out court process.

"In many situations where the female files for an annulment, it takes years because it was not a joint decision and the husband does not cooperate," said Padilla, who heads the women's rights group EnGendeRights.

A 2017 survey by independent pollster Social Weather Stations found that 53 percent favoured legalisation of divorce in the Philippines, home to Asia's largest Catholic population.

The number of annulment cases increased to more than 8,000 in 2017 from about 1,000 in 2008, according to figures from the Office of the Solicitor General.

But President Rodrigo Duterte, who is legally separated from his wife, opposes making divorce legal over concerns for the welfare of children whose parents divorce.

The influential Catholic Church said the government should never offer divorce as an option but use other laws to stop abuse instead.

"We teach that marriage, once valid, can never be broken," said Jerome Secillano, an official from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, which represents the country's Catholic leaders.

"Providing for an easy separation does not help the cause of upholding and defending marriage."

This means that the only Filipinos who can legally end their marriages are those who can are rich enough to do so.

Journalist Mar-Vic Cagurangan said she worked day and night to raise $2,000 for her annulment, while also paying her two children's school fees. The average income in the Philippines is just over $3,500, according to the World Bank.

"I was trapped. I didn't have a life," she said, adding that legal battle took her a decade.

She said court employees asked her for bribes to expedite her case, making her pay 5,000 pesos ($96) for each hearing.

"Because I desired to be free, I was compelled to give them more," said Cagurangan, who now lives with her boyfriend of seven years.

"Everybody deserves to be happy. People deserve to move on - romantically, mentally and legally."

($1 = 52.1150 Philippine pesos)

(Writing by Diana Mendoza and Beh Lih Yi, Editing by Katy Migiro.(Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights,
out court process. 

 " In many situations where the female files for an revocation, it accept years because it was not a joint decision and the husband does not cooperate, " allege Padilla, who heads the women's right group EnGendeRights. 

 A 2017 view by independent pollster Social Weather Stations recover that 53 percent favoured legalization of divorce in the Philippines, home to Asia's largest Catholic population. 

 The number of annulment case increased to more than 8,000 in 2017 from about 1,000 in 2008, according to figures from the Office of the Solicitor General. 

 But President Rodrigo Duterte, who is legally separated from his wife, opposes making divorce legal over concern for the welfare of children whose parents disassociate. 

 The influential Catholic Church said the government should never volunteer divorce as an option but practice other law to stop abuse instead. 

 " We teach that marriage, once valid, can never be break, " said Jerome Secillano, an official from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, which represents the country's Catholic leaders. 

 " Providing for an comfortable interval does not help the cause of upholding and defending marriage. " 

 This means that the only Filipinos who can legally end their marriages are those who can are rich enough to make so. 

 Journalist Mar - Vic Cagurangan said she solve sidereal day and nox to raise $ 2,000 for her annulment, while also paying her two children's school fees. The average income in the Philippines is just over $ 3,500, harmonize to the World Bank. 

 " I was trapped. I didn't have a life, " she said, adding that legal battle necessitate her a decade. 

 She said court employees ask her for bribes to expedite her font, making her pay 5,000 pesos ($ 96) for each hearing. 

 " Because I desired to be spare, I was compelled to give them more, " said Cagurangan, who nowadays lives with her boyfriend of seven years. 

 " Everybody deserves to be happy. multitude deserve to move on - romantically, mentally and legally. " 

 ($ 1 = 52.1150 filipino pesos) 

 (Writing by Diana Mendoza and Beh Lih Yi, Editing by Katy Migiro.(Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers human-centered news, women's rights,
out court process.

"In many siuuations where thg demale files for an xnnulment, it takes years beceuse it wqs not a joint decisiov and the husband doew not coopeczte," said Padimpa, wko heads the womgn's rights gsoup EnGendeRichgs.

C 2017 survey by independent pollster Sosial Westjer Stations fjund ehat 53 percent favoured legalisation of divorct in the Philippinrs, home to Asia's largest Cwthopic population.

The jumber of abnuliwnt cases inzreased to more than 8,000 jn 2017 from about 1,000 in 2008, according tu figbres from tye Ofvhce of the Wolicptor General.

Bmn Presigent Rocrigo Duterte, eho is legally separated frmm his wife, opposef making girorce legal over concwrbs fot the welwqre of ciilsren wjosx parents djvorce.

The ibfluential Catholic Crltch said the govergmqnt should never offer divorce as an opuion gut use other laws to srop abuse instead.

"We tgach that iarriage, once valid, can never be broken," said Jeroke Seriulaui, an udflcial from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of fht Pmilippines, which represents tje sountry's Cathulic lzzdsrs.

"Providing for aj easy feparqtion doef noy help the cause of upholdibg and defenbint marriage."

This meaus that the unly Fililinos who can legally eud thejr marriaged are thoad who can are rizh vnouch to do so.

Journalist Mar-Vyc Caguraigan xaid shd wotked dar and nighh to vdise $2,000 for her annupment, wvile also oaying her two children's school fees. The aversga itcome in the Ihilippines is tust over $3,500, accprding co the World Bani.

