We are the CATHOLIC WEDDING TEAM from the Marriage & Family Laws Division of BCIDP Law Office & General Consultancy. This presentation shall apply only to CATHOLIC OUTDOOR WEDDING requirements of any citizenships.
“As you know, the Catholic Church in the Philippines has totally prohibited the holding of marriage rites outdoors for it was greatly abused by most of their Priests[2]. Hence, you might be wondering why we are allowed to perform otherwise.
Simply because we are not covered by the prohibition as our resident Catholic priests belong to the “other 23 Catholic Churches” (https://catholiceducation.org/en/culture/the-other-catholics-a-short-guide-to-the-eastern-catholic-churches.html)[3], and “Independent Catholic Churches”, but not “Aglipayan” or “IFI” Church.
- https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-other-catholics-a-short-guide-to-the-eastern-catholic-churches.html
- Protestants,” Independent Catholic Church” or “Aglipays”, or any of its divisions, etc. Break-away groups means “rebels” or protesters’;
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eastern-rite-church
- Provides LEGAL Solutions & BEST Practices to your Business, Property, Marriage & Family Problems;
On one hand, our Managing Director is an ordained Catholic priest by the Eastern Catholic Orthodox, who later joined the “Order of St. Benedict” (“OSB”) of the Roman Catholic Society of St. John the Baptist[4], under the Apostolic Mandate of the Roman Catholic Church of England & Wales (“RCCEW”) by its Superior General (Bishop) James Atkinson – Wake[5]. Bishop James later appointed Filipino Bishop Reynante Y. Onal, D.D., to lead the traditional “Roman Catholic Society of St. John the Baptist” in the Philippines.
The “Apostolic Mandate” or copy of the official appointment by the “RCCEW”, and our PSA CRASM[6], shall be available upon request, after your engagement with us.
Feel free to visit our countless wedding rites conducted for the last ten (10) years: https://www.youtube.com/@marriagefamilylawsdivision6981.
We are all in full communion with the Holy See in Rome (http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1998/september/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19980929_patriarca.html).
On the other hand, the CBCP, in its pronouncement in 2020, we were recognized to have a VALID BAPTISM which encompasses all the Sacramental rites that we perform[8].
We do not have our own Pope as we only have ONE POPE, sitting in Vatican. This is an unknown fact to the Filipinos until the advent of technology where one can easily have information in just one click.
The outdoor (garden or beach) Catholic sacrament of marriage we conduct is the same as it has been done inside the Church[9].
On the legal side, Art. 7 (2) of the Family Code of the Philippines enumerated those who are allowed by law to solemnize marriages. Thus:
x x x
(2) Any priest, rabbi, imam or minister of any church or religious sect and registered with the Civil Registrar General, acting within the limits of the written authority granted him by his Church or religious sect and provided that at least one of the contracting parties belongs to the solemnizing officer’s Church or religious sect” (emphasis ours);
First, it says “any PRIEST”, which does not refer to a priest coming from just ONE particular church, because “any Priests” may come from different or independent “Catholic Churches” or “Order”.
Second, to be considered “belongs to the solemnizing officer’s (“SO”) Church or religious sect”, it refers to either you have the same “Catholic faith”, or “Christian faith” of the “SO”.
Third, once the PSA issued a CRASM, it went to a process of inspecting the actual Church structure, and strict compliance to its documentary requirements[10].
