THE DEBATES continue. The arguments have become free-for-all with every member of Philippine society giving his/her stand. The talks are endless that sometimes the real issues are sidetracked, clouded or even given political color. In most cases, the discussions, or reflections if you may, seem to center on S-E-X.
We are talking about the much-awaited Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, currently pending in the Senate.
But I am enjoying this democratic exchange. Whether pro or anti, the views and opinions are all very interesting; the reasons and rationalizations, provocative if not intriguing. Everything about it – including Manny Pacquiao becoming the poster boy against the bill – is one intriguing show altogether.
Last Friday, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, a staunch supporter of the bill, spoke before college students of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa. To get their undivided attention, she spiced up her speech with pick-up lines to drive home her point.
Some of these pick-up lines include –
“Ang pag-ibig ay parang ketchup. Matamis kaya maraming nakiki-sawsaw.”
“Ano ba ang height mo at paano ka nagkasya sa puso ko?”
“Paano mo nasabi'ng bobo ako eh ikaw lang naman ang laman ng utak ko?”
“Ngayo'ng break na tayo, para ako'ng traffic sa EDSA, I cannot move on.”
And there's more –
“Taken ka nga, for granted naman.”
“Straw ka ba? Sipsip ka eh, plastic pa.”
When the students' laughter and applause died down, the feisty senator managed to go straight to the point. She says, “sex will come, too, preferrably married sex, pero kung hindi mo na talaga mapigilan, puwede ba mag-condom ka na lang?”
In aid of coming up with an article for MOD regarding the laws on women, I interviewed some women legislators and learned even more enlightening impressions and points of view.
Aliah Dimaporo, congresswoman of the second district of Lanao del Norte, declares: “You cannot legislate morality.” She then goes on to say that the greatest power a woman can have is knowledge of her own body. "If she does have an education of her own body, she will be able to know how to control herself,” she adds.
BH Herrera-Dy of the Bagong Henerasyon Party List says she's all for informed choices; while Mitos Magsaysay, representative of Zambales, asserts that the RH Bill is not an abortion bill.
In a publication by EnGendeRights, Inc., a legal NGO aimed at advancing women's rights in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, author Atty. Claire Padilla, executive director, cited some of the reasons why we need the RH Bill.
“To prevent unintended pregnancies; maternal deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth; and infant mortality,” she writes. “To help individuals and couples choose freely and responsibly when to have children and to free women's bodies from being held hostage by politics and fundamentalism.”
Atty. Padilla likewise stressed an immediate response to the clamor of the Philippine population who want the RH Bill passed into law.
The RH Bill is a consolidation of related bills filed by co-authors, Representatives Janette Garin, Edcel Lagman, Luzviminda Ilagan, Kaka Bag-ao and Walden Bello.
Meanwhile, the country had its symbolic seven-billionth baby last October 31st and her name is Danica. Her birth was covered by media with officials from the United Nations as the baby’s first well-wishers.
One of the UN representatives was quoted on television news saying, “This is not about counting people. It is about making people count.”
good job! your blog is even more organized than mine,. good luck! and Congrats!
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