REPRESENTATIVE Pantaleon D. Alvarez announced that he recently refiled the Civil Partnership Bill, docketed as House Bill No. 6782, which allows same-sex and opposite sex couples to enter into a Civil Partnership.
“Yes, I refiled it. First time was in the 17th Congress, then 18th Congress, and I am refiling it again in the 19th Congress.”
Alvarez presently serves his third consecutive – and therefore his last – term in Congress. When asked if he thinks the Bill will successfully hurdle the legislative process, despite headwinds, he replied: “This is my third term and third attempt for the Civil Partnership Bill. Who knows, it can be strike three, or it can be third time’s the charm. I’m not new to this. Some battles you win, some you don’t. But in either case, there is truth to the saying that politics is the art of the possible. Let’s file this, get the word out, and let us see what happens.”
Previous versions of the Civil Partnership Bill reached referral to the concerned Committee for deliberations. None successfully moved towards Second and Third Reading. Asked why he was championing Civil Partnerships, Alvarez said that: “I am a legislator. My job is to identify problems and provide solutions to the pain points of ordinary life that people deal with. In this case, there is definitely an absence of legal framework for those who do not fit traditional marriages. Let’s think about them too. Huwag lang puro tayo.”
The Philippines is predominantly a Catholic country known for conservative values. And the Church retains its clout as a lobbying force that resists moves to alter the definitions of traditional relationships. Sought for comment about going against critics, Alvarez had this to say: “Let’s talk, maybe we can find a common ground. But if they want a fight, okay lang din. Sanay tayo diyan. Bring it on.”
When queried about the importance of his Bill, Alvarez explained that a quote he once read best provides an answer to this question: “I read a quote before, from a movie, and it described the need to have a witness to our lives, and we promise to care about everything, the good, the bad, and even the boring things, all of it, every day. We say to our partner, your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it, your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness.”
Reminded that the excerpt came from a movie about marriage, and not Civil Partnerships, Alvarez responded with: “That’s exactly the point. We allow traditional relationships to have that benefit, that opportunity, but how about others who can’t get married? Why should we deprive them of the opportunity to be a witness to, and being witnessed in return, by their special someone?”
Under the Family Code of the Philippines, only heterosexual couples can enter into a marriage, thus excluding members of the LGBT community and their relationships. Other issues that Civil Partnerships seek to address are the lack of legal rights, responsibilities, and protections for non-traditional unions.
In regard to these matters, Alvarez said: “Imagine, you build a life together, and your partner isn’t even an heir by default? Kapag mamatay sila, walang makukuha yung partner nila kahit sila yung nagtulungan. For medical emergencies requiring life or death decisions, they’re not even recognized as the partner, they are excluded. Hindi sila papapasukin, kasi hindi sila asawa or family. How can that be right?”
Sought for his opinion about the effect of Civil Partnerships to the institution of traditional marriage, and the concern that it will be detrimental, Alvarez paused and then replied that: “I think it will even strengthen traditional marriages. Those who really want to get married are those who will get married. While those who don’t want marriage, they need not force fit themselves into a marriage. They can opt for a Civil Partnership instead.”
Asked for a final comment about the opposition to the Civil Partnership Bill, Alvarez had this to say: “You wouldn’t like it if outsiders dictated and intervened into your personal relationships, why do you keep dictating and intervening into the relationships of others? How about mind your own business? Live and let live.”
