I am Filipina and now raising a daughter on my own and she is a sweetheart. I was separated to the father of my daughter nearly eleven (11) years by now and I am still legally married to him because I have not filed my annulment due to financial matter.
You may wonder why so many women here in the Philippines become separated and mostly some of them are living in with another guy without getting annulment done. We don’t have divorce in the Philippines. We have legal separation and Annulment. An annulment in the Philippines is making you never legally married to anyone. Legal separation is filed in court that allows the couple to live separate lives legally. If you still want to be the legal beneficiary of your legal husband but your marriage can no longer be reconciled. In short many who are victim of failed marriages can not afford to pay annulment and no other way out plus hiring lawyer is really mind torturing and pocket drilling.
I am always asking why divorce is not allowed here where this makes it hard for many Filipinas and some Filipinos who want to remarry a new found love. Some of the greedy lawyers and Judges are abusing the situation and I feel like they were extorting money from the person involve. What bad is truly when you do not have money to pay for annulment. I have spoken to at least five lawyers and they quoted me of 200,000 to 280,000 pesos (4,500 to 6,300 US Dollar) with the conversion of 44 in every 1 US dollar. If the woman here is just earning 15,000 pesos in a month how will she be able to pay the annulment considering she is raising more than one children. Then it will just result to many filipinas that would be forced to live or date someone without getting the annulment.
Filing annulment arise to 40 percent since 2011 and even the Catholic churches were bothered with large numbers of couple getting separated they still do not want to make the divorce legal in the Philippines. Which is also holding back in achieving someone’s new life and make it much better. I cant also remarry the person I will love again because I am still locked up with my previous marriage. It also makes me feel I am lesser than anyone else because I feel they consider me as second hand car that needs major fixing. And needs more money to make it running again smoothly. Most of the guys are walking away after they know that I am separated and I would probably be needing one or more years for my annulment to be granted. I understand their feelings if they start to feel TURNED OFF, There are so many fishes in the sea, specially in Philippines, lots of younger and single women that are willing to marry a foreigner. So the competition is huge, but I dnt loose hope.
I still believe that one day I will find the right one who would think having me is priceless. I am always a positive person even I’m surrounded with negative thoughts and crucial situation. I look at the bright side of life all the time. The right one will be willing to help you out no matter what and will be there to lift you up.
