ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN (Laws by the CC and FC - distinction) Before laws were imposed protecting illegitimate children, they were

treated with negativity. They were regarded as an outcast in the society for being a product of an illicit relationship. With the implementation of the laws in the Philippines, such as the Civil Code and Family Code, safeguarding illegitimate children and their description, these illegitimate children were given a chance to be treated fairly along with respect and appreciation. In the Civil Code, illegitimate children were grouped but these groups formed a margin within the already marginalized illegitimate children. For example, categorizing am illegitimate child as a manceres, which is born of prostitutes, shows a negative connotation. Thus, this label could implicate the child and make him feel shameful for being a manceres. However, when Family Code was imposed, all distinctions between illegitimate children were abolished. Instead, there were only two categories presented which were first, those conceived and born outside of wedlock of parents who at the time of the conception were not disqualified by any impediments to marry each other, formerly natural children and second, all other illegitimate children. These two categories were able to tighten the gap within the illegitimate children with a less negative connotation. Overall, with the implementation of the Family Code, the law that described illegitimate children befits better and allows the illegitimate children to be described in a manner without any negative meaning. With this law, the distinctions of an illegitimate child covered a broader prospect which lessened the chance of discrimination.

ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN (who are illegitimate children) The qualifications of being an illegitimate child are the following: Those born of couples who are not legally married, or of common-law marriages; Those born of bigamous marriages; Those born of adulterous relations between the parents; Those born of couples below 18, whether they are married (which marriage is void) or not; Those born within marriages that are void from the beginning under Article 35 of the Family Code, except where the marriage of the parents

is void for lack of authority on the part of the solemnizing officer, but the parties or either of them had believed in good faith that the solemnizing officer had authority, in which case the marriage will be considered valid and the children will be considered legitimate (Article 35, par. (2); Those born of marriages that are incestuous and void from the beginning under Article 37; Those born of void marriages for reasons of public policy under Article 38.

These qualifications are fitting since these are void due to actions that render them void done by the parents of the child. The punishment of being an illegitimate child should not be suffered by the child since it is not his fault. The parents should take full responsibility and do whatever they can to take care of their child. As stated by Sta. Maria, the interest of the child is paramount even if such child is the result of an illicit relationship.