Religious marriage in the Philippines requires you to deal with two different governments that have separate powers and authority under our[11] Philippine Constitution, and to submit the following set of documents:
Requirements
| REQUIREMENTS | Civil (Philippine) Government | (Catholic) Church Government |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | Valid Marriage License issued by your City / Local Civil Registrar which will require you to submit to them the following documents: | Baptismal Certificate |
| PSA[13] CENOMAR[14] | Confirmation “Kumpil” Certificate | |
| PSA Birth Certificate | In-House Pre-Cana Seminar by our Religious Rites Division[15] for additional Php2,500/couple; | |
| Parent’s Consent[16] / Advice[17] (as applicable) | Canonical Interview by us | |
| Pre-Marriage Orientation (PMO) and Pre-Marriage Counselling (PMC) Seminar[18] conducted inside the City Hall (LGU) where either of you resides; | NOTE 1: If you cannot produce these certificates, our resident priests can perform to you these Sacraments of Baptism & / or Confirmation[19], prior to your marriage rites; | |
| If previously married overseas, copy of such marriage certificate, authenticated or not; | If previously married overseas, copy of such marriage certificate, authenticated or not; | |
| YOUR OTHER LEGAL OPTION | Check your LGU schedule. If you cannot comply with it, our affiliate, BCIDP Exclusive School for Couples is a DSWD / LGU accredited partner who can also conduct PMO & PMC recognized nationwide for additional fee of P3,500/couple. They do it via Zoom so you can attend wherever you both may be in the world and complete it even before your arrival here for the wedding. Just present the Certificates upon filing of your Application for Marriage License together with your CENOMARs & birth certificates from PSA. Send them a message at their FB page for the schedule and registration process. | NOTE 2: Banns are not required for outdoor weddings; |
| If previously married overseas, copy of such marriage certificate, authenticated or not; | NOTE 3: If you had been married in the Church before but declared void / nullified by our Civil courts, you need to file a separate annulment action with the Roman Catholic Church. But for outdoor weddings by BCIDP, we will not require it but your marriage of course, shall be registered to the CIVIL government or the “other Catholic Churches”, and not with the Roman Catholic Church; | |
| If ALIEN or BOTH ALIENS | Verifiable Certificate of Legal Capacity issued by his / her embassy in Manila; | |
| If ANNULLED or DIVORCED | Verifiable Copy of such VOID certificate or finality[20]; | NOTE 5: Do not ask for “other requirements” other than what were already listed above. We made it simpler for you. We didn’t complicate it. So don’t make it complicated further. J |
| OTHERS | Machine copies of alien’s PASSPORTS or government issued ID’s with home address; | NOTE 5: Do not ask for “other requirements” other than what were already listed above. We made it simpler for you. We didn’t complicate it. So don’t make it complicated further. J |
| Copy of the passport page with the stamp of the latest arrival in the Philippines; | ||
| Machine copy of your Venue Reservation Contract, if already available (or to submit to us thereafter); |
This office (BCIDP Law Group) ensures compliance of your marriage to our Family Code of the Philippines and to counter the various marriage syndicates, fake bishops and priests (with their scammer agents on social media) in the country producing void or voidable marriages by alleged priests or pastors of various “religious groups” which has no actual church structure to speak of which is a violation of the Civil Registry rules.
To date, we hold the distinction of being the most trusted legal source of licensed priests or wedding ministers[21] and verifiable, authentic, void-free and non-voidable marriage (document) fully compliant to our Family Code. Because we totally understand that our service has a life – long effect to your marriage as a couple, to your lifetime goals, and to your family’s future.
Fortunately, we have guaranteed back-up PRIESTS available 24/7 to save your big day in case our assigned PRIEST to you becomes unavailable due to an emergency case.
We increase our service rates from time to time depending on the peso-dollar inflation, or fuel increases which also affects our operational costs. Hence, we strongly encourage early signing-up or reservation. The wedding minister must come first in your list prior to paying your expensive venue, caterer, etc.
To proceed, send us an email to bcidplawgroup@gmail.com.