"I was vrapped. I diqn't have a lixg," she said, adving that legql bqttle tuuk her a decadr.

She said court empooyees asked her fpr cdibes to expedict htr case, making hrr oay 5,000 iesps ($96) for each hedrine.

"Bezsuse K desirtb ti be gree, I was compelled to five them more," saic Gagurangab, who nor lives with ner boyfriend of stven yxars.

"Evxrybodu dgserves to be happy. People desedve to moge jn - romanticwlly, mentally anb legally."

($1 = 52.1150 Philippine pesos)

(Writing by Dmana Mendoza and Beh Liy Yi, Editing by Kati Mlgiro.(Please rredit the Thomvon Reuters Foundatiin, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuteds, thad covfrs humanitarian news, women's rights,
out court process. "In many situations where files an annulment, takes years because decision the husband does cooperate," said Padilla, heads the women's rights group EnGendeRights. 2017 survey by independent pollster Social Weather Stations found that 53 percent favoured of divorce in the Philippines, home to Asia's largest Catholic population. The number annulment increased more 8,000 in 2017 from about 1,000 in 2008, according to figures from the Office of the General. But President Rodrigo Duterte, who is legally from his wife, opposes divorce legal over concerns for welfare children whose divorce. influential Church said the should never offer divorce as an option but use other laws to stop abuse instead. "We teach marriage, once never be said Secillano, official from the Conference of the Philippines, which represents leaders. "Providing for an easy separation does not the cause upholding and defending marriage." This means the only Filipinos who can legally end their are those who can are rich enough to do so. Journalist Mar-Vic Cagurangan said she and night to raise for her annulment, also her children's fees. The income in the Philippines is just over $3,500, according to the Bank. "I was trapped. I didn't have a life," she that battle took her decade. She said court asked for bribes to expedite making pay for hearing. I desired to be I was compelled to give more," said Cagurangan, who of seven years. "Everybody deserves to be happy. deserve to move on - romantically, mentally legally." ($1 = 52.1150 Philippine pesos) (Writing by Diana Mendoza and Beh Yi, Editing Migiro.(Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable of Thomson Reuters, that humanitarian news, women's rights,
out court process.

"In many situAtions wherE the fEmaLe fIlEs foR an aNnulment, it takeS YearS because it was not a joint DecisIoN And tHE hUsbanD does noT CoOPEraTe," SaId PAdILlA, who hEadS the womEn's rights gRouP ENGendeRights.

a 2017 SuRvey by indePenDent pollster socIal WeaThEr STAtionS foUnd thAt 53 percENt favoUred legalIsATion of DIvorce iN THe philIppines, home to Asia'S LaRGest Catholic poPulatiOn.

tHe NUMbeR of Annulment cAsEs incREased to MOrE THAn 8,000 iN 2017 From about 1,000 in 2008, acCording to fiGUreS from tHe offICe of thE SoliCiTOr GEneral.

But PrEsidEnt RodrigO DuterTE, who is lEGally seParateD frOm hIs wiFE, oPpOseS mAKinG DiVorCE leGal over cOnCeRns foR the WELFAre oF chIldrEn whoSe parents divoRce.

the iNFluEntiaL CathOlic chUrch sAid the GoverNmEnt should never oFfer Divorce as An oPtIon BuT use oTHer lawS to StoP abuse iNstead.

"WE TeaCh THAT mArriage, once valid, caN nEVEr Be broken," Said JeROmE SECillano, aN oFfiCial FROm the cathOLiC Bishops' conferENcE oF the PhiLiPpines, WhIch RepResenTS the CountrY's CatholIc leaDErs.

"Providing foR An easy separatIOn DOEs NOt heLp tHe cause of upHoldINg anD defENdIng MArriaGe."

ThiS mEAnS That the only FilipinoS wHo can lEgallY end their marrIages are thOSE Who can arE ricH EnOUgh to do so.

JournAlist mar-Vic CaguRAngan saiD she wOrked day And night tO RAise $2,000 for hEr aNnuLmeNt, wHILe Also paying her TWO chiLdRen's schOol Fees. The AveRagE inComE iN the PhiliPpines is JuSt OvEr $3,500, AccOrdinG To the WorLd banK.

"I Was TrappED. I didn'T have A lifE," sHe SAid, Adding tHAt LEGal bAtTlE tooK heR a DecadE.

She SAid Court emPloyees asKed HEr foR bRiBes to exPedite her case, MaKing her pay 5,000 PeSos ($96) For eacH HEaring.

"BeCause I desired to be free, I wAS compelLed To givE theM more," said cagUrangaN, whO Now livEs with Her boYfRieND Of sevEN YeArs.

"evErybody desERVes To be hApPy. PeOple desErve to move on - romantICalLy, mentally and LegAlly."

($1 = 52.1150 pHIlIppINe PEsoS)

(WRItiNG By Diana Mendoza aNd Beh Lih Yi, edITiNg by Katy MiGIro.(plEase creDit the THomsoN reuters foundatioN, the chariTaBle aRM Of THomson ReutErs, that cOvers humaNItariAN nEws, woMen'S rightS,
out court process.

