Opinions About the R.H. Bill

Yesterday, I interviewed a group people who gave me their insigts about he Reproductive Health Bill. I interviewed people randomly from De La Salle University who gave me a short statement of what they think about the R.H. Bill. Most of their opinions revolve around the idea that the R.H. Bill should be a means of a population control and they also believe that it is a good way of informing the people n our country the importance of reproductive health and the properly concept of sex. Here are the opinions of the students I interviewed:

Sharmaine: There are some Christians who are ok with this country having the Reproductive Health Bill. In my opinion, I  believe that Sexually Transmitted Disease is widespread and it must be prevented. Because the age of people who have STD are getting younger and younger, I believe that this is a way of preventing it and a means of preventing overpopulation.

Sean: I am a Jesuit but I studied in Xavier when I was in high school. Jesuits priests don't really see the R.H. Bill is a bad thing. Jesuits have their own beliefs that they do not associate themselves with Catholics. The R.H. Bill is not necessarily wrong and they are ok with the R.H. Bill because most of them believe that society can benefit from that proposal. It's not that we don't value life, it's just that we believe that society has problems and it should be bounded and the solution should not be bounded or grounded by religion alone. But in my school they are against the R.H. Bill because it also incorporates the principles from the school itself Xavier is a Catholic school and because of that they are against the R.H. Bill

Raph: People should be aware of family planning. It's hard to have a lot of children because resources are scarce. It also allows parents to raise their children properly and incorporate the proper culture that allows them to also live proper lives when they grow up.

Mica: In a moral perspective, it is wrong because it encourages minors to have premarital sex. It allows children to have easier access to contraception. Although that is the problem of the R.H. Bill I believe that it is a necessary evil in order to control society so that it gives people a choice and it is also a possible solution in controlling our population that is quickly rising..

Eric: I am for the R.H. Bill because it promotes education. It is a means of population control. It allows raises awareness of people about the importance of family planning.

Anna: The R.H. Bill is a way of not only controlling the population but also alleviating poverty through proper allocation of the budget of the government.

Marik:I believe that it is about the education about the people. It is also a protection for teens so that they'll be aware because there is no way of avoiding teens from having sex. I believe that the church should just stay out of it because I believe that the separation of church and state.

Comparing Pro and Anti Part 3

            In the first part of this three-part blog, I examined the arguments of those who believe that the Reproductive Health Bill should be passed. Most of them believe that the R.H. Bill is an excellent idea because it provides people with the chance of family planning thus giving them the choice and control over their lives.

            In the second part of the blog, I examined the arguments of those who believe that the R.H. Bill should not be passed. Most of them, particularly the Catholic Church, believe that the R.H. Bill should not be passed for the specific reason that it negates the value of life thus making it immoral. Some of them even believe that it is not the solution to the problem in our country because it does not attack the main problem of society which is corruption. In this blog I plan to analyze both sides of the argument in order to attempt to answer the question of which argument really is better: Rational Pro or Ethical Anti?

            Most people at this point would probably think that those who are against the R.H. Bill don’t really have a valid argument because it doesn’t really talk about anything except that it violates “life” and how it is against “God’s Will”. But if you remove that part of the argument, some of their reasoning is actually somewhat compelling and valid. The only reason why their argument is considered insignificant by a lot of people is because they keep putting God into the picture. They actually have a point when they argue that the R.H. Bill may not solve anything at all because it is not attacking the root cause of the problem. We are wasting so much time in this argument that it is distracting us from the true problem which is corruption. It also makes sense that the R.H. Bill may be manipulated by minors so that they can take advantage of sex.

            On the other hand, those who are for the R.H. Bill argue that though it may not be the solution towards our society, it is a possible solution for controlling or fast-rising population. It also protects women from unwanted pregnancy who attempted abortion. It gives those in poverty an opportunity in a developmental process and it also teaches minors as well as those who are unaware about the importance of Reproductive Health and Sex Education.

            When you compare both sides of the argument, how will you respond to such a argument? I will not answer the question because when I answer it, I feel like I am taking a side and letting my biases take over. The main question here is whether the R.H. Bill should be passed based on these arguments. When you seriously look at it, it actually isn’t a simple black and white case. It is actually a complicated argument which has been dumb down so that everyone will understand. If you remove the lame and repetitive arguments, It really becomes a sophisticated and interesting argument worth tackling.

