Many marriages are mistakes.
Thus, said Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez as he made the case Thursday, Feb. 23 for the legalization of divorce in the Philippines during a public hearing of the House Committee on Population and Family Relations.
"It boils down to compatibility," Alvarez, a former House Speaker, said in his sponsorship speech for House Bill (HB) No.4998, titled "Instituting absolute divorce and dissolution of marriage in the Philippines".
"Unfortunately, compatibility is not something easy and best discovered at the start of a relationship. This is why many marriages are mistakes. The spouses initially thought they were compatible, and then they later find out they were not. And there is no realistic and non-adversarial remedy available in our jurisdiction.
"The husband and the wife should be allowed to correct that error," he said, stressing that "Many get marriage wrong."
Alvvarez further said studies show that those who are in their subsequent marriage are as happy, if not happier, compared to their previous unions. "They have learned the lessons, they know who they are, what they want, and what they can offer, and they apply it to their next relationship."
"Unfortunately, in the Philippines, the path of course correction is not really an accessible option for many," he said.
"Allowing for the dissolution of marriage, through divorce, and including grounds that do not require the husband and the wife to further squabble and wash their dirty laundry in public, so to speak, is the best way forward," stressed the Mindanaoan.
"This measure was previously passed, on third reading, during the 17th Congress, but the Senate, refusing to heed and respond to the needs of the people, sat on it," he said.
Alvarez also gave an idea of how "popular" the measure is among common Filipinos.
"Until now, people approach me and you’d be surprised what they ask about. They tell me, 'Congressman, kamusta na po yung divorce bill, matutuloy ba?' Ayan yung palaging tinatanong sa akin (Congressman, how is the divorce bill doing, will it push though? That's what they always ask me)," he said.
HB No.4998 was one of eight pro-divorce or pro-marriage dissolution bills tackled by the committee Thursday.
Divorce is a contentious topic in the Philippines, being a predominantly Catholic nation. Currently, the only recourse for unhappy couples is annulment of marriage and legal separation.