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Introduced by Senator Rodolfo 6. Biazon 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Marriage is one of the Tost sacred traditions in society. It is said that when one commits to marriage, one 
has decided to take the big leap. 
In every society, marriage IS widely recognized as an institution with a specific purpose for existing and a 
reason for preserving. The many laws defining, protecting, and dissolving marriages further underscore 
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its importance. 
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existence, defines the I -  obligations 
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Both laws created by men and handed down by God recognize marriage as a vital instrument in the 
preservation of socied. In the Philippines, the Family Code extensively provides for circumstances 
surrounding marriages' 
it lays down the parameters for entering marriage and for maintaining its 
dissolution of marriages. 
One also cannot argue ,that marriage is one of the most important sacraments carried out by the Church. 
There is, in fact, no ieligion on earth that does not have marriage rites, proving the sanctity of the 
marriage vows. 
The laws of God, laws of nature and laws of man unambiguously prescribe the primary and inherent 
purpose for the unificdfion of a male and a female - procreation. In the Animal Kingdom, the male and 
female of any specie o so, no matter how briefly and sometimes only after interesting courtship and 
rituals, to produce offspring and continue the existence of its lineage. Humankind does not largely vary in 
this regard -'the Bible clearly states what has long been popularly quoted, and sometimes overused, text: 
for man and woman to! "go forth and multiply". Man's law, being naturally subordinate to the laws of 
God and of nature, conforms to their rule. 
Recent developments in the field of medicine, science and technology, hqwever, have made it possible to 
alter or altogether change a person's sexual organ to approximate the appearance of that of the opposite 
sex. A surgeon can now transform a penis into a vagina, and vice versa. Man has directly challenged, with 
this scientific and technological advancement and its practice, the laws - of Man, of nature and, most 
ominously, of God. 
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Not too long ago, a celebrated case involving a marriage between two men, one of whom had a sex 
change operation, broke ground in Philippine law. The judge ruled that a male, after undergoing a sex 
change operation, can, legally, become a female through a court decision. A precedent has thus been 
established that may, not quite unlikely, usher in confusion ahd other related problems in the not too 
distant future. 
This bill seeks to amend the Family Code to prohibit such marriages. Aside from being against the laws 
of God and the laws of nature, marriages under these circumstances are against the interest of society in 
general. Not only does'it stretch the limits of custom, tradition and social norms, it endangers the interests 
of those entering into marriages who might not realize that the person they intend to marry, have children 
and spend the rest of their lives with, is originally of the same biological make up as they. 
For these reasons, the dassage of this bill is earnestly songht- 
of spouses and parents, and lays down rules for separation and 
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Senator 


THIRTEENTH CO GRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
First Regular Session 
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QT THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 
157 
Introduced by Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon 
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AN ACT 
AMENDING EXECUkIVE ORDER NO. 209 AS AMENDED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 227, 
OTHERWISE KN0;WN AS THE FAMILY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, THEREBY 
LIMITING MARRIAGE TO NATURAL BORN MALES AND NATURAL BORN FEMALES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House ofRepvesentatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Definition of Terms. - The following definition of terms shall be applicable in the 
interpretation of the prdvisions of this Act: 
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a) Natural Born Male - refers to a person who was born with the necessary bjological and 
physical components such as sexual organs, hormones or other characteristics present in 
human males. 
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b) Natural Born Female - refers to a person who was born with the necessaq biological and 
physical domponents such as sexual organs, hormones or other characteristics present in 
human females. 
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c) Sex Change Operation - refers to a medical surgical procedure wherein the sexual organ of a 
natural bo!n 
male or natural born female is removed, altered or replaced with that of the 
opposite sex. 
SECTION 2. Article 1 of the Family Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“Article 1. Marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a NATURAL BORN 
MALE [man] and a NATURAL BORN FEMALE [woman] entered into in accordance with law for the 
establishment of conjugal and family life. It is the foundation of the family and an inviolable social 
institution whose nature, consequences, and incidents are governed by law and not subject to stipulation, 
except that marriage settlements may fix the propeq relations during the marriage within the limits 
provided by this Code. (52a)” 
SECTION 3. Article 2 of the Family Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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“Article 2. Nd marriage shall he valid, unless these essential requisites are present: 
(1) Legal capacik of the contracting parties who must be a NATURAL BORN male and a 
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NATURAL BORN female; and 
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“Article 5. Any 
officer had the legal authority to do so; 
(3) Those solemnjzed without license, except those covered by the preceding Chapter; 
(4) Those bigamous or polygamous marriages not falling under Article 41; 
(5) Those contracted through mistake of one contracting party as to the identity of the other; 
(6) Those subsequent marriages that are void under Article 53; and 
(7) THOSE 
CONTRACTED BETWEEN PERSONS EITHER OF WHICH HAS 
UNDERGO ‘E A SEX CHANGE OPERATION, WITH OR WITHOUT THE 
KNOWLEDGE OF EITHER PARTNER.” 
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SECTION 7. Repeullng Cluuse - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of 
instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, 
the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect immediately upon its approval. 
Approved, 
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NATURAL BORN male and NATURAL BORN female of the age of eighteen