Comparing Pro and Anti Part 2

                Last time, I’ve posted some comments given by some people who believe that the Reproductive Health Bill should be passed because it provides people with the choice to of family planning and contraception thus preventing overpopulation and poverty. This time I went to the other side of the argument in an attempt to understand the perspective of those who are against the R.H. Bill. Most of their arguments revolve around the idea that the R.H. Bill is sacrilegious in the eyes of God and that it is not the solution to poverty because it isn’t attacking the root course of it which is corruption. Some of them also believe that it is not the solution to overpopulation because the country is not overpopulated. Here are some of the comments given by different people through the internet:

@nikianne08: “CONT. Utos or kung ano ang naaayon sa word of GOD. So dapat daw anti-divorce bill and anti-RH bill tayo. Eh pano yan PRO ako. So does cont..”

Shari: NOOOOOOOOOOO to REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILL!!! may natural way po to prevent pregnancy. dapat nating tandaan na ang pagbubuntis po ay di isang sakit na dapat iwasan, ang ovulation po ay di rin isang sakit na dapat pigilan. natural po lamang ang ovulation, ang dapat po dito ay alamin kung kelan ito nangyayari, kami pong mag-asawa ay volunteer teacher ng natural family planning, handa po kaming magturo nito sa kahit kanino, ano man ang iyong katayuan sa buhay, ano man ang antas ng iyong pinag-aralan, ito po ay libreng pagtuturo at pag-aaral.

Jonathan_binaday: HOW MANY TIMES WILL I SAY! “HINDI PO OVERPOPULATED” ANG PILIPINAS! SA TOTOO PO KAPAG MAS MARAMING TAO SA ISANG BANSA MAS MARAMING ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES! MAS MARAMING WORKERS, PRODUCERS NG GOODS…, NEGOSYANTE AT ANG PRIMARY BASIS NG ECONOMICS ANG CONSUMERS! HUMIHIRAP LANG PO ANG PILIPINAS DAHIL ANG MGA TAO SA GOBYERNO HI…NDI BINIBIGYAN NG OPORTUNIDAD SA MGA TAO SA BANSA NA MAGING WORKERS, PRODUCERS NG GOODS,O NEGOSYANTE KAYA ANG NATIRANG OPTION IS TO BECOME A CONSUMER ,,, AT KAPAG MARAMI ANG CONSUMERS DUN LILITAW ANG MGA PROBLEMA,,,, (PLEASE CORRECT ME IF IM WRONG) 2OB PESOS ANG IBIBIGAY NA PONDO SA RH BILL NA YAN,,,, HINDI PA TIYAK ANG KASIGURADUHAN NITO,,, EH KUNG MAG IINVEST TAU SA PAMIMIGAY NG JOBS, EDUCATION, OPPORTUNITES AT SUPPORTS HINDI NA MAAPEKTOHAN ANG KARAPTANG MABUHAY, HINDI MAG KAKASAKIT ANG MGA KAKABABAIHAN AT IBA PA… USE OUR NUMBER AS AN ADVANTAGE SUPPORT LIFE!!!!!!!!!!! THATS ALL!

Dea Mateo Lugay: If my opinion at all can reach your community, I really feel my role as a mother bringing my humble experience raised in a poor surrounding in San Miguel, Quiapo can contribute “a no-agenda” lesson except stand on truth you may want to hear. Im Anti-RH.

My sights traveled every time my curiosity picked the thickening number of young street children. At their tender years they roamed the street and congest the whole ground of San Miguel where I grew and spent my childhood. My parents brought seven children and out of their perseverance and labor of love put us to colleges so we all finished our undergraduate degrees. That mediocre life brought me closely to feel about street children in poor communities that are exposed to social ills. Some were rescued taken by orphanages. Those unlucky ones brought up by wrong parenting lived in dismal abuses—alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana and prohibitive drugs. Our street-folks take prying noses at the lives of juveniles moonlighting as sexual dancers. I visualized their jaded life experiencing grim reality.

I ‘m saddened over this pathetic situation right in front of me. I looked at young street gangs and many youth facing a rogue life passing time in darkened corners sniffing rugby. Caught on act inside stationed passenger jeepneys are sex partners as they performed a quickie. Street commotion rang out when our neighbors discovered the aggressive young offenders. I blamed their parent for not taking their responsibility or the failure of “political nucleus.” Everyone neglected to do something. Economic poverty had boomeranged centuries after centuries yet it also ingrained moral irresponsibility. Something is wrong in the peculiar environment around these children.

                Now that I have analyzed both sides of the argument, I will attempt to compare both sides of the issue in the next blog. This way, we can actually know the pros and cons of the Reproductive Health Bill and judge whether it actually is a possible remedy for the many problems of our society.

