These days, love stories also come with legal documents, and we’re not talking about just the marriage contract.
There's the prenuptial agreement, a popular relationship and financial document usually associated with celebrities and the moneyed.
In the Philippines, a prenuptial agreement is like a roadmap for what happens if the happily-ever-after takes an unexpected turn. It's a legal contract that couples sign before tying the knot, spelling out how they'll divide their assets and liabilities if they ever decide to part ways, or one of them passes away.
The prenup is governed by the Family Code of the Philippines, particularly Articles 74 to 81.
These cover the specifics of asset division, financial support, and even the preservation of family inheritance. While often associated with wealth protection, prenups can also address matters beyond financials, such as custody arrangements for children and responsibilities toward aging parents.
Celebrity couples have diverse perspectives on prenuptial agreements. For some, it's a pragmatic approach to securing their assets and ensuring a fair resolution in case of a split. For others, it’s a non-essential.
CELEB COUPLES ROUNDUP
This is how some celebrities handle finances prior to marriage.
1. Ai Ai Delas Alas and Gerald Sibayan—WITH PRENUP
Ai Ai Delas Alas and Gerald Sibayan's relationship was filled with intrigues in the beginning mainly because of the couple's 29-year age gap. Before marrying in December 2017, Ai Ai confirmed to the media that they agreed to a prenuptial agreement to lessen the controversy surrounding their relationship.
"Para na rin sa kapayapaan ni Gerald, para wala na siyang basher, intriga," the veteran actress said.
In the same 2017 interview, Ai Ai also said that prenuptial agreements were not the basis and essence of their love for each other. "Pera lang ‘yun. Kumbaga, hindi naman yun ang batayan ng pagsasama niyo nang matagal. Nasa pagsasama yun kung nagkaka-intindihan kayo, di ba? Pera lang yun. Although kailangan n’yo yun bilang mag-asawa, pero hindi yun ang essence ng pagmamahalan.”
Currently, Ai Ai is staying in the U.S. with her husband. She travels back to the Philippines from time to time only for work. She was last spotted at the GMA Gala 2023.
2. Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho—WITH PRENUP
On September 2017, celebrity doctors Vicki Belo and Hayden Kho tied the knot in an extravagant church wedding in Paris after a 12-year relationship. Despite having their own sucessful careers as doctors, they still chose to have aprenup agreement. Vicki revealed that it was Hayden who asked for one.
Vicki admitted that a lot of issues concerning Hayden's true intentions in their relationship led to his decision to sign a prenup agreement. “I think it was important for him to be the one to ask for it," Vicki said. "Para matapos na lahat ng tsismis about that sort of thing, and sana naman ma-appreciate ng mga tao."
At present, the two are parents to their beautiful daughter Scarlet Snow.
3. Heart Evangelista and Chiz Escudero—WITH PRENUP
"In our case, we have a prenup, which is a complete separation of property. What's hers is hers. What's mine is mine,"—this is how politician Chiz Escudero described the prenup agreement between him and wife Heart Evangelista.
Chiz bared this when he appeared in Heart's YouTube vlog in 2022, seven years after their Balesin wedding.
In the same 2022 vlog, Heart elaborated on the prenup. She said that having one doesn't mean that the couple will not be sharing finances. "If you can still provide for your wife even if you have a prenup," explained Heart, "or if you can still help your husband even if you have a prenup, it's still the same."
Heart and Chiz—although embroiled in break-up allegations earlier this year—still happily support each other as husband and wife. Chiz was spotted as Heart's date in the GMA Gala 2023. Heart also came with Chiz to the 2023 State of the Nation Address.
4. Hidilyn Diaz and Julius Naranjo—WITH UNCLEAR LEGAL AGREEMENT
In July 2022, Olympian Hidilyn Diaz married her trainer-coach Julius Naranjo. But before their much-awaited wedding, Julius offered to sign a prenuptial agreement with the Olympic gold medalist.
They revealed this in a YouTube interview with TV personality Karen Davila. Julius said: "What's hers is hers, what's mine is hers."
Although Julius admits that it's not a big deal and that the marriage is about them, he made a point to say that he is marrying Hidilyn, not for money, but for their relationship.
5. Ellen Adarna and Derek Ramsay—WITH UNCLEAR LEGAL AGREEMENT
Ellen Adarna and Derek Ramsay both come from affluent families. So, when they married in November 2021, fans couldn't help but ask if they actually signed a prenuptial agreement.
In an earlier Instagram Q&A, Ellen indirectly answered the question by saying it's not a big deal. Derek echoed this is in a 2022 media interview, saying that he'd rather focus on how to grow his relationship with Ellen.
Also in an Instagram Q&A this 2023, Ellen revealed that she does not ask money from Derek. Ellen said it must be a desperate situation if she has to ask money from him. But until then, said Ellen: "The situation is the same as when we first started dating. He has his own, I have my own."
In the end, this is what Ellen had to say in the 2022 IG story: "So many people ask me and Derek this, and this is a very personal question. So, let's put it this way, 'Hindi ako lugi kay Derek, hindi rin lugi si Derek sa akin. So, patas..."
6. Iza Calzado and Ben Wintle—WITH unclear LEGAL AGREEMENT
Actress Iza Calzado and businessman Ben Wintle took their time before getting married in 2018. For one, Iza did her best to be emotionally, mentally, and physically ready to give birth to a healthy child.
When she was asked about signing a prenuptial agreement, the actress said it was not insulting to have one.
"I don’t see why two people shouldn’t do it if they both have assets to protect. I don’t feel that it’s insulting. Ben thinks the same way. When it comes to personal earnings, we’re a match," Iza said in a 2017 media presscon.
In 2019, Iza told PEP.ph, that she was actually having a hard time asking money from Ben. And it's not even for her wants but for the family's needs. "Kasi we still don't have a joint bank account. I keep telling him, like, 'We need a bank account! I can't keep asking you for money," the actress said.
Iza and Ben have a beautiful daughter named Deia Amihan.
7. Luis Manzano and Jessy Mendiola—without prenup
For TV host Luis Manzano, a prenup agreement is good, but it's not something he will have with wife Jessy Mendiola.
Luis thinks it's realistic to sign a prenup agreement before the wedding, but he and Jessy never had one."It is realistic for people to have a prenup pero wala, wala kami," the TV host said unequivocally.
Luis and Jessy are now a happy family of three with their adorable daughter Isabella Rose.
8. Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque—water under the bridge
Bea Alonzo and Dominic Roque got engaged this 2023. While Bea has yet to share what their legal plans are, she earlier said during a "Lie Detector Challenge" in her vlog that she would like to have a prenup agreement with her future husband. "Yes. Pero feeling ko ano e, it goes without saying," Bea said.
But this may be water under the bridge. On February 11, 2024, the two confirmed that the engagement was off.
Ultimately, prenuptial agreements symbolize the intricate balance between love, trust, and practicality.
While they may not be the centerpiece of romantic tales, they reflect a shift in societal values as couples increasingly recognize the need to address potential challenges head-on.
ED'S NOTE: This article was first published in Cosmo.ph on August 9, 2023. PEP.ph reposts the piece with slight changes made by its editors.