Should divorce be legalized in the Philippines?

The Negative Effect

Before we began and gathering the data that could contribute to this debate, we asked ourselves if
a divorce was worth it or not if it was perfectly and legally approved by the government.

Let’s view the fact, that no one can predict when or how divorce occur in marriage. As we all know,
divorce in the Philippines is still not legally recognized by the law. Currently, lawmakers urged the passage
of a divorce bill since/they believe that everyone should have a chance at a second love. The biggest question
is, what is the possible negative effect of divorce after it is legally stipulated by the law and government?

1. Religion

Christianity is the predominant religion in the Philippines, with Roman Catholicism being its largest
denomination. Sizeable minorities adhering to Islam, Indian religions, and indigenous Philippine folk religions
(Anito or Anitism) are also present.

Why is this important? To show that we Filipinos believed in the command of god or the Divine Law.
Based on the Ten Commandments number 6 (Do not commit adultery) and 10 (Do not covet your neighbor’s
spouse), even though it does not mention Divorce, this is one of the form of ways to commit sin and break
the promise they made in the eye of god. The Divine Law has never been changing only the human does.
2. Effect on Children

Divorce can affect both the people getting divorced and any children they may have in both the short
and long term. After a divorce, the couple often experiences effects including decreased levels of happiness,
a change in economic status, and emotional problems. The effects on children can include academic,
behavioral, and psychological problems. Studies suggest that children with divorced parents are more likely
to exhibit such behavioral issues than those with non-divorced parents.

According to most, the children of divorced parents have also been reported as more likely to have
behavioral problems than children of married parents and are more likely to suffer abuse than children in
intact families. Researchers have also shown that children of divorced or separated parents have higher rates
of clinical depression, family disruption, and low socioeconomic status in early childhood, increasing the
long-term risk for major depression.

Based from the University of The Philippine, Population Institute. 1 in 3 Filipino youth grew up
without both parents.

Percentage of youth who were raised by both parents: 1994-2021

Percentage distribution of youth by persons who mostly raised them, Philippines 2021
Most common reasons for not being raised by both parents: 2013 and 2021

The data is disturbing when it comes to the children. How many children still facing with separate
parents? What's more, if divorce is legally recognized?

3. Law

As far as I know, some of the law of the Philippines is adopted from other countries such as the
business law. The Philippine legal system is a mixture of customary usage, Roman (civil law) and Anglo-
American (common law) systems, and Islamic law. The legal system is the result of the immigration of Muslim
Malays in the fourteenth century and the subsequent colonization of the islands by Spain and the United
States. The civil law operates in areas such as family relations, property, succession, contract and criminal
law while statutes and principles of common law origin are evident in such areas as constitutional law,
procedure, corporations’ law, taxation, insurance, labor relations, banking and currency.

Why is this important to debate? Is the possibility of the stipulation of divorce bill. Like in the USA,
the divorce there is outrageous and not fair. In most states, the laws on marital property and divorce use
what's known as the "equitable division" rule. But remember that equitable doesn't always mean equal.
Instead, judges must consider the specific circumstances in each divorce before deciding on a fair way to
split the couple's assets and debts.

 Watch this video:

I. Division of Assets Illustrated, How Assets are Divided in Divorce (youtube.com)

WARNING: this video might sensitive but for the purpose of this debate just the show the POSSIBILITY and to view of
the other point of view

II. The UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS about Dating a Single Mother! (youtube.com)

III. How males get Financially Screwed during and after Divorce (youtube.com)
IV. The DARK REALITY of Divorce for MEN Today | Why Men no longer want to get Married (youtube.com)
 Watch this story how divorce can be the bad thing
I. Lessons From a BRUTAL Divorce & Why Men Must Learn When To Surrender. (youtube.com)
II. From Movie “Liar Liar 1997” Liar Liar (25th Anniversary) | Jim Carrey's Courtroom Meltdown - YouTube
References:
Religion in the Philippines - Wikipedia

Religious Affiliation in the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing) | Philippine Statistics Authority |
Republic of the Philippines (psa.gov.ph)

Effects of divorce - Wikipedia

Philippines - Southeast Asian Region Countries Law - Library Guides at University of Melbourne (libguides.com)

Are Assets Divided 50/50 in Divorce? | Nolo