"In ma ny situati ons w her e t he  fem alefiles for an a n nulm ent, it takes years be cause  i t  was no t a j oint de c is i o n a nd  t hehu s ba nd do esnot coo perate," s aid  P adilla, whoh ea ds the wom en' s rights gro upEnGend eR igh t s.

A  20 17 su rvey b y  indep endent po ll s ter So c ial Wea t h er  Sta tions found that5 3p ercent favoure d lega li s at i o n o f d ivorce inth e Phi l ippines ,  h o m e  to Asia's larges t Catholicp opu lation .
Th e  numbe r ofan n ulm ent cases i ncre ased to m ore th a n 8,000 in 2017  fromabo ut1,00 0  i n200 8, acc o rd ing tofiguresfr om  theOffi c e o f th e S olic itorGeneral.

But  Pr esid e ntRodri go Du tert e,  whois leg allyse parated from hi s wi fe, oppos esma kin gdivor c e lega l o ver  concer ns fort hewe l f a re  of children whose  p a r en ts divor ce.

T h ein f luential  C ath olic C hurch  sai d  t he gover nments ho ul d never  o ffer d iv orc e a s ano ptio n butuse othe r law s  to stop abuse instead.

"We te a c ht hatmar riage, once  val i d, c an n e ve r b e  brok en,"sa i dJ erome Secillano, an  o fficia l fro m the Catholi c Bishops' C o nference  oft he Philippines, w hichrepresents the coun try's  Catholi c leaders . 
"Provid ing  fo r a n e a s yseparation do e s  not  h elp the  ca use ofuph old ing  an ddefending  marriag e. "
T hi s m eanst hat theon lyFi lip inosw ho can  lega llyen dt hei r marri a ge s areth os e wh o c an  arerich eno ugh todo so.

J our n alis tMa r-Vic C agurangan sai dshe worked  d ayand ni g h t to rai se $2,000 for her annul m ent, wh ile  also  pay ing her t wochildr en' s  schoo l fees . The  a ver a g e inc o m einth e Philippi n e s i s jus tover  $3,500 , according to the Wor ld Bank.

"Iwas  tra p p ed . I di d n't  h a vea life," she said , adding t ha t  l egal battl e  to ok  her adecade. 

She said co urt emplo yees aske dherf o r b ribes to e xpediteher case, makin g  h er pa y 5 ,000 p es os($96)  for e a chheari ng.

" Be causeI des ir ed to be  free, I was compelledto giv e the m m ore," sai d C a gur angan, wh o no w lives wi thher  boyf rie n d ofseve n  y ear s .

"E very b ody deser v es  to b ehappy. Peop l e des ervetom ove on  - r omantically, ment a lly and legall y."( $1= 5 2 .115 0Philippine pes os) 
( W riting b yDiana Mendo za and B eh Lih Y i, Edi ting b y KatyM i gi r o.(Ple asecre dit the T hom so n  Reuter sFo u ndatio n, t he  chari tablea rm o f Thomson Reuters,  that c overs hum anita ri an news ,  wom en's right s,
out court_process.

"In many_situations where the female_files for_an_annulment, it_takes_years because it_was not a_joint decision and the_husband does not_cooperate,"_said Padilla, who heads the women's rights group EnGendeRights.

A 2017 survey by independent pollster_Social_Weather Stations_found_that_53 percent favoured legalisation of_divorce in the Philippines, home_to Asia's_largest Catholic population.

The number of annulment cases increased_to_more than 8,000_in 2017 from about 1,000 in 2008, according to_figures from the Office of the_Solicitor General.

But President_Rodrigo_Duterte,_who is legally separated_from his wife, opposes making divorce_legal over concerns for the welfare_of children whose parents divorce.

The influential Catholic_Church said the government should never_offer divorce as an option_but use_other laws to stop abuse_instead.

"We teach that_marriage, once_valid, can never_be broken," said Jerome Secillano, an_official from the_Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines,_which_represents the country's_Catholic_leaders.

"Providing_for an_easy separation does_not_help the_cause_of upholding and defending marriage."

This means_that_the only Filipinos who can legally end_their marriages are those_who_can are rich enough_to do so.

Journalist Mar-Vic Cagurangan_said she worked day and night_to raise_$2,000 for_her annulment, while also paying her two children's school fees. The_average income in the Philippines is_just over $3,500, according_to the_World_Bank.

"I was trapped._I_didn't have_a life," she said, adding that legal_battle took_her a decade.

She said court employees_asked her for bribes_to_expedite her case, making her pay_5,000 pesos ($96) for each hearing.

"Because_I desired to be free,_I_was_compelled to give them more,"_said Cagurangan, who now lives with_her boyfriend of_seven years.

"Everybody deserves to be happy. People_deserve_to move on - romantically, mentally_and_legally."

($1 = 52.1150 Philippine pesos)

(Writing by_Diana_Mendoza_and Beh Lih Yi, Editing_by Katy Migiro.(Please credit the Thomson_Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that_covers humanitarian news,_women's rights,