A lifetime commitment of marriage is an indissoluble one. “So they are no longer two, but one in flesh.

Therefore, what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” (Bagadion, Laderas, and
Nuarin, n.d.). Marriage is considered as a dominant social establishment. It is a key component of the
cordial organization. With the knowledge that it is part of the system, it is in relation with other
associations (Gallagher, 2000). Institution-wise, is it necessitated by social and legal regulations. In deal
with betterment, as well as the anticipation of those who are advocating to it and couples of marital
statue are given correspondingly treatment the other affiliates of the society. Davis (1985) argues that
the only trait that comprises the distinctive nature of marriage is consent from the public and
acknowledgment, in comparision with unions of other dispositions. This form of unison is the start of the
formation of a family, as well as a venue for erotic venture, bearing of child, nurturing of child, and
residency is expected (Kambamalan, n.d.). It is emphasized by Article 1 of The Family Code of the
Philippines how marital union is an undetermined unity of a male and a woman under particular terms,
in concurrence to the constitution for the emergence of matrimonial and familial life.

In addition, as stated by the Philippine Statistics Authority, as of the year 2016, 10 years afterwards, a
deterioration of number of marriage is 14.4% from 2007 to 2016. However, a rise occurred in 2017 that
was registered with the total of 434,932 as 3.6% is the said increase. Nevertheless, approximately 95%
of Filipinos are in need to arrange a nullification of marital bond, also known as an annulment, to legally
discontinue their union (Abalos, 2017). Mirecki, Chou, Elliot, and Schneider (2013) administered a study
to monitor and examine whether there were differences about the element that could possibly cause
alteration of marital contentment between first and second marriages. This study apprises the imput of
first marriages presume to attain higher levels of marital satisfaction than those couples with second
marriages. To add, levels education influences in concern the different levels of fulfilment in one’s
marriage.

In relation to the topic, sex is a necessity to maintain a marital union. According to Uecker and Stokes
(2008) cohabitating members of the two different sexes subjugate with the percentage of 4.8% and
similar sexes 0.6% , referring to unmarried households. In conclusion, cohabitations and premarital sex
are norms in marriage. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2008). The strain of parenthood that associates with
marriage, usually has effects of decreasing of quality of marriage. (Lawrence, Rothma, Cobb, Rothman &
Bradbury, 2008). A managed assessment in concern of the connection between the age at marriage until
the reason of divorce for couples residing in England and Wales. Lampard accumulated used data
coming from 5,422,453 married couples and uncovered that the effect of divorce rate is the age of a
person at marriage. He made use of standardization and logistic regressive analysis and are in
implementation to marriage nd divorce data produced in1974-1994 in England and Wales.

Moreover, the comprehensive practice of family studies such as destitution, unemployment, economic
deprivation, and the like emphasize the outcome of the quality of antagonistic economic state and
anguish of the relationship of the couple (Conger, Conger, and Martin, 2010). An extended custom of
family studies concentrates on the critical financial context of the qualities of the couple’s kinship. The
previously mentioned research takes into account the socioeconomic standing may influence the
alliance of the family and the marital conditions of the pairs (Amato, Booth, Johnson, and Rogers, 2007)
and cohabitating couples (Wu and Pollard, 2000), and therefore manifesting the commendatory
economic situations may result to a better and healthier quality of relationship and will possibly
decrease divorce and its uncertainty (Stanley, Amato, Johnson, and Markman, 2006).

In relation, the socioeconomic status As an illustration, economic stance of the family, their occupations,
and so forth. According to Brustei, Kalmijin, Loeve, & Manting (2007), several researches created
correlations between instability of finance to conclusion of alliance and divorce. Attestations for this
connection suggests that economic affliction may apply tension on couples, thereby gathering discourse
and ultimately to divorce. (White and Rogers, 2000). The alternative of individuals is to argue regarding
partial capitals and grapple in terms of financial means. Financial deprivation in frequent relation with
supplementary stressors, like bill collectors for instance. Consequently, financial occurrences may
decrease quality of relationship by increasing the problem and diminishing the attachment. It was
proposed by aforementioned research that economic strain increases level of ferocity amongst the
couple for cohabiting and married couples (Benson, Fox, DeMaris, and Van Wyk, 2003).

It was discovered that there is positive and significant correlation between intimacy and marital
satisfaction, in consideration that the relationship between the two has been properly recorded
(Hassebrauck and Fehr, 2002). Similar to affinity contentment, intimacy is at an increasing rate with
advantage for individual and relationship. It can serve as barricade against negativity that may cause a
shattered relationship (Huston and Chorost, 1994) and researchers have found proof for an affirmative
relationship between coition and fulfilment in relationship (Hassebrauck and Fehr, 2002).

ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Divorce in the Philippines is non-existent. Nonetheless, a marriage may undergo annulment within the
Philippine setting in any of the following conditions, existing at the time of the marriage:

(1) Either of the two parties was between 18-20, and the marital union was ceremonialized without the
permission of the parents, UNLESS after obtaining the age of 21 years old, such party cohabitated
unrestricted with the other spouse and both lived together as husband and wife.

