As a former Miss Universe, it was not surprising for me when I read an article written by Isabela Arroyo where she talks about how she found out that her much loved country, the Philippines is not as accepting of gay couples. In fact, homosexuality in the Philippines is illegal. Despite this, and other inconsistencies, Arroyo and her partner, now partner David Mendoza, have been able to wed.
After their wedding, the now-married couple decided to get engaged and got married on November 9th, the anniversary of the country’s independence. The wedding celebration included a luncheon speech by President Benigno Aquino, a birthday cake, music, dancing, and a speech by his wife, mum, and siblings. Aside from these, there were a number of traditional Filipino meals during the reception: leis, cakes, and rice. It was really a memorable affair for the Arroyos, and they would like to try to do it again (just like they did with the first wedding).
While most of the Filipino couples I know are happily married, some still remain “single”. While most of them are just “partners”, there are some who are widows or divorced, and others who just got married. Some nationalities even practice partial marriage outside the country, like in the United States, Great Britain, and some parts of Europe. For the Filipinos, however, a full wedding is considered a sign of respect and a fulfillment of a long process called buangwa-kuda, which is the process of blessing a person’s status by the elders in a family. For the Arroyos, having their marriage officially recognized by the government is a big deal, and they want to make sure that their family has its full rights to be involved in the country’s affairs, such as in inheritance, immigration, and property ownership.