Marriage Clearance

Image courtesy of weddingwhims.tumblr.com

Hey guys! Before anything else, I would like to pause for a moment and contemplate on a thought that's too overwhelming it took me several days to let it sink in. Getting married in the Philippines is too much of an energy sucker! You'd know you really want to tie the knot with your fiancé if you still feel the same way after seeing the TONS of requirements to get a marriage clearance! 

Here's the thing, since my fiancé is an American Citizen and has been living in the US for more than 18 years, we were instructed by the parish to visit the Chancery Office of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao. After evaluating the questionnaire we submitted, they gave us a list of requirements needed to get a marriage clearance. 

Along with the list is a formal letter from the Diocese addressed to our parish priest to be delivered personally. In this letter is the schedule of our canonical interview which falls 3 weeks prior to the date of our wedding. Now the time frame is nonnegotiable since the marriage clearance takes time to be released.

Image courtesy of kgi.org

Bear with me as I share with you the LONG list of requirements. If you were brought here by google because you want an idea of what's waiting for you at the chancery office, hopefully this post can help ease your curiosity. Please note that the requirements are individualized. The list below pertains to local brides with foreign grooms.

PROOF OF IDENTITY:

• Bride & Groom: Newly issued Birth Certificate (NSO/LCRO) 
• Groom: Photocopy of Passport
• Bride & Groom: 2 recent copies of 2x2 ID Picture

PROOF OF FREEDOM TO MARY:

• Bride & Groom: Newly issued Baptismal and Confirmation Certificates with notation "for marriage purpose" or "free to marry" originally signed by the parish priest with the parish seal.
• Groom: Newly issued "Freedom to Marry" from present parish priest abroad.
• Bride & Groom: Publication of 3 Sunday Banns in the respective parishes in the Philippines. (2-3 months prior to the wedding). 
• Groom: Search of Marriage from State or Country Recorder Abroad. 
• Bride & Groom: Certification of No Marriage (CENOMAR) for Marriage Purpose from the NSO. 
• Groom: Embassy Clearance/Legal Capacity to Marry from the Embassy or Consulate in the Philippines. 
• Bride & Groom: Marriage License from LCRO/City Hall (valid only for 120 days from the date of issuance and issued 11 days after application). 
• Bride & Groom: Marriage Preparation Seminar - PRECANA taken at the parish where the intended marriage is to take place. Can be taken abroad or in other parish provided that a certificate of attendance is submitted as proof. 
• Bride & Groom: Canonical Interview strictly done at the parish where the intended marriage is to take place. Result of the Canonical Interview and Marriage Expectation Inventory must be submitted personally by the couple the the Chancery. 
• Groom: Application for Clearance ot be filled up personally at the Chancery Office upon submission of the result of Canonical Interview.

Image courtesy of accliviyperformance.com

I've enrolled myself in college and graduate school, braved the streets of Morayta for my board application and license renewal, registered my clinics in BIR, but never have I seen a list of requirements too long and tedious it can exhaust you just by reading through it. It may sound like I'm complaining but I beleive I'm entitled to an initial reaction. I know for a fact that no matter what, we will surely abide by the rules, fulfill the requirements eventually, look back to this day and say "we did it"! 

Well, that's it guys! Hopefully you can share with me your experiences, good or bad, in securing your marriage  clearance. Maybe we could help each other out via the comments section below. If you have any questions, I have tons of them myself but I will do my best to answer yours as accurately and quickly as possible. As of now, I'm almost done with the process of letting the pressure settle so I could work with a clear head. Actually, writing this entry helped me go through the list without nearing a panic attack. Thank you so much for reading and have a blissful day! 

♥♥♥