(2) That either of the two spouses were unsubstantiated in mind, UNLESS such party after coming to
rational thought, freely cohabitated together as husband and wife.
(3) That the acquired authorization of either of the two parties was in deceit, UNLESS such party
afterwards, with complete apprehension of the facts comprising the fraudulence, freely cohabitated
with the other as husband and wife.

(4) That the permission of either of the two parties was forcibly attained, UNLESS the same having
vanished or halted, such party afterwards freely cohabitated with the other as husband and wife.

(5) That either of the two coalitions was physically incompetent of executing the marriage with the
other, and such inability prevails and come into view that it is irremediable.

(6) That either of the two parties was oppressed with a serious, terminal, sexually-transmissable illness

In regards to item 3 above, either of the mentioned conditions shall inaugurate fraud:

a. No declaration of a former sentence by final judgement of the other alliance of a misdemeanor

entailing immorality.

b. Seclusion by the female spouse of the fact that at the period of the marriage, she beared a child
outside the marital bond.

c. Seclusion of sexually communicable illness, regardless of its nature, existing at the period of marriage.

d. Concealment of substance obsession, persistent alcohol consumption, homosexuality or lesbianism

existing at the period of marriage.

EFFECTS OF ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGE

The annulment of marriage in the Philippine setting shall process the succeeding effects:

- The offsprings conceived or born prior to the annulment proclamation shall be taken account as
legitimate.

- The definite community of possessions or the matrimonial collaboration, as the situation may be, shall
be disintegrated and disbanded. The portion of the spouse in unsatisfactory reliance in the net profits of
the community belongings or marital confederation property shall be relinquished in favour of the
common children, or, if none, the children of the accountable spouse by a previous marital union or in
standard of the offsprings, the irreproachable spouse;

* Contributions due to marriage shall persist in validation, with the exclusion that the done pledged the
matrimonial unity in bad faith
On the likely causes of the rise of divorce and separation in the Philippines

The escalation in union dissolution has been partnered by an analogous increase in the portion of
Philippine citizens who are in a state of non-marital cohabitation. In the past two decades, the part of
cohabitating Philippine women at the age of reproduction almost trebled, from5.2% in 1993 to 14.5% in
2013 (Abalos 2014; PSA and ICF 2014). As cohabitation has increasing suspension rates compared to
formal marriage (Figure 3), the increase in cohabitation will possibly result to a rise in the part of
separated Filipino citizens, and may potentially become a contributor of the country’s “marriage crisis”.
Cohabitation is a better option to marital unification exactly due to the fact that it is more effortless and
more affordable to terminate.

Despite many Philippine citizens maintaining traditionalist perceptions about marriage and divorce, an
increasing proportion of the totality is becoming more sympathetic to the idea of divorce. Figure 2
appears that over the past 10 years, the quantity of Filipinos who were in agreement that “Married
couples who have already separated and cannot reconcile anymore should be allowed to divorce so that
they can legally marry again” risen from 43% in 2005 to 60% in 2014.

*graph*

The heightened acceptance of divorce has a chance of influencing the reduction of the stigma of being
divorced or separated, particularly among women, who were, and still are, presumed to do what it takes
to maintain the marriage as complete.

The upgrading subjection of Filipinos to the urban setting (42.4% were city dwellers in 2007 and 45.3% in
2010) has a probability of influencing the growing tolerant viewpoint of divorce. Urbanization is in
common correlation with non-traditional way of living and conduct, and decreases the influences of the
extended kin on the resolutions of the youth, which also includes selection of spouse. This defines that
children do not have the obligation (by the choice of their parents) to remain in an intolerable marriage.
This then comprises a fragment from a still recent past when the mother, the father, and the remaining
members of the kin strained strong constraint on couples in marriage preservation to enable
strengthened family association and shield the image of the kin.

With women are most likely to dissolve their union?

Figure 3 demonstrates the idiosyncratic ratio or the respective likeliness of being divorced and
separated among women of Philippine origin, with various determinants in control.
*graph*

Filipino women with high literacy have elevated odds of dispersion of their unifications, in comparison
to Filipino women with low literacy. The financial standing of women is progressed by higher education
in the Philippines, and its likeliness of provision with economic freedom. Certainly, a key component for
Filipino women when they abandon their spouse is their capability to assist themselves and their
children. The social disgrace of divorce and separation to women is outstripped by this perception of
self-reliance and empowerment.

Filipino women who developed in urban areas, in collation with Filipino women who developed in rural
areas, have higher probabilities of union dissolution. The conventional values and exemplars ingrained
among women in rural settings and familial insistence to maintain the marital union complete for the
purpose of the status of their family (Medina, 2015) may also be a contributor to the lesser feasibility of
union dissolution among women who were nurtured in rural settings.

Will the Philippines finally join the rest of the world in legalizing divorce?

As the concept of premarital habitation becomes more frequent, and as more Philippine citizens come
to adaptation more viewpoints about marriage and divorce that are unusual, the probability of union
suspension in the country is least likely to decelerate. The continuous extension of occasion of education
for females and the migration of the youth to cities is also a contributor to steady increase of unification
breakage between Filipinos. With the current alteration in Philippine leadership, the political
atmosphere has been more open to Laws opposing the beliefs if the Catholic Church, proven through
the immense support of death penalty. In spite of this, the Catholic Church remains strong in terms of
divorce codification in the country.