As the Archbishop who gave the homily remarked, it is always edifying to attend a celebration of the anniversary of a wedding or that of the ordination to the priesthood. Such a celebration pays tribute to the most valued virtue of fidelity or loyalty. That was my own sentiment when I attended last July 30, 2009 the 46th Wedding Anniversary of Bert and Lovely Romulo surrounded by their children and grandchildren. Because Bert is the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, this event at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park was attended by the highest dignitaries of the land.

Any wedding anniversary beyond forty years can already be considered a lifetime. Considering that the life expectancy for males in the Philippines is 66 and that of females is 71 and that most couples get married in their early or mid-twenties, staying married for forty or more years is already, actuarially
speaking, in keeping with the promise "until death do us part." Some who want to put this wedding oath more positively use the phrase "for as long as we live." I want to use this column to send, even belatedly, Bert and Lovely Romulo the heartiest congratulations for their mutual fidelity and undying love. The greatest beneficiaries are their children and their grandchildren. There is no greater human good that married couples can give to their children than their indissoluble love for one another.

As I look around at the important guests who attended the Wedding Anniversary Mass, I thought to myself that the Romulo couple were communicating an eloquent message to their friends and colleagues about the value of an indissoluble marriage to both individuals and society. It is not a secret that the rate of separation as well as trial marriages is high among the well-to-do. It is good to have outstanding examples of marital fidelity among the movers and shakers of Philippine society. Their lives speak louder than all the homilies and sermons that can be given on the indissolubility of marriage.

Since economics is my bias, I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to make better known the content of a recent report by the Institute of Marriage and Family in Canada. The study was entitled "Private Choices, Public Costs: How Failing Families Cost Us All." The Report gives alternative
explanations why being part of a married couple brings with it economic benefits. Some speculate that marriage promotes greater responsibility in both spouses, while others look at economic explanations, for instance the ability of two partners to specialize and divide the many tasks of providing and caring for a family according to their own talents and abilities.

Whatever the reason there is most certainly an economic impact. The Institute referred to a variety of international studies on the cost of family breakdown. A February 2009 report from the British Relationships Foundation, described as a non-partisan think tank dedicated to enhancing and improving relationships for a stronger society, put the cost of family breakdown there at 31.03 billion pounds ($61.07 billion) annually. Another report, this one by the London-based Center for Social Justice, put the cost of family breakdown in the United Kingdom at an annual rate of 20 billion pounds ($32 billion).

In Canada, the Institute calculated that if family breakdown could be cut in half, the direct taxpayer costs of poverty alleviation for broken and single-parent families would be reduced by close to 2 billion Canadian dollars ($1.76 billion) annually. Canadian census data shows that two-parent families are the least dependent upon government assistance, single-father households are more dependent, and single-mother households the most dependent.

It was also pointed out in the Report that a reduction in family breakdown would greatly reduce the suffering and trauma suffered especially by children. "Members of families that remain intact would be happier, healthier and wealthier, but there are also benefits that extend beyond these families." Society needs healthy families in order to flourish. "Neighborhoods in which adult male role models are scarce contribute to a culture of machismo, violence and irresponsibility for young men which harms even those children who live with both their parents."

The Institute concluded the report with a list of recommendations. They ranged from marriage education at high school to making information available on the public benefits of marriage, and the high costs of divorce. The report also called for the government to publish clearer data on how much is spent supporting cohabiting and single parents. It also recommended reforming the taxation system to give a break to married couples. It is obvious that all these lessons from countries which have legalized divorce should increase our conviction that divorce should never be legalized in the Philippines.

For comments, my email address is bvillegas@uap.edu.ph.