Marrying a Foreigner - The Marriage License by Shanaz Mina, www.pinoysignal.com

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Natural Disasters 2010

Batu-bato sa Langit,
Tamaa'y 'wag Magagalit

It is a compilation of Filipino Poetry depicting real-life and sensational situations affecting Filipino lives. These were written for the sole purpose of waking up the ideals and shaking the nerves of Filipinos inside and outside the Philippines. Batu-bato sa Langit is a prominent Filipino proverb, which means that whoever is affected by the contents of these poetries may react against it. But the writers placed these facts with symbolism and passion to deliver the realities of today.

Lugaw Para sa Bata
Feeding Project

"Lugaw Para sa Bata" is a small project from Team Kabsat in Pangasinan who aimed to give Lugaw as breakfast to few children in the province of Pangasinan in the Philippines. United with the heart of service and Filipino thoughtfulness, Team Kabsat decided to serve Lugaw to children ages 4 to 12 on selected areas to atleast minimize hungerproblem especially to small children. As of the moment, Team Kabsat shall feed only 100 children every month as that number is, as of the moment, the possible count that they can serve. However, Team Kabsat is looking forward that the Lugaw Project shall not only serve 100 children every month but more children are expected to be reached with this small project. read more

MARRYING A FOREIGNER

The Marriage License
Shanaz Mina, January 2009, Philippines

As provided by law, my German partner and I went to the civil registry office in the town (in Philippines) where we planned to marry, for the application of marriage license. Alongwith, we brought the following legal documents in original copies:

For the Filipino Spouse
1. Community Tax Certificate (CTC), otherwise known as cedula
2. NSO Birth Certificate
3. Baptismal Certificate
4. NSO Certificate of No Marriage (cenomar)
plus, the Required Fee

For the German Spouse
1. Copy of Passport including the pages with the date of arrival in the Philippines
2. International Birth Certificate
3. Baptismal Certificate
4. Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage from the German Consulate
plus, the Required Fee

We were asked by the officer in the civil registry office to fill up a form for our application for marriage license. I would advise that you should write clearly and legibly. There must be no errors in spellings of names, addresses, and all important data. Remember, this will be the same information contained later on your marriage contract after your marriage.

If one of the contracting parties is divorced or annulled, Article 61 of the Civil Code shall apply.

When we applied for a marriage license, my German spouse was then 30 years old and I was 32 years old. Hence, we were not required of any parental advise or consent as stated by law.

We were asked by the registry office to undergo marriage couseling seminar through the local health office. We went through a five-day seminar on family planning while waiting for the reglamentary period of 10 consecutive days of posting by the local civil registry. This posting or publication is done at the main door of the townhall. It is intended for the public to know that the future spouses wanted to marry that anyone, who is aware of their legal impediment, can come to the civil registry office, to oppose their possible marriage. The civil registrar, in turn, shall not release said marriage license if such legal impediment truly exists.

In our case, we were given the marriage license certificate by the local civil registrar after satisfying the requirements set forth by law. Said marriage license is only valid for 120 days. This means that the future spouses need to marry within 120 days after the release of the license, otherwise, they shall make re-application of marriage license under similar conditions. My husband and I got married few weeks after the release of our marriage license.