Ako ay filipino

Manila - Currently, it is illegal to obtain a divorce in the Philippines. The Philippines remains one of the few countries that does not have a divorce law, along with the Vatican City and until recently, Malta.

An annulment or legal separation is recognized by the government, according to the Family Code, executive order number 209, signed July 26, 1987.

The House Bill No. 1799, also known as “An Act Introducing Divorce in the Philippines” was filed by Congresswomen Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana De Jesus on July 27.  Both congresswomen are members of the political party group Gabriela Women’s Party, which focuses on advancing women’s rights in the Philippines.

Gabriela Representative Luzviminda Ilagan, co-author of House Bil 1799 of an Act Legalizing Divorce in the Philippines, says that the Philippines is primed and ready for a divorce law.
   
Ilagan says, the Philippines practiced divorce up until 1950 when it revised the Family Code. "The Philippines has always been ready.  If you look at our history, during the Spanish times we had divorce."

Citing statistics, Ilagan says, some 800 cases for legal separation and annulment are filed before the Office of the Solicitor General each month, and over 43,650 applications were recorded from 2001 to 2007.
   
Women account for 61% of applicants, while 92% are Roman Catholic.
   
Ilagan says, divorce bill Filipino-style is different from the Las Vegas-style.  One condition would be for couples who have been legally separated for at least 5 years and there is no more hope for reconciliation.

She adds, other conditions for divorce include: couples who have been legally separated for at least 2 years at the time of filing for divorce, the presence of conditions for separation (sexual infidelity, abandonment, repeated violence, imprisonment), and psychological incapacity to perform the marital obligations.
   
"Let's face the reality: there are good and bad marriages, so there is an option the good marriages will be strengthened [and] the bad marriages will be resolved", Ilagan says.
   
Filipino couples have three options to end their marriages: declaration of nullity of marriage, which recognizes that the marriage was void from the very start, or in case of minors, happened without permission, annulment, or legal separation, wherein couples can separate but cannot marry again.  To that, Ilagan says, divorce offers a cure.

It would also offer a cheaper way out compared to an annulment, which could cost P100,000 to hire experts to declare the condition of psychological incapacity present.   

 

MANILA, Philippines— The Commission on Appointments has confirmed the nominations of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario, 22 new ambassadors and 39 foreign service officers Tuesday.

 

Confirmed by the CA were:

 

1.Belen F. Anota - AEP to the Commonwealth of Australia with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Vanuatu and Tuvalu. She is currently DFA Assistant Secretary for Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination. She previously served as AEP to Singapore.

 

2.Victoria S. Bataclan - AEP to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Commission of the European Communities and the Council of the European Union. Currently, she is Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Affairs. Prior to this, she was AEP to Norway.

 

3. Virginia H. Benavidez - AEP to New Zealand with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga and the Independent State of Samoa.  She is currently Assistant Secretary for Protocol and State Visits and head of the Legislative Liaison Unit. She served as AEP to Brunei Darussalam.

 

4. Enrique A. Manalo - AEP to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He is currently the AEP to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Commission of the European Communities and the Council of the European Union.

 

5. Bayani S. Mercado - AEP to the Kingdom of Norway with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Iceland and the Kingdom of Denmark. He is currently Philippine Consul General in Agana.

 

6. Lourdes G. Morales - AEP to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Previously, she served as AEP to Cambodia. She is currently Senior Special Assistant at the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration.

 

7. Cristina G. Ortega - AEP to the French Republic with concurrent jurisdiction over the Principality of Monaco. She is currently Assistant Secretary for Asia and Pacific Affairs. She also served as AEP to the Kingdom of Belgium.

 

8. George B. Reyes - AEP to the United Mexican States with concurrent jurisdiction over Belize, the Republic of Costa Rica, the Republic of El Salvador, the Republic of Guatemala, the Republic of Honduras, the Republic of Nicaragua and the Republic of Panama. He was formerly the AEP to Cuba.

 

9. Marilyn J. Alarilla - Chief of Mission, Class I, and as AEP to the Republic of Turkey with concurrent jurisdiction over Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. She is currently the AEP to Laos.

 

10. Generoso D.G. Calonge - Chief of Mission, Class I, and as AEP to the State of Israel. He is the currently Senior Special Assistant of the DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Policy and previously served as Philippine Consul General in  Dubai.

 

11.  Leslie B. Gatan - Chief of Mission, Class I, and as AEP to Canada. He is the DFA Assistant Secretary for United Nations and Other International Organizations, and previously served as Minister and Deputy Permanent Representative at the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York.

 

12.  Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. - Chief of Mission, Class I, and as AEP to the Republic of Italy with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of San Marino and the Republic of Albania. He is the Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs, and previously served as AEP to South Africa.

 

13. Leslie J. Baja - AEP to Switzerland with concurrent jurisdiction over the Principality of Liechtenstein. He is the Assistant Secretary for European Affairs, and previously served as Consul General at the Philippine Embassy in Berlin.

 

14. Eleanor L. Jaucian - AEP to the Republic of Hungary with concurrent jurisdiction over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia. She served as Consul then Minister and Consul General in the Philippine Embassy in Athens. She is the current head of the Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines.

 

15. Joselito A. Jimeno - AEP to the Sultanate of Oman. He is currently the Philippine Consul General in Guangzhou.

 

16. Jose Eduardo E. Malaya III - AEP to Malaysia. He is currently DFA Spokesperson and concurrently Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs.  Previously, he served as Consul at the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco.

 

17. Meynardo L.B. Montealegre - AEP to the Hellenic Republic with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Cyprus. He is the Executive Director of the Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs. He served as Minister and Consul General at the Philippine Embassy in Vienna.

