Written by Iris Angela Lat/THE RED CHRONICLES
Layout by Lynden Alyanna Valenzuela/THE RED CHRONICLES
A bowl of steamed rice paired with your favorite viand will leave you with two choices in life – eat everything immediately or let the rice cool down first.
Personally, I like my rice hot and best paired with Sinigang. But to some, they prefer it warm as it goes well with their favorite dish. Others however have no option but to eat whatever is available to them, whether it is a day-old and cold rice, or a toasted one.
Out of hunger and excitement, hot rice might or might not burn one’s tongue – who knows? Either way, we can spit out or swallow its grains.
While others may say that hot rice is like marriage, it is not. Nevertheless, this does not mean that I do not have faith nor trust in the Church’s role of protecting its sanctity, and the very foundation of our society.
While Divorce Law may seem new in the Philippines, it is however not. The first divorce bill in the Philippines was introduced and passed into law in 1917. It became effective until the Civil Code took effect and repealed the same. Similarly, the Family Code left no room for discussions of the Divorce Law as if it was left in the shadows of the wild waiting for another limelight to happen.
Divorce Law was not completely abandoned. From then on, several attempts have been made by Congress to introduce divorce bills. The intricacies of these bills came from the wide array of advocacies such as on protection of the rights of women and children. Was it feminist to say the least? I do not think so.
According to the Philippine Commission on Women, there are 8,399 reported cases of physical violence as of 2021. I could not fathom the fact that these married women have minimal to no choice at all in leaving the very means of abuse. For one do not have to linger into formalities if love had already transpired. Adultery and marital infidelity are also not without a case in the Philippines. With these, couples are only left with two choices – file for legal separation or annulment, depending on the ground. As the saying goes, there are no absolutes in life. Hence a mere band-aid seems to resolve the flaws of the marriage leaving the ideals of society standing on its ground. At least, on a surface level. While it may seem to be that way, we cannot however hinder the fact that there are certain plagues that have marred the society for so long, decades after decades.
Divorce Law may transfigure hate and anger into a brimming light and hope. A silver lining, indeed. While there are reinforcements through the Revised Penal Code and Special Penal Laws, another variety of options might not hurt us. More so, one who has an image of a “perfect” family does not have to be threatened with the passing of the absolute divorce bill. For one cannot be left without a choice. It is nothing but equality and justice for all.
How about you? Will you spit or swallow your pride?