Stick to your guns, Liane! Don't let the "authorities" get away with charging extortionate fees ... by virtue of the fact that you're marrying a foreigner! Such malpractice on their part COULD be construed as racism, imo., i.e., branding all Westerners as being wealthy [which they are NOT!].

Furthermore, I've just been checking with Myrna (who was asleep when I typed my previous post last night!) and she tells me the fee for the Judge conducting OUR ceremony amounted to only 300 peso!!! A queer difference from *Php12,000 ... * as I'm sure most folk would agree!