MANILA - Senators Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday he would support a bill that allows “once in a lifetime” divorce. In a tweet, Lacson said he is inclined to support a limit on divorce, adding “you err, make amends; you err twice, you deserve to suffer.” Lacson told reporters in a text message that his tweet was “intended to induce some discussions and ideas.” “It is also a way of getting the sense of people strongly for and against the passage of the measure so I may be guided when I cast my vote,” he added. Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said he was previously against divorce but had a change of heart after learning of Lacson’s proposal. “Susuportahan ko ang plano ni Sen. Lacson na ganon nga, isang beses ka lang. Okay lang magkamali ka ng isang beses. Sa pangalawang beses ka magkakamali sinasadya mo na 'yan,” Dela Rosa told reporters. (I will support Sen. Lacson’s proposal. It’s fine that you commit a … [Read more...] about Is Philippines ready for ‘one-time’ divorce?
What divorced women want
Craving freedom, Japan’s women opt out of marriage
TOKYO (NYTIMES) - The bride wore a birthday cake of a dress, with a scalloped-edge bodice and a large hoop skirt. A veil sprouted from her black bob. Moments before the wedding began, she stood quietly on a staircase, waiting to descend to the ceremony. "Wow," she thought. "I'm really doing this." This was no conventional wedding to join two people in matrimony. Instead, a group of nearly 30 friends gathered in a banquet room in one of Tokyo's most fashionable districts last year to witness Ms Sanae Hanaoka, 31, as she performed a public declaration of her love - for her single self. "I wanted to figure out how to live on my own," Ms Hanaoka told the group, standing alone on a stage as she thanked them for attending her solo wedding. "I want to rely on my own strength." Not so long ago, Japanese women who remained unmarried after age 25 were referred to as "Christmas cake", a slur comparing them to old holiday pastries that cannot be sold after Dec 25. Today, such outright insults have … [Read more...] about Craving freedom, Japan’s women opt out of marriage
What it takes to be… A divorce lawyer in Singapore
Concealed weapons. Armed confrontation. They're not tropes of a gangland movie, but what Jenny Lai has had to deal with in her 25 years of practice as a lawyer — divorce lawyer, to be exact. Within the confines of a sterile office, it's hard to imagine such high drama taking place, but perhaps it comes with the territory. In a job where people's feelings are at stake and emotions run high, things can get ugly. Jenny, who specialises in family and conveyancing law, has seen more than 2,500 divorce cases this year, which is an average of about 400 in a month. "It's quite a lot," she says. Couples in Singapore can get divorced if they've been married for at least three years. She explains: "There's only one ground for divorce, that your marriage has broken down irretrievably. But there are five facts, and you choose one." For the curious, these are the facts: Adultery, where "sexual penetration must be proven" Unreasonable behaviour ("improper association with … [Read more...] about What it takes to be… A divorce lawyer in Singapore
Mum of 3 Cecilia Cheung wants to continue having kids
It seems that hot mum Cecilia Cheung has no plans to stop at three kids. On a recent episode of Chinese variety show Women 30+, the Hong Kong actress shared that she will continue to have children while she can. The 38-year-old is currently raising three children by herself. She has two sons, Lucas, 11, and Quintus, nine, with Hong Kong singer Nicholas Tse. The pair divorced in 2011 after five years of marriage. Cecilia then gave birth to her third son Marcus Cheung last November. The actress, however, hasn't revealed who is the father. On the show, she was candid about how she had always wanted to be a mother since she was young. "When I was eight, I didn't think of how I would be like 20 years later. But I knew that I would definitely have a child. And I have three now." "I think children are the best, they bring me joy. They're the most beautiful existence in the world. I've got to have children to make my life complete." According to Cecilia's close friend, the actress … [Read more...] about Mum of 3 Cecilia Cheung wants to continue having kids
With love, from a hospital
With love, from a hospital For the last few weeks I was away from my Philippine STAR column. I had a series of accidents and sicknesses that I felt it would be better to die than suffer the pain. Being in bed most of the time I was able to finally finish watching The Crown, a series about what it means to take the responsibilities of being royal. There are many but what I particularly liked was “The Scandal That Rocked Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s Marriage” in an article written by Julie Miller in Vanity Fair. “When Eileen Parker sued for divorce from Prince Philip’s best friend and equerry Michael Parker, a royal scandal erupted. And Queen Elizabeth, according to frenzied news reports, was none too pleased. The article included pictures when Eileen Parker obtained a divorce in 1958, and Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth when they posed together after their Lisbon reunion in 1957. It isn’t Philip’s fault, … [Read more...] about With love, from a hospital