Perhaps one opinion of a prominent figure in the Philippines that should not be neglected is Manny Pacquiao's. Not only because heis the #1 boxer in the world that the Philippines takes pride of, but also because he is an elected Philippine President of the Sarangani province.
Manny Pacquiao has voiced out what he has to say about the negotiation in the Congress of the divorce bill. He took a conservative stand against the divorce bill and on Malta's action to legalizing divorce as per what the people wanted. He said, “Ay, di ako agree diyan sa divorce. Hindi maganda 'yan,” in a taped interview for “Startalk TX” aired on June 11, 2011. Just like how he expressed his disapproval for the Reproductive Health Bill, the Saranggani Representative used the Bible to support his anti-divorce stance, “Nasa Bibliya na bawal iluwa 'yung nasubo mo na.” He added, “napakalaking kasalanan din yang divorce.” The boxing world champion further supported the opinions and beliefs he strongly believe in, stressing, “Kapag ipinasa natin yang divorce bill, parang tinuturuan natin yung mga tao na 'maghiwalay na kayo,' ganyan. Samantalang pwede pa namang pag-usapan yun na ibalik sa dati, ganon.” I understand Pacquiao's opinion because I am coming from the same anti-divorce stance, but then again it is arguable that divorce is not something that directly says, “newly married couples, separate!” To spouses that cannot reconcile their differences and issues anymore, divorce could be their only solution. The former statement could also imply then that the available legal ways to separate provided by the Philippine Constitution like annulment also promotes, “couples, separate!” After this thought, I read that Pacquiao said this is why people should not rush into marriage and instead think very hard about it before marrying anyone.
Finally Pacquiao advised, “Kayo ay ikinasal. Hindi tayo sumumpa sa harap ng tao, sa harapan ng pari lang, kundi sumumpa ka sa harapan ng Panginoon.”
People usually do not take the boxer's opinions very seriously. Filipinos just laugh off what he has to say and find humor in it. After all, people think he only attained his political position because of his world boxing popularity. But I think this stance of his on divorce is one that Filipinos should acknowledge and give him the credibility that he is due.
Sources:
http://ph.news.yahoo.com/pacquiao-says-no-divorce-bill-102522331.html
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/322483/manny-pacquiao-slams-divorce-bill
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/05/30/11/pacquiao-says-no-divorce-bill
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