Introduction
pesos in 2005.4 The remittances clearly prop up the Philippine economy during times of financial crisis.
The Philippines has a presidential, unitary form of government, where the President functions as both head of state and head of Government and is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
The President is elected by popuÂlar vote for a single six-year term[1134] [1135] (in other words, without re-election), during which time he or she appoints and presides over the Cabinet.[1136]Education in the Philippines is mostly Westernised and based on the American education system. The Philippine Department of Education reports a functional literacy rate of 84.1 per cent for those in the 10-64 age group, one of the highest in the world.[1137]
The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being East Timor. Having been colonised by Spain for 333 years, the Philippine population has remained mostly Catholic (82.9%),[1138] while 5.4 per cent is Protestant, 4.6 per cent is Muslim, and a further 4.9 per cent belongs to homegrown religions such as Iglesia ni Cristo[1139] (2.3%) and the Philippine Independent Church (2%),[1140] popularly known as the Aglipayan Church.
A great bulk of Philippine civil law, defined as that branch of the law which determines and regulates the assistance provided, authority observed and obeÂdience shown among members of a family and among members of society for the protection of private interests,[1141] is derived from Spanish law. It reflects a strong canonical influence, due to the spread of Roman Catholicism and the constant intervention of the clergy in legislation,[1142] a pattern that continues in present-day Philippines. Thus, for a long time, the Civil Code in force in the Philippines was the Civil Code of Spain of 1889; extended to the country by the Royal Decree of 31 July 1889, it took effect on 7 December 1889.[1143]
The other direct influence on Philippine laws is that of American law, including some aspects of the common law.
Public law, foremost of which is the 1987 ConÂstitution, and certain aspects of private law such as in partnership, corporation, patent and copyright laws, are largely based on American law.This chapter introduces the reader to the Philippines’ legal system by drawing on a particular case study: that of women’s rights. It argues that, despite the explicit and inclusive language of the 1987 Constitution and the Government’s claimed adherence to internationally recognised human rights, Philippine legal institutions have unduly restricted the rights of and discriminated against Filipino women. Heavily influenced by Catholic doctrinal teachings, both legal instituÂtions and legal culture in the Philippines have perpetuated gender inequality though ostensibly clinging to egalitarian standards. Given that the institutions of marriage and family are the most conservative social structures, this contradicÂtion is most pervasive in the field of Philippine family law where the rights and obligations of spouses are explicitly unequal.
2