Embassy celebrates Women’s Month for Pinoys in Israel

MANILA, Philippines — In celebration of National Women’s Month, the Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv on March 8 gathered the Filipino community for a series of presentations titled “Falling in and out of Love in Israel.” 

The event featured discussions on Philippine laws on marriage and conjugal property relations and the Anti-violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004. 

Discussions focused on marriage laws to broaden the community’s awareness on legal options in relation to relationships and property issues engendered or complicated by living or working overseas, including domestic violence, the social costs of separation from spouses and children or entering complicated relationships abroad. 

 Philippine Ambassador Pedro Laylo Jr. acknowledged the need to further empower women by creating awareness of their newfangled rights, including the legal remedies available to them to address relationship issues. 

Deputy head of mission and Consul General Anthony Mandap discussed the general principles of marriage law and answered frequently asked questions on getting married, getting divorced or securing annulment. 

Mandap advised participants to consult the embassy to avoid legal missteps. 

Vice Consul Patricia Narajos discussed property relations between husbands and wives, especially their incomes, benefits and properties accumulated in the course of their work overseas. 

Narajos also discussed the Violence Against Women and Children Law, which outlines the legal rights of spouses or children trapped in situations of abuse or domestic violence – a common occurrence in overseas Filipino workers’ households. 

Prior to the community event, embassy personnel sat down for a presentation on the Safe Spaces Act of 2019 which expanded the coverage and punitive character of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 to include, among others, sexual offenses in public places such as public transport conveyances and frontline government offices.