mistresses or, for some of the women, Casanova lovers. As the only nation without a law on divorce, we are a nation of blind people.

Call for a referendum

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: For that alone, we became a unique country. I’m not affected, but I pity those souls suffering the predicament of being stuck in a “marriage like hell”. Perhaps our lawmakers should seriously look into and finally “get the balls” to resolve the matter by way of a referendum to clear the issue at hand.

Lagging behind

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: Our not having a divorce law up to now is counterproductive. Practicality is the order of the day, not religiosity. Without a divorce law, it’s inevitable for the Philippines to be left behind by its more progressive neighbors. Divorce is doing away with pretensions and hypocrisy, which usually accompany a failed marriage. Thus, divorced couples are afforded emotional breathing space to move on in life. If only for this, the Philippines should not remain without a divorce law.

Kaycee Razon, Metro Manila: Hindi tayo progressive.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: In computer lingo, ‘upgrade’ is the word. We don’t want to be left behind from the other countries, do we?

Jon Cometa, Metro Manila: It just means that the Philippines is still backward.

Noel Navales, Metro Manila: In this day and age when the United Nations recognizes internet access as a human right (we don’t), the Philippines is still having trouble keeping up with the rest of the world.

Diana Ocampo, Rosales, Pangasinan: As I see it, our country is always on the late run making a decision, when a certain issue is no longer capable of being solved, like a tough question that requires a time limit in a college test. We’re always late.

Dr. Francis Regalado, Manila: I’m shying away from the moral and ethical issues that go with divorce. I will comment that, when it comes to law per se, our beloved country is lagging behind. Government functionaries are busy corrupting, politicking, and chastising themselves rather than implementing laws and giving Filipinos what they need. Gay rights and keeping abortion legal are the “battle fields” in the Western world, and here we are trapped in the issue of divorce?

J. Fuerte, Metro Manila: It means the Philippines is still lagging behind other civilized countries in recognizing that marriages, no matter how carefully and consciously conceived, just don’t always work. It also means that there are still people - especially, those in positions of leadership in the government - that remain stubbornly indifferent to the plight of those trapped and suffering in failed marriages.

Content with present options

Leonard Kristian Gelacio, Cauayan City: It only means that most Filipinos are already content with the present ways of dissolving a marriage under the law, i.e. annulment and legal separation.

Our laws

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: The Philippines has been stuck in time without a divorce law. Instead, we have a crappy legal separation law, which takes years and a fortune to approve. As a consequence, many couples are forced to cohabit, their children ending up miserable. Let’s hope it won’t take a century for divorce to become a law, like what happened to Argentina.

Gee Ann Rivera, San Pablo City: It means that our people is still generally conservative. I think the divorce law must push through, since annulment is expensive for those trapped in abusive marriages. Kawawa naman kapag mahirap, can’t afford sila.

The church wants its keep

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: The Philippines claims to be the only country without a divorce law, yet you see many marriages not working out, many philandering husbands, many kabits and so on, and it only shows the people think divorce is a taboo word that connotes an easy way out of marriages, but annulment is okay because its approved by the Catholic Church. In an annulment, I believe they still let you take some test to assess you, and members of the church will interview you and it’s all hullabaloo, just formalities, but in the end, they will approve it for as long as you have the money to pay.

No pressure

Lorenzo Fernandez Jr., Cabanatuan City: This does not mean that we should push through a divorce law quickly, without thinking of its consequences. E di talagang gaya-gaya lang tayo.

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City:  How blessed we are that we have not followed yet the ways of the world. Just because the rest of the world says that it’s okay to have a divorce law doesn’t mean we are left behind and that we should imitate their example.  

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: Pushing for a divorce law in the Philippines for the reason that we are the only country in the world without a divorce law is the thinking of a crackpot. What kind of lawmakers do we have today? Very discouraging.

We’re unique

Evelyn Malco, Metro Manila: ’Yung may gusto ng divorce law, better na huwag na lang magpakasal sa Pilipinas, lalo lang magulo ang buhay ng mag-asawa  

Wilhelm Garay, Quezon City: We’re nonsensically unique.

Antonio Sarmiento, California: That we are unique in that regard, whether good or bad, I don’t know. In global terms, we are the only state that doesn’t allow divorce, of course with the exception of the

Vatican. Italy itself recognizes divorce. If people want divorce legalized, they should vote into office those legislators who are in favor of it.

Jun Cajucom, Tacloban City: Truly, that makes our country unique. As they say, only in the Philippines.

It requires further study

Louella Brown, Baguio City: We are not running a race with countries that have divorce laws. We need to study our options prudently.

Angeline Blance Valencia, Tagbilaran City: Good item for Guinness. It is a discipline to weigh things carefully, especially when getting into marriage and understanding the essence of vows. Amen.

The bottomline

Maricris Crisostomo, Manila: It means we are a strong people not influenced by popular modes of thinking. A popular widespread idea does not mean it is the right thinking. A divorce law will: 1) weaken the most important basic unit of society - the family; 2) it tolerates the human tendency to look for an easy way out of difficult family situations, instead of strengthening one’s character to solve the difficulties. We cannot expose marriages in our beloved country to poisonous ideas.

Children are the victims

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: I think it’s a unique distinction, but we can annul marriages, so couples can do so on legal grounds. I do believe that divorce is not suited to our culture, and it will only victimize more innocent children with traumatic experience and loss of trust and respect to elders. - Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila

It means that God loves us, especially our children, who are the real victims of divorce.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

NEXT INBOX QUESTION: What are your thoughts on the 150th birth anniversary of national hero Jose Rizal?

You may also email your views to: mailto:[email protected].

 (Editorís Note: We have just added another channel to reach Inbox World via the growing Facebook community. If you have a Facebook account, add up PhilStar Inbox and give us a glimpse of your views on raging issues of the day. Selected comments will be published in The Philippine STAR Inbox World. Readers may also post intriguing questions for other Inbox friends to comment on. See you there.)