Does being a devoted wife who bears her husband's kids and shows support in every way to her husband guarantee her a loyal and faithful husband? The saga created by Jack Neo's 11 women seem to say otherwise.

Unfaithful spouses abound, going by the anectodal evidence I've overheard from casual conversations. A quick browse through various online forums also point to the fact that there are real-life couples out there who find themselves facing this conundrum on a daily basis.

Is it so difficult for husbands, and even wives, to stick to their spouses, the ones whom they have vowed to love, comfort, honour and keep in sickness and in health to the exclusion of all others, and be faithful?

But just as there are spouses who give in to temptation and betray their loved ones, there are also those who would stick by their erring spouse to the end of time. Just like Madam Irene Kng, Jack Neo's wronged wife in this accidental farce.

She was clearly hurt - having called up mutual friend Madam Catherine Ng, Mark Lee's wife, to sob her woes to, as reported earlier this week in Shin Min Daily News. She must also have been utterly humiliated, what with her husband's errant behaviour put under public scrutiny for all and sundry to pass judgement on.

And it is certainly more crushing to learn that your husband has been involved with not one, but multiple other women. But she soldiered on, because, as she had said during that dramatic press conference, "I love Jack, I love this marriage, I love my family."

Some are of the opinion that she was at fault for allowing Jack to continue his straying ways even though she clearly knew what he was up to.

She could have chosen the other option; turn away from her husband, do not show up at the press conference, file for a divorce and get on with life.

So the question that must be most pressing on people's minds is - how could Irene have closed one eye to her husband's philanderings?

She said it herself - her husband must "realise himself that he has to come home."

Add to that, her earnest response in Thursday's press conference is her answer to that age-old question of what you would do when your partner betrays you. She made her stand - tolerate everything - so that her family can remain intact.

I'm not advocating that all women should adopt Irene's extreme solution and keep quiet about it when they know about their husbands' errant ways in order to help keep the divorces rates in Singapore down. I would be the first one to be up in arms if I ever learnt that my partner did me wrong.

But there is something to be said about doing all you can in your power to keep your family together, and of which I'm certain we can all take a leaf from Irene's book.

Even though I cannot condone Jack Neo's philandering and will always wonder whether I can be as brave as her if such a situation should ever happen to me, I silently applaud her for choosing to stay by his side and keep her family together despite the fact that he had wronged her time and again.

I'm in awe of her utter devotion to her husband and family.