THE MARRIAGE & FAMILY LAWS DIVISION
BCIDP Law Group Philippines Corporation
SEC Reg. No. 2023060103167-00
“Provides you the LEGAL way
when there seems to be NO way”
“Just the RIGHT People for your RIGHT Marriage Rites”
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CATHOLIC OUTDOOR CLASSY WEDDINGS PHILIPPINES
(https://www.facebook.com/CatholicOutdoorWeddingsPhils/)
Footnotes
[1] Civil or Christian or Islamic marriage rites for outdoor or beach wedding services is covered by a separate presentation and fee is also based on distance;
[2] Circular No. 2004-65 issued 12 October 2004 by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila signed by Gaudencio B. Rosales, D.D.;
[3] https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-other-catholics-a-short-guide-to-the-eastern-catholic-churches.html
[4] Latin Rites, Vatican 1;
[5] https://catholicchurchofenglandandwales.com/superior-general;
[6] “Certificate of Registration of Authority to Solemnize Marriage”
[7] Ibid;
[8] https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KjbGxhjtg/
[9] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eastern-rite-church
[10] PSA AO No. 1, Series of 2021 “CRASM Rules”;
[11] Art. II, Sec. 6, 1987 Philippine Constitution;
[12] Documents or requirements may vary depending on your City / Local Civil Registrar;
[13] Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) formerly NSO;
[14] Should be issued by PSA for not more than six (6) months;
[15] Conducted on a Saturday MORNING group class by our resident priest, for additional Two Thousand Five Hundred (Php2,500.00) Pesos on top of our service fee, followed in the AFTERNOON of the same day by a PRE-MARRIAGE COUNSELING session as required by your LGU in support to your marriage license application seminar requirement;
[16] Art. 14, Family Code of the Philippines, for parties between the age of 18 & 21;
[17] Art. 15, Family Code of the Philippines, for parties between the age of 21 & 25;
[18] As required under Art. 16, Family Code of the Philippines;
[19] At our Palanan, Makati City office by schedule, for additional cost;
[20] From PSA and pertinent documents from the court which issued the annulment / nullity decree;
[21] Who have actual Churches or structures required under CRASM Rule Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2021 by the Office of the Civil Registrar General;
[22] We increase rates from time to time due to fuel increase or peso-dollar inflation / deflation. Early reservation is therefore highly encouraged;
[23] Using Google Map, type “BCIDP Marriage & Family Laws Division Office” en route to your venue to determine actual service fee based on the MAXIMUM kilometer distance & route given by Google map;
[24] If your venue requires AIR TRAVEL anywhere in the Philippines, our maximum fee of PhP30,000 shall apply EXCLUSIVE of our 2-way air fare (Philippine Airlines or PAL only) costs for three (3) pax & 2D/3N hotel accommodation (Day 1-Our Arrival, Day 2-Your Big Day, Day 3-Back to Manila), local transportation, meals, before, during and after your marriage rites until our flight back to Manila has been confirmed. This ensures that we have enough rest from leaving Manila & back. If we need to come back to Manila on DAY 2 or right after your marriage rites, we shall advise you. We do not accept out of town weddings where everything shall happen in just DAY 1 or within 12-24 hours shift, except if its reachable by land travel in 6-12 hours. This part shall be discretionary on our side or depending on the available PAL flights. Our stay shall extend when you choose your marriage rites to be registered in the City (LCR/LGU) having jurisdiction to your chosen venue or you may opt to perform the post-marriage legal documentation therein yourselves;
[25] We actually have various missionary priests & each has distinct personality, talents, skills & fees;
[26] MANDATORY offerings you shall provide i.e. fruits and / or grocery baskets for our charity division “Palad ng Diyos Foundation by BCIDP Law Group Phils;
[27] Standard wedding symbols i.e. Cord, Veil, Candle, Rings, Coins / Arrhae, Bible, etc.
[28] Supervision or preparation of legal documents only; No need for his presence at your ceremony;
[29] Government / Municipal Form No. 97, Revised August 2016, from our side;
[30] Otherwise known as “City or Local Civil Registrars” or “LCR”;
[31] We use EXPRESS MAIL SERVICE or EMS by our Philippine Postal Corporation as our official courier service. International courier fees shall be for client’s account;