ELIAS L. ESPINOZA:
Alvarez’s bill got a boost from President Duterte, who does not object to the union of the same sex
Columnist Elias L. Espinoza sees a serious debate if the bill of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on civil partnership gets approved. For Espinoza, “marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution whose nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation, except that marriage settlements may fix the property relations during the marriage within the limits provided by this Code.”(Article 1, Family Code). This bill, if passed and approved, would amend Section 1 of the Family Code.→
Only five days to go before we celebrate the nativity of Jesus Christ on Dec. 25. Despite all the tribulations we met along in this Year of the Rooster, let’s celebrate the season with glee. Merry Christmas to one and all!
“Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social institution whose nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation, except that marriage settlements may fix the property relations during the marriage within the limits provided by this Code.” (Article 1, Family Code)
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez will file a bill that he dubs “Civil Partnership” that would allow marriage of the same sex. If passed and approved, the measure would amend Section 1 of the Family Code.
I could imagine a serious debate erupting once this bill is tackled in Congress. I understand that some legislators are opposed to same-sex marriage and still believe or observe the Christian dogma.
Talking of same -sex marriage or union between women or between men hits the very heart of the Catholic doctrine that marriage is only between man and woman for the purpose of procreation.
Alvarez’s use of the term”civil partnership” is surplusage. Lawyers know that partnership is in our Civil Code. Perhaps Speaker Alvarez wants to glamorize the title just like with his bill on dissolution of marriage, instead of calling the act as divorce.
Alvarez’s bill got a boost from President Duterte, who does not object to the union of the same sex. The president issued his support when he spoke before the gathering of LGBTs in Davao City. The president also revealed that his two brothers-in-law are gays.
There is more than meets the eyes in the audacity that Speaker Alvarez displayed in filing the first bill on the dissolution of marriage and now the bill on civil partnership. This evokes an open dare to the Catholic hierarchy to oppose his bills.
We know that Catholic priests have been very vocal in criticizing the Duterte administration on its all-out war against illegal drugs that resulted to the alleged extra-judicial killings of drug pushers and users.
The Catholic hierarchy issued its opposition to the Alvarez bills. But, are we or is our nation ready to accept the civil union between men or between women? Perhaps, we’ll find the answer at the other side of the rive after we crossed the bridge.
Mandaue City is dealing with the problem involving Galleria de Mandaue that is set to hold a cockfighting derby everyday from December 21, 2017 to January 19, 2018 in time for the Sinulog festivity.
The law only allows cockfighting on Sundays and Holidays. Even the City’s ordinances do not allow cockfighting for more than one day. The issue came to fore when a resident of Mandaue City complained to City Hall on the week-long derby in Galleria de Mandaue.