Sources:

http://twitter.com/#!/nikianne08/statuses/84932274021347328

http://rakshari.multiply.com/journal/item/323/An_anti-RH_Bill_comment

http://www.buwayahman.com/?p=170

Comparing Pro and Anti Part 1

I have recently compiled several arguments and opinions of those who side with the Reproductive Health Bill. Most of these opinions revolve around the reasoning that the R.H. Bill does not support the reasoning of abortion. It merely recognizes the idea that people have the choice to use contraception and have the choice of family planning. Not only that it also include several care plan for post-abortion. Most of their opinions argue that the R.H. Bill is not at all immoral. It merely suggests the idea of a proper and rational choice so that people, especially those who are in poverty, have the opportunity to escape it through family planning. Below are some of the arguments and opinions given by people I have gathered through a website:

Anti RH argument: “(strongwind) abortion is said illegal and punishable by law but when abortion complication happens it will be treated in a good manner, is a contradictory statement… RH Bill may be a solution to reduce or at most eliminate the risk of abortion that is when all the contraceptives are working perfectly.”

Pro RH argument: The RH Bill does NOT force people to use contraception. It recognizes na may matitigas talaga ang ulo, something that the Church never recognizes. At yung iba dun, mabubuntis. At yung iba dun, ay illegal na magpapa-abort. The Bill protects their right to health care. Also, post-abortion care is part of reproductive health.

SEC 4s: Reproductive health is defined as the complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes.

SEC 26b: Public officials are prohibited from forcing any person to use such services.

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Anti-RH Bill Argument: “(alexsjsantos) korapsiyon ang dahilan kung bakit mahirap tayo. Kasi kung walang korapsiyon, madami trabaho at hindi paggawa ng bata ang aatupagin.”

Pro-RH Bill Argument: Poverty has many reasons, not just corruption as you would like to believe. The RH Bill recognizes this.

SEC 3n: Development is a multi-faceted process that calls for the coordination and integration of policies, plans, programs and projects that seek to uplift the quality of life of the people, more particularly the poor, the needy and the marginalized

SEC 5cc: Sustainable Human Development refers to bringing people, particularly the poor and vulnerable, to the center of development process, the central purpose of which is the creation of an enabling environment in which all can enjoy long, healthy and productive lives, and done in a manner that promotes their rights and protects the life opportunities of future generations and the natural ecosystem on which all life depends.

                I have provided a short glimpse of why those who are for the Reproductive Health Bill choose their side. It is because of rational choice and progress. In the next blog I will go further by compiling opinions from the opposite side of the case and compare both of them so that we may have a firm grasp of which side has a more reasonable argument.

Read more: http://rystraum.com/blog/2011/05/a-collection-of-pro-rh-rebuttals-to-common-anti-rh-arguments/

Hypocritical Oath is HYPOCRITICAL in the Philippines

                Last January 11, 2011, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) made a statement regarding their stand on the argument regarding the Reproductive Health Bill.

In response to earlier reports saying that the country’s largest group of doctors, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) is supporting the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP) stance on the RH Bill, an official statement was made on the PMA website.

However, the rights of physicians to do what is best medically for their patients, the right to informed choice of the people, the freedom of religion, the right of the people to health services and proper health education shall be respected and emphasized at all times and no censure or penalty of whatever kind or nature shall be imposed on the exercise of said rights.

The government must set up on a national level emergency obstetrical care and provide facilities for maternity/pediatric cases with access to blood bank.  Information on the scope of reproductive health like fertility, contraception, abortion, reproductive tract infections, cancer risks and immunizations must be made available to the people.

                This actually puts a big stress in the patients and it also creates a big problem in the community because it puts the emotional judgment of one doctor about his/her stand in the Reproductive Health Bill over his ability to be rational. Doctors in this country have been doing this for a long time now. When it comes to issues like abortion, they would sometimes choose not to help patients who went through failed abortions. Even though abortion is not in the R.H. Bill, It is still likely to come up especially with teens. Even though doctors have taken an oath to treat patients who are in need, some of them would actually leave women to die because they refuse to treat them.

The Philippine Medical Association does not endorse making contraceptive devices/services available in schools.  The government should instead provide for properly educated reproductive health personnel who will give age-appropriate information and counseling.  The age of adolescence must be defined.

                Providing education to teens is never enough when it comes to the issue of sex. Just because teenagers have been taught what the concept of sex is doesn’t mean that they are less likely to explore the subject. I have known people who have been properly educated about sex who still explore in their teen years. The fact is there is no way of preventing teens from having sex. The only alternative is to actually teach them how to have safe sex and hope that they’ll be smart enough to remember it. But in order to do that. They must also be properly taught how contraceptives work and if that is the case then contraceptives must be made available and in order for that to happen, the R.H. Bill must push through. Isn’t that common sense? The only reason why doctors refuse to take part in the R.H. Bill is because they want to be absolved of any responsibility of having to treat someone who has undergone a failed abortion.

