so,theres no problem now with regards to the status of the Marriage which means its legal and the only thing that matters now is the CNI from the UK and the Philippine version of it to be able to register it to the NSO and make it valid.
Tell your friend from the UK to contact or email British embassy manila and call or email them if its possible to send the CNI and convert it without his presence in the Philippines.
http://ukinthephilippines.fco.gov.uk...ssy/contact-us