“In approving the Divorce Bill, the House of Representatives has taken a courageous step towards liberating countless Filipinos from the shackles of unhappy marriages”
IN A delightful turn of events, the House of Representatives has done the unthinkable: they have approved the Divorce Bill, House Bill 9349, in a country where the notion of marital freedom has been as elusive as a unicorn sighting.
With 131 affirmative votes, 109 negative, and 20 abstentions, the bill inches closer to granting Filipinos the radical notion that a miserable marriage need not be a life sentence.
Yet, some dissenters, like Agusan del Norte 2nd District Rep. Dale Corvera, clutch desperately to an outdated script, declaring this progressive step a Constitutional abomination.
Rep. Corvera, in his infinite wisdom, invokes Article XV, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution, which proclaims that “marriage is an inviolable social institution and the foundation of the family that should be protected by the state.”
It’s a quaint sentiment, really, imagining marriage as an unbreakable edifice.
But here’s a novel idea: when the foundation starts to crumble and threatens to bury everyone under it, maybe it’s time to let the demolition crew in.
Let’s unpack this: the Constitution indeed emphasizes the protection of marriage as a cornerstone of family life, presumably one that is harmonious and beneficial to all members.
However, when a marriage transforms from a nurturing bond into a toxic, destructive force, continuing to “protect” it becomes counterproductive, if not downright cruel.
The Constitution does not, and should not, mandate the preservation of suffering and the perpetuation of misery under the guise of sanctity.
Ah, but Corvera is not swayed. He reminds us of the biblical injunction, “What God has joined together, let no man separate.”
How quaint, yet irrelevant, considering the very same Constitution mandates a separation of church and state. We are not a theocracy, despite some nostalgic longings for medieval simplicity.
Public policy must be grounded in reality, not in religious dogma.
Legal separation, the fig leaf of respectability that Corvera offers as a solution, is a farce.
It allows couples to live apart but chains them together legally, denying them the freedom to remarry and rebuild their lives.
It’s like telling a prisoner they can leave their cell but must drag the ball and chain with them wherever they go.
The approval of the Divorce Bill promises numerous benefits.
First and foremost, it provides an escape hatch from abusive and dysfunctional marriages.
Yes, laws against abuse exist, but they do not address the fundamental right to terminate a non-viable marriage.
Victims of abuse need more than just a temporary reprieve; they need the freedom to start anew without the specter of their abuser looming over their legal existence.
Moreover, divorce legislation acknowledges that human beings are fallible and that marriages can and do fail.
It offers a path to redemption and renewal, allowing individuals to reclaim their dignity and happiness.
In societies where divorce is legal, there is ample evidence that people are better off – economically, socially, and psychologically – when they have the option to leave a hopeless situation.
And let’s not ignore the children.
Research consistently shows children fare better in stable single-parent households than in homes wracked by conflict and unhappiness.
The true protection of the family lies not in the preservation of a broken marriage but in fostering environments where love, respect, and harmony can flourish.
To Rep. Corvera and his like-minded supporters, clinging to the vestiges of a time when personal misery was seen as a noble sacrifice, I say: evolve.
The world has moved on, and so should the Philippines. The Divorce Bill is not an attack on marriage; it is a lifeline for those drowning in untenable unions. It is high time the law reflected the reality of human relationships and offered hope instead of condemnation.
In approving the Divorce Bill, the House of Representatives has taken a courageous step towards liberating countless Filipinos from the shackles of unhappy marriages.
This is not a violation of the Constitution, but rather a fulfillment of its true spirit: the protection of the individual’s right to a life of dignity, freedom, and happiness.