 

18. Maria Cleofe R. Natividad - AEP to the Federal Republic of Germany. She is currently the Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General at the Philippine Embassy in Berlin.

 

19. Maria Rosario C. Aguinaldo - Chief of Mission, Class II, and as AEP to the Republic of Indonesia. She is currently the Minister and Consul General of the Philippine Embassy in Jakarta.

 

20. Edgardo R. Manuel - Chief of Mission, Class II, and as AEP to the Republic of Poland. He is the Minister as well as the Charge d'Affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw.

 

21. Ezzedin H. Tago - AEP to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Yemen. He is currently the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy in Riyadh as well as the Consul General in Jeddah.

 

Ramoncito S. Mariño, a non-career official, was re-appointed as AEP to the Republic of Palau with concurrent jurisdiction over the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Marshall Islands.

 

The CA also confirmed the promotion of 39 foreign service officers, as follows:

 

Chief of Mission, Class I:

 

1.    Benito B. Valeriano

 

2.    Petronila P. Garcia

 

3.    Julius D. Torres

 

4.    Jocelyn S. Batoon-Garcia

 

5.    Ma. Zeneida A. Collinson

 

6.    Bayani V. Mangibin

 

7.    Ma. Corazon Yap-Bahjin

 

8.    Libran N. Cabactulan

 

9.    Minda C. Cruz

 

10.  Jose Arthur P. Ampeso

 

11.  Olivia V. Palala

 

Chief of Mission, Class II:

 

1.    Noel Eugene Eusebio M. Servigon

 

2.    Antonio A. Morales

 

3.    Narciso T. Castaneda

 

4.    Jesus S. Domingo

 

5.    Oscar G. Orcine

 

6.    Junever M. Mahilum-West

 

7.    Joseph Gerard B. Angeles

 

8.    Jose R. Burgos

 

9.    Celia Anna M. Feria

 

10.  Eduardo Jose A. De Vega

 

Career Minister:

 

1.    Raymond R. Balatbat

 

2.    Christine Queenie C. Mangunay

 

3.    Armando L. Comia

 

4.    Angelica C. Escalona

 

5.    Paul Vincent L. Uy

 

6.    Henry S. Bensurto, Jr.

 

7.    Lourdes S. Tabamo

 

8.    Uriel Norman R. Garibay

 

9.    Adrian Bernie C. Candolada

 

Foreign Service Officer, Class I:

 

1.    Pete Raymond V. Delfin

 

2.    Melchor P. Lalunio, Jr.

 

3.    Kristine Leilani R. Salle

 

4.    Angelo V. Amonoy

 

5.    Noel M. Novicio

 

6.    Myca Magnolia M. Fischer

 

Foreign Service Officer, Class II:

 

1.    Val Simon T. Roque

 

2.    Arman R. Talbo

 

(http://dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/newsroom/dfa-releases/3105-ca-confirms-foreign-affairs-secretary-del-rosario-22-new-ambassadors-39-officers)

MANILA, Philippines - On Thursday, the President's official website, www.president.gov.ph, as part of its efforts to promote Flag Day on May 28, used an inverted Philippine flag on its homepage.

An inverted Philippine flag, with the red portion on top of the blue, means the country is at war.

An error in the use of the Philippine flag in the President's official website has led to a warning to all administrators of official government websites from Malacañang.

Secretary Sonny Coloma leads the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCCO), which administers the President's website.

"Ang sabi po sa amin ni Secretary Sonny Coloma, the person in charge has been reprimanded severely and that we are hoping na hindi na maulit ang ganitong klaseng pangyayari," Deputy Prsidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte told reporters at the regular Palace press conference.

"Siguro ang paalala lang po sa amin at doon po sa ibang mga kasamahan namin: ibayong pag-iingat ang kailangan, lalo website ng pamahalaan yung inyong pinapatakbo," Valte said.

Ang Reproductive Health bill, kilala bilang ang RH bill, ay isang bill sa Pilipinas na naglalayong masiguro ang mga pamamaraan at mga impormasyon sa birth control at maternal care. Ang bill ay naging sentro ng isang maninit na debate sa bansa. Sa kasalukuyan ay may dalawang panukalang batas na may parehong layunin: House Bill No 96 o ang Reproductive Health Act at Populasyon at Development Act ng 2010 ipinakilala ng Albay1st district representative Edcel Lagman, at ang Senate Bill No 2378 o ang Reproductive Health Act ipinakilala ng Senador Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Habang may kasunduan ukol sa mga probisyon hinggil sa maternal at child health, mainit ang debate sa mga panukala na ang mga nagbabayad ng buwis at ang mga pribadong sektor ay popondohan ang pamamahagi ng mga aparato tulad ng birth control pills (BCPs) at IUD, ang pamahalaan naman ay patuloy na mamahagi ng mga impormasyon tungkol sa kanilang gamit sa pamamagitan ng lahat ng mga health centre. Ang mga pribadong kompanya at mga publiko at pribadong paaralan ay kinakailangan lumahok sa mga pagpapakalat ng impormasyon at diseminasyon ng produkto bilang isang paraan ng pagkontrol ng populasyon ng Pilipinas.

Ang bill ay pinagtatalunan ng mga eksperto, akademya, institusyong relihiyoso, at mga pangunahing politico sa parehong panig. Ang isyu ay nagiging sanhi ng pagkakaiba at pagkakabahagi ng popolasyon hanggang umabot sa isang pahayag na patatalsikin ang Presidente, Benigno Aquino III kung siya ay susuporta sa nasabing bill.