Indonesian Brides-To-Be Alarmed Over Proposed Government Policy

Wedding bells for Indonesian brides-to-be are suddenly put on hold due to a government bill that requires foreign groom to pay a $55,000 "security guarantee" to their Indonesian spouse.

According to reports, enraged brides-to-be are threatening to flee the country and marry their beaus abroad if the government approves the plan, which is said to be a part of a wider marriage law reform being pushed by Muslim conservatives. On the other hand, foreign grooms are questioning the Indonesian government’s move when stories of foreign men being exploited by gold-digging women are rampant in the Southeast Asian country.

The proposal requires foreign men wishing to wed Muslim women to put a guarantee of 500 million rupiah ($55,000 or ) into an Indo-Islamic bank. The said bill, however, does not apply to Christians, Buddhists or Hindus. If the couple divorce, the wife will be entitled to the amount. If they stick together for at least 10 years, they can claim it as "shared property." "The provision... is intended to protect the rights of women and their children if their husbands neglect, fail to provide for, leave Indonesia secretly... divorce or do anything which harms their interests," the bill adds. Violation of the said provision is considered a criminal offense.

In an interview with Nasaruddin Umar, an Indonesian Religious affairs ministry official, the guarantee is designed to stop foreigners entering fake marriages in order to set up businesses or buy property in their wives' names, and to ensure that women are financially secured against divorce. Also, the bill was made to protect the sanctity of marriage which should not be ‘be tainted by lust or personal interests’, he adds.

Most Indonesian women thinks the bill is ‘ridiculous’, and that ‘the government has no respect for Indonesian women’. A respondent, who wish not to be named, said that local men should charge local men as well. Critics say it will only encourage people to "live in sin" outside of wedlock, leaving women more vulnerable.

Ms Nia Schumacher of Melati Worldwide, a group which lobbies for the interests of people in mixed marriages, said the proposal would lead to an exodus of "runaway brides." Ms. Emmylia Hannig, co-chairwoman of the Association of Indonesian Women in Multinational Marriages (Srikandi) also rejects the proposal. If the law is indeed intended to protect women, it should apply to both foreign and local men, she added. Local statesman Iskan Qolba Lubis said that the bill will make it difficult for couples to get married and that the act is ‘discriminatory’.

On the other hand, Indonesian Council of Ulema chairman Amidhan lauds the proposal and agreed with Umar saying that they have heard many cases of foreigners marrying Indonesian women and leaving them with nothing.

Reports claim that the proposal, spearheaded by the religious affairs ministry, will be sent to parliament for approval by the end of the year.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kasal.com thanks the following sources for this article:
Arshad, Arlina, Agence France-Presse. Can't buy love? Indonesia thinks foreign men should. (Posted by Inquirer.net on June 1, 2010) Retrieved June 2, 2010 from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100601-273248/Cant-buy-love-Indonesia-thinks-foreign-men-should

Henderson, Barney, Telegraph Media. British men to pay £38,000 'deposit' for Indonesian wives (Posted June 2, 2010). Retrieved June 2, 2010 from
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/7793690/British-men-to-pay-38000-deposit-for-Indonesian-wives.html

Eli Judge and Partner Silaban Personal Library Law and Regulation Series Collection. About Material Law Religious Courts - Field Of Marriage). Retrieved June 2, 2010 from
http://cid-90d8572e18fea99c.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public%20Share/Draft%20RUU%20HMPA%20Bid%20Perkawinan.pdf

CBCP Airs Concerns Regarding Wedding Expenses, Marriage Stats

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) aired numerous concerns about the process of planning a wedding and other issues concerning married life this June, known to most as the wedding month.

In separate interviews, CBCP Marriage Tribunal chairman emeritus and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz expressed his concern regarding certain issues faced by soon-to-wed couples and married couples. The archbishop admitted that church weddings have become too expensive for Filipinos. To aid couples in their wedding expenses, he urged church official to encourage soon-to-wed couple to opt for simpler wedding ceremonies or offer the ceremony for free.

Even the long process of acquiring a marriage license and other documents has discouraged couples to tie the knot. Archbishop Cruz said that it has become too difficult to secure a marriage license that some couples have resorted to bribery in order to get one. Church weddings have even more document requirements such as baptismal certificate, confirmation certificate, among others.

Couples should not use money as a reason for not getting married since the church does offer mass wedding rites which has lesser expenses. He stressed that the Catholic Church has a rule that they cannot deny a person from receiving the sacrament of Holy Matrimony because of financial concerns. However, only a few couples have availed of this since most still prefer to have their own wedding.

Based on the latest data from the National Statistics Office, there were 490,054 marriages that were registered in 2007. The number represented a decrease of 2,612 marriages or 0.5 percent from the 2006 figure of 492,666.

Six regions, namely: National Capital Region (NCR), Region X, Region XII, Region VII, Region III and Region IV-A reported declines in the number of marriages. The biggest downward slope was recorded in NCR at 9.4 percent.

Another issue faced by couples is the increasing rate of number of failed marriages. Archbishop Cruz attributes this to the excessive exposure to comics, telenovelas, and movies have eroded the values of couples and the sacredness of matrimony. He explains that these do not promote the sanctity of marriage because they depict stories of couples who love each other but their relationship end in separation, divorce or annulment.

