To marry again in the Philippines.
Filipinos can be found all over the world, working temporarily and/or permanently residing in their adopted countries. The diaspora has resulted in mixed marriages between Filipinos and foreign nationals with a majority settling either in the home state of the foreign spouse or a third country. When the marriage breaks down and a divorce was obtained by either spouse, an anomalous situation occurs in that the marriage is not automatically recognized in the Philippines. When the Filipino spouse returns to the Philippines, meets and fall in love with somebody else, he or she would be prohibited to remarry under Philippine law unless the divorce obtained was recognized in the Philippines under Article 26 of the Family Code of the Philippines.
To Keep Properties Acquired by The Filipino Spouse
Many Filipinos who live and/or work overseas have invested in properties in the Philippines even after they have obtained a divorce from their husbands. If they do not have their divorce recognized in the Philippines, these properties remain part of the community property of the marriage. A recognition of the divorce in the Philippines legally makes them single as of the date of the divorce.
For Travel and Immigration Purposes
Obtaining a travel or immigration visa in another country would often require disclosure of information as to the true marital status of the applicant. A foreign government would most likely require the presentation of an official document which would prove this single or divorced status. In the Philippines , this document will be the Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) and/or the marriage certificate with the annotation of the Judgment of Recognition of the Divorce.
For Travel and Immigration of Children
When Filipinos migrate permanently overseas, they would often petition their children to join them. These children may be of a previous marriage which have already been dissolved abroad by way of a divorce or children from another relationship. Again, foreign governments would require proof of the paternity of these children. The birth certificates and the abovementioned Certificate of No marriage or Marriage Certificate with the annotation of the Judgment of Recognition of Divorce must be presented in these situations.
