Marriage and Family in the Philippine Family Code

Marriage Under the Philippine Family Code

• According to the Philippine Family Code, marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman entered into in accordance with law for the establishment of a family and the procreation of children.
• The Philippine Family Code excludes same-sex relationships and polygamous unions from the definition of marriage.
• At least two witnesses, who are of legal age and can understand and speak the language used in the marriage ceremony, are required for a valid marriage.
• The Philippine Family Code states that the surname of an illegitimate child shall be that of the mother.
• According to the Philippine Family Code, a legitimate child is one who was conceived and born during a valid marriage.
• The Philippine Family Code explicitly prohibits marriage between first cousins and other relatives within the prohibited degrees of kinship.

Republic Act 9255

• Republic Act 9255, known as the "An Act Promoting the Rights of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict", aimed to strengthen the protection and care of children affected by armed conflict.

Family and Household

• The United Nations (UN) distinguishes a family as a group of people related by blood, marriage or adoption, while a household is a group of people who live together in the same dwelling.
• An extended family includes other members of the kinship group, beyond the immediate family, such as uncles, grandparents, and cousins.
• In a matrilineal descent system, individuals automatically join the mother's group at birth and remain members throughout their lives.
• A neolocal family is characterized by the couple establishing their own residence separate from their parents' homes.
• Prior to the enactment of Republic Act 9255, fathers often neglected their responsibilities toward their children.
• A nuclear family consists of a married couple and their children, while an extended family includes additional relatives.
• A patrilineal descent system follows the male line, with inheritance and lineage traced through the father's family.
• In a descent group organization, members believe they share common ancestors, forming a sense of shared lineage and identity.
• Unmarried individuals living alone constitute a household according to the UN definition.