In his interview over Radyo Veritas, the CBCP marriage tribunal office has received 130 annulment cases every year but only 10 cases pass the first phase of their evaluation and the number would be further trimmed down as the cases progress.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kasal.com thanks the following sources for this article:
Aquino, Leslie Ann, Manila Bulletin. Bishop blames telenovelas for dwindling marriages (Posted June 3, 2010) Retrieved June 7, 2010
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/260439/bishop-blames-telenovelas-dwindling-marriages

Macairan, Evelyn, The Philippine Star. Church weddings becoming too costly. (Posted June 4, 2010) Retrieved June 7, 2010
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=581149

Radyo Veritas. Simbahang Katolika, naalarma sa tumaas na bilang ng mga mag-asawang naghihiwalay (Posted June 4, 2010) Retrieved June 7, 2010
http://www.veritas846.ph/church_news.html

National Statistics Office Special Release No. 511 - Marriages: Philippines, 2007. (Posted May 21, 2010) Retrieved June 7, 2010 from
http://www.census.gov.ph/data/sectordata/sr10511tx.html

Wedding Essentials to be showcased at The Bridal Expo Seventh Edition

Another full blast exposition of wedding essentials will be witnessed as the biggest and longest running bridal fair in the marry month of June, The Bridal Expo: Perfect Beginnings, is back at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and will be staged this June 5-6, 2010.

The Bridal Expo: Perfect Beginnings, organized by Trade Advertising Exhibitions and Conventions International, Inc.  (TRADECON, Inc.,) is an annual exposition which showcases different wedding essentials. From gowns to make-up, cakes to venues, bridal cars to honeymoon destinations, The Bridal Expo: Perfect Beginnings will furnish every soon-to-wed couples needs to achieve the perfect beginning that they’re longing for.

Following six successful years since its inception in 2004, this year’s edition gears towards a much wider market as far as the bridal industry is concerned. With more than 150 participants in the previous event, and more than six thousand visitors and soon-to-wed couples, Tradecon, Inc. is all set to set new trends in the realm of bridal industry once again!

Numerous activities, unique promotions and gifts will surely entice soon-to-weds to flock the two-day exhibit. Event highlights consist of the Bridal Travel Fair (Honeymoon and Travel Destination promos for soon-to-wed couples); Bridal Auction and three chances of winning the raffle draws thru online registration and by visiting the expo. Other highlights will be performances from different choirs, strings, quartets and/or orchestra as well as the much awaited fashion show from the new and well known wedding designers of the Philippines.

The Bridal Expo: Perfect Beginnings Year 7 is sponsored by Goldilocks Bakeshop, in partnership with Fotoloco by Konsepto, Sigma Identity System, Kasal.com, TechSupport.ph, and supported by Rotary Club of Manila Bay and Media Blitz PR Consultancy. Online and media partners are Business World, HerWord.com, Business Mirror, Philippine Graphic, Malaya Business Insight, Super Ads , 88DB.com, BizLINQ.net, Inquirer.net, Philstar.com, Bridal Book, and sulit.com.ph.

For free admission, please register online at www.bridalexpophilippines.com/. For inquiries, call Tradecon Inc., at (632) 482- 5318 and 440- 3118 local 100- 107 or email thebridalexpo@gmail.com.

Bridal de Manila Book 2 Unravels Wedding Elegance

Soon-to-wed couples will be mesmerized as wedding suppliers from all over the metro display their chic wedding products and services during the Bridal de Manila Book 2 scheduled on June 5 - 6, 2010 at SM Megamall 3, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Organized by Ascend Trade Experts (ATEX), the expo covers over 100 of the best wedding services available in the country today. Save your time and energy from the hassle of looking and asking for the services you need from corner to comer. Soon-to-wed couples will undeniably find suppliers that will fit their lifestyle, taste and meet their budget for their perfect dream wedding.

Bridal de Manila Book 2 will be packed with excellent photographers, gorgeous gowns, non-traditional instrumental music, dramatic ambience and many other displays to choose from. Exhibitors will present lavish displays showcasing their products and services and will be of service anytime on this two-day event to answer all queries about wedding planning.

Like the previous Bridal de Manila fair, the ATEX - Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Inc., Photo Contest is once again set to showcase creative wedding photographs from the best wedding photographers in the country. Numerous wedding lensmen will showcase their works and vie for the title Photographer of the Year.

Bridal de Manila Book 2 is in partnership with MPS Events Management, 7107 Islands Management, Inc., SM Megamall, SM Megatrade Hall, Tambayan 101.9, Kasal.com, 103.5 MaxFM, Home Radio 97dot9, Mr. Hardinero Landscaping and Flower Shop, StageTech, Manila Bulletin, Philippine Graphic, Business Mirror, and Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Inc.

For free admission, please register online at http://www.bridaldemanila2.atextradeshow.com/. For inquiries, contact ATEX at (632) 728-6688, 392-5811, 403-2136, 392-1688, (63917) 886-8689 or email atex@atextradeshow.com.