Our Women’s Kapihan last Saturday on radio station dyLA turned out to be another lively session on a current concern: marital infidelity, adultery, concubinage, psychological violence. Our panelists were Cebu Women’s Network officers and members. Special guests were retired ombudsman Virginia Palanca Santiago and lawyer Noemi Abarrientos.
The Revised Penal Code penalizes adultery committed by a married woman with a man not her husband, and concubinage by a married man with a woman not his wife. Of concern in these differences is the “inequalities in the law and discrimination against women.”
Abarrientos clarified that marital infidelity is both a legal and moral issue. A wife is easier to convict. Having a mistress is a status symbol for men, while it is torture for women. A married woman bearing a child with a man not her husband is proof of adultery, while men having a child with another woman not their wife is not proof of concubinage, so the offense is difficult to prove in court.
Santiago explained that laws on both adultery and concubinage are discriminatory against women because most lawmakers are males. Having a mistress in the Philippines is a fact, but it is not easy to get legal support except through the courts.
Santiago pointed out the need for an amendment to the law to make it a law against persons, no longer a law against chastity; that the primary obligation should be instilling values first in the family, then in the school; and that it should no longer be allowed for a man to change his religion to justify or allow his keeping a mistress. Board Member Mayet de Egurrola confirmed that in her active working days with the Philippine National Police before she retired, she dealt with husbands who had mistresses. The men would convert to Islam to justify their concubinage. So women, let us campaign for MORE women lawmakers!
Board member “Mads” dela Cerna said that most often, cases of adultery are sensationalized in the media, adding ridicule and discrimination of the erring woman. She said schools should instill values of responsibility and accountability among men. CWN member Frohnie Cagalitan stressed that, as in Kenya, women should be financially stable before getting married, that women’s groups follow up fathers for the support of their children out of marriage, all for the best interest of the children.
CWN chairperson Thelma Chiong said it is now time to amend the law on adultery and concubinage. Parents face the problem of pregnancy of their teenage children. Bbefore filing cases, aggrieved parents should go for counseling to nongovernment organizations like Law Center, Inc., which sponsors this Women’s Kapihan.
CWN auditor Fe Cabatingan also suggested that the court may send couples to Law Center, Inc. for pre-marital counseling. Quiet, laid-back Board Member Elsa Basanez confirmed dealing with these problems when she was still working with a government group concerned with families.
And now, for a brief rundown on significant dates: May 10th was Mothers’ Day with cakes, flowers, and pastries for mothers. May 11th, wasGood Shepherd Sunday and a World Day of Prayer for Vocations, whrere Pope Francis ordained over 10 priests for the diocese of Rome.
On the secular scene that same date, Jamie Herrell of Cebu City was crowned Miss Philippines-Earth 2014, besting 48 other candidates. May 12th used to be observed as Hospital Day. That day, I was happily surprised with the visit here at home by my son-in-law Amador “Jing” Villalon Jr. and his eldest married daughter Janisse, followed with lunch at Golden Cowrie. Jing’s wife was my late second daughter Raquel whose birthday was on May 13th. She passed away in 2011. May her soul rest in peace!
May 13th also marked the 111th death anniversary of the “Brains of the Philippine Revolution,” Apolinario Mabini at the age of 38, and the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. May 15th, Moalboal, my late husband Sergio’s hometown, observed its town fiesta in honor of San Juan Nepomuceno.
And now on the current events front, in this extremely hot summer, the government has bolstered cloud seeding to bring on rain to ease our water situation and and the drying up of farm food crops.
News on the political front matches our searing summer heat: the revelation of lists of nearly 100 legislators (and still counting?), not just in one documented list but in three (any more “versions” of purported “scammers”?). Also in the proliferation of illegal drugs, the still controversy-rocked Archival murder case, and the Malaysian Airlines plane disappearance where the news front is currently silent. And finally there was the newborn boy “rescued” from taped-pacifier-on-the-lips. He’s thankfully back with his father.
To close on good news, congratulations to Cebu Daily News (CDN) for being the most awarded publication in the recent 2013 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards of the Philippine Press Institute, for Best Editorial Page, Best in Photojournalism and the Coke Bayanihan Award for Best Reporting on Disasters. And congratulations to publisher Eileen Mangubat!
To close, the Vatican has announced it will beatify the late Pope Paul VI on Oct. 19th. Until next week, then, as always, may God continue to bless us, one and all!
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