Second marriage in the Philippines

[donb2222]

Maybe this has been answered before, but I do not remember the answer.
Vilma and I would like to get married again in the PI later this year.
What paperwork would be required for us to do this?
Can we just show our marriage certificate from here, and that is it?
Also,  I am not Catholic, yet. What do I need to do for us to have a Catholic wedding?  I have heard that some Priests in the Philippines
will do the conversion in a week or so to allow a Catholic wedding.

Thanks for the info,

Don

[Don J]

... in response to Second marriage in the Philippines, posted by donb2222 on Feb 22, 2002

Don

My wife and I were remarried in Cebu last January, I am catholic which gave me a leg up on you so I don't know how accurate my info will be for your situation.

I had to get an updated copy of my baptismal from the church that I was baptized, I met with the pastor at our church who gave me some forms which needed to be filled out and signed by our priest (he was very helpful). The forms need to be completed by friends or family members her in the US that knew both me and my wife and signed by them. 2 forms each and easy to complete.
You have to be confirmed and you need to make confession before they will marry you in a Catholic Church there. It's funny, I was never confirmed and had to do so in Cebu. there are certain days that they confirm people and there are huge lines of people lined up out side the doors of this huge church waiting to be confirmed. When you finally get to the alter the priest completes the confirmation with a slap on your face.

We were very fortunate that the nun that we visited happened to be the principal at wife's grade school when she was growing up, she had no idea that she would run into her there so it made the event extra special, Sister Rosa even referred us to a wedding planner that arranged for everything from flowers, wedding handouts (you just have to have some wedding handouts), photographer, wedding video (Highly recommended) right down to a roasted pig in the reception hall. She really saved us a lot of time, effort and money.

I guess my first suggestion would be to talk with the priest at your local catholic church and explain your dilemma, hopefully he will be as helpful as our priest was. I don't know what it takes to convert but the church in the Philippines (at least in Cebu) will not allow any shortcuts. And that civil marriage you had here in the states will not help you there. Oh! by the way, there is this marriage class you will need to take there as well, I know you will enjoy that. All in all the whole experience will bring you a little closer to God which is a good thing, and the reception will bring you closer to the family.

Were is your wife from, if Cebu my wife can explain were to go to get things done. best of luck.

Don J and Chele