Would you look at that? I haven’t really written anything about the reproductive health bill primarily because any discussion on reproductive health in the Philippine context is bound to touch on religion. And religion is always a mucky topic to be a factor in any argument.
Anyway, this particular letter to the editor published by the Inquirer arguing that the RH Bill will be a waste of precious money. The letter cited three reasons – 1) bill is not designed to educate people, 2) bill won’t feed hungry stomachs, and 3) poor families are on survival mode. Well, incoherent as those points are, I think Ms. San Juan’s point is that the RH Bill will not address poverty and that it will give horny people reasons to have sex out of wedlock.
I guess that pretty much summarizes what needs to be addressed – the very simplistic view regarding what needs to be done. And I do believe that the real reason why the RH Bill won’t fly is the ultraconservative stance.
If If what these conservatives are worried about is that the bill will give people the license to have sex without the consquence of pregnancy, well here’s a question. What’s the big deal? Filipinos have been fucking in and out of wedlock for centuries and for all sorts of reasons. How many couples actually have sex for fun? Survey the youth on the percentage of virgins and I’m sure the statistics will be glaring on how well religion has prevented people from having premarital sex.
I can remember my Religion classes in high school, Catholicism outlines several conditons for intercourse between man and woman which include the sacrament of marriage, and the aims of sharing love for one another and the intent of procreation. Else, the couple is committing a very grave sin. This should’ve been more than enough to prevent our population from booming out of control. And how many couples actually go through this checklist before they do it? Or better, how many Catholics even know these? The thing is that the Catholic Church in the Philippines will never back down and I doubt if they will ever admit any failure in guiding its flock as to what to believe about sex.
The knowledge regarding reproduction, and population growth, and its impact to our society cannot be gained through a vocational degree or whatever degree the university of hard knocks has to offer. Our population problem grew because the system doesn’t provide the basic knowledge that people need to know about sex. (Seriously, I know some college graduate who thought blowjobs can get a girl pregnant.) We need a more structured approach to this problem and the RH bill provides part of the solution.
The bill nor its proponents never claimed that it will be the panacea to poverty. As with many social problems, the problem of poverty needs to be engaged at different fronts. Population control is just one of them. The purpose of education is never to restrict people’s actions but to allow them to be able to critically weigh their options before they act. And that includes the decision to have sex.
Oh, and as if, the huge population isn’t costing us money.
Credits: Thanks to Sir Gerry for linking this in his FB stat and the image credit goes to whoever posted it.
Check out these other posts:
We need to support the passage of the RH bill to enhance
the growth control of our population.We need to educate
them about Financial Family Planning. Sad to see, not only
we are populating our country, but we are cluttering it.
We use to say cleanliness is next to”Godliness”.I believe
many of us are not blind to see whats going on around
our invironment”GOD”said be Multiply,but be Responsible.
Faith with out action is Dead.”Jesus”said in Mathew, be
aware before generation, many religeous righteous or
false prophet will come.many will be corrupt, or decieve
and many will suffer.They will try to figure”ME”out with
their own understanding,They will condem many by my
sake,just like when they crusified me at the “Cross”with
their own ligalistic way.They appear so beautifull outward
but inside they are full of dead mens bone.You will know
them by their fruit. No one comes to the “Father”except
thru “ME”.”I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND LIFE”.Hindi tayo
humuhinga sa mundong ito nang dahil sa ating dangal.
“By Grace we are save”, not because of our own good
work, and our own goodness. Depart from “HIM” our
worse enemy live inside us.If you think the religeous
righteous,the political power,and the people power
will save the world,You must be corrupt.If 90 percent
of our population dont have “GODLY” moral principle.
Then 90 percent will be corrupt. Pride, Popularity, Ego,
Self righteous and etcs. this are the greatest sin in
the Bible.Be aware not to misunderstood the bible
you never know you are the one who become the anti
Christ.our form of government,or our form of leadership
is base upon”GOD”standard.I support Senator Noynoy
and Senator Mar.I believe they have Godly moral value
to lead our great country. “GLORY TO GOD”.
this bill is perfectly curtain dressed
it has perfect intentions
but if we all sum it up and make a conclusion
this bill that aims to protect women’s health is actually just giving them the right to choose to kill a fetus or prevent it’s conception by using contraceptives which is against church teachings. it is just like giving a woman the license to legally kill