Read more: http://sexandsensibilities.com/2011/01/09/position-of-the-philippine-medical-association-on-the-proposed-rh-bill/

Rationality vs. Religion

                One of the many annoying things the church, and even politicians, like to do when they are being defensive is quote the bible. Whether it’s because they feel guilty or they need to advertise the “Word of God”, they never fail to quote the exact same thing over and over again.

                This is something that the church does especially when the argument strays to the topic of Reproductive Health Bill in the Philippines. It is always about how “God” commanded us to go fort and multiply and that we are obliged to follow an old book written by who-knows. The controversy here is whether we should still apply millennium-old teachings. We have grown to the point where discovery is prevalent and the excuse of using god as an explanation no longer applies. So is it really loyalty that binds us to our faith or is it simply ignorance and greed?

We examine the favorite Bible verse of the anti-RH Bill advocates. I refer to Genesis 1:28 which reads as follows:  “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’”  I caught at least two Roman Catholic (RC) bishops citing the verse to bolster their anti-RH Bill position and perhaps to  make it look like God is on their side on the controversy. In quoting the verse in the context of the RH Bill, these clergymen are merely exposing their inability to properly understand that particular verse. Either that or they are knowingly twisting the Word of God to suit their purposes which is even worse.

As far as this country is concerned, the answer to the question whether or not that particular divine command still holds can be found in the later part of Genesis 1:28 which, remarkably, the RC clergy leave out when they cite the verse:  “fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” This has already been accomplished in this country. The earth and the wildlife in this country have already been subdued for quite some time.  Consider the denuded mountains, the dry or dead rivers, the numerous species of flora and fauna which have already become extinct  and are becoming extinct due to the improvident activities  and sheer number of Filipinos. Our resources could hardly sustain the present population, so how much more when all the babies the RC clergy and their blind followers want to be born join us? 

                Maybe it is impossible to fully let go of such an old religion because it has been incorporated in our culture for such a long time and irrationality will always take over when we are overwhelmed by life but I believe that is possible to actually make some changes in our beliefs. True, such a thing may be difficult and almost impossible but what a better world this would be if we all based our beliefs in rationality instead of religion.

Read more: http://deadheroessociety.tumblr.com/post/5550610081/scriptures-not-anti-rh-bill

Pacquiao Is Nothing More Than a Celebrity Pawn

“Priest turns Pacquiao homecoming into anti-RH bill rally.” That was the title of the article written last May 15, 2011. It’s not really that shocking if you think about it. Lately what has the argument about the Reproductive Health Bill really been about except repeated arguments about “life” and “choice”? Are any of us really surprised that they finally decided to turn Manny Pacquiao into a celebrity pawn to advertise their side of the argument?

MANILA, Philippines—Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao’s customary thanksgiving Mass at the Quiapo Church upon his return from another successful bout Saturday, turned into a mini protest rally against the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill.

The insulting part in this article is that all this publicity looks more of a joke than something relevant. Has anyone noticed that the conversation goes to the direction of celebrities, politicians and the church rather than the people who actually need the Reproductive Health Bill? Why are a bunch of overpaid idiots deciding on something that is socially irrelevant to them? Why not actually let the people who really need it vote instead of letting idiots like Pacquiao decide on the issue? He’s a RICH BOXER. It’s his fists that matter in life not his opinion on something that focuses on the masses because he isn’t even included in that social class anymore. Even if he reassures people that he is still the exact same person he was before I’m sorry but bragging about wealth that can feed half of the nation is not humility; it’s arrogance. He said he intends to continue his fight not just inside the boxing ring but also against poverty. But is he really doing that? So far we’ve only seen him buy luxury items for his family and has actually done what for the society?

In his homily, Ignacio criticized the RH bill and urged Pacquiao not to support it and stick to his stand opposing it in Congress.

He reminded Pacquiao to never forget the Lord in Congress and to serve as God’s way of bringing back members of the House to the fold.

When he spoke, Pacquiao vowed never to support the RH bill because he said it was against God’s laws. He said he has long been against the proposed law.

He said what the bill was proposing was not the solution to poverty and stressed that Congress must act primarily to address the needs of the poor.

                In the end, these idiotic people who are arguing about the R.H. Bill turned this entire thing into nothing more than a publicity contest where they use iconic morons as pawns to advertise their motives. It’s not even about the issue anymore. It’s more about what these people are saying on TV and hoping that the masses will buy into their crap because they have someone like Manny Pacquiao on their side. Manny’s power is such a waste on him because in the end he turns out to be an ignorant pawn who buys into the games of politics and media.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20110515-336586/Priest-turns-Pacquiao-homecoming-into-anti-RH-bill-rally