Questions about marriage process Philippines

Hey everyone,

I’m a foreign Muslim planning to marry my Filipina fiancée, who is a convert (born Christian Catholic). I’ve been researching the marriage process in the Philippines and have come across Imams and some law firms offering to perform an Islamic marriage at a local registry, claiming it will be authenticated with PSA and DFA.

I have a few concerns and would appreciate any insights from those familiar with the process:

1.    Is this a civil marriage or an Islamic marriage? They say it’s an Islamic marriage and will be registered as such, but I was under the impression that only the Shariah court in Mindanao has jurisdiction over Muslim marriages in the Philippines. Can an Islamic marriage be validly registered outside Mindanao?

2.    Required documents: They only ask for my passport and my fiancée’s passport. However, the law firm also requires my fiancée to provide a CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage). I expected more requirements—does this sound legitimate?

3.    Legality and recognition: If the marriage is registered locally and authenticated by PSA/DFA, does that mean it is legally recognized under Philippine law? And if it’s not done through a Shariah court, will it still be valid under Islamic law?

4.    How to verify a solemnizing officer? I want to make sure the Imam or law firm handling the marriage is authorized to conduct an Islamic or civil marriage. Is there an official way to check if they are registered and recognized by the government (e.g., PSA, Shariah Court, or any other relevant authority)?

Would love to hear from anyone who has gone through this process or has knowledge about Muslim marriages in the Philippines. Thanks in advance!