Today, May 16, 2011, six days before the public debate about Reproductive Health (RH) Bill will be set on national television. This controversial bill has divided the nation- those who were pro and anti have already presented their sides: Iglesia Ni Cristo has come out with its decision in support of the RH Bill. Government officials (e.g. Duterte), celebrities (e.g. Dingdong Dantes and Lea Salonga), academic professors (e.g. UP and Ateneo), ex- Cabinet members, and P-Noy, himself, was also in favour of the said bill. While the Catholic Church and other Christian sectors stood firm against it.
Upon reading blogs, news and other sources of information about RH bill, I have come out a position paper- to go against it. I have realised that this has many loopholes and lawmakers must be very careful in pursuing for its passage. That any supporter must also look the other side of the coin and think the many possibilities that will happen if this bill will become a law.
But before I make hasty generalisation about my arguments for ten reasons why this should be killed; let us first take a glimpse of the RH bill- its history and contents.
The bill entitled AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, AND POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES is a consolidation bill of House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman, Iloilo Representative Janette Garin, Muntinlupa City Representative Rodolfo Biazon, Iloilo Representative Augusto Syjuco Jr., Akbayan Party list Representatives Arlene Bag-o and Walden Bello, and Gabriela Party list Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana De Jesus.
And to read the full content of the law, please click here:
After reading and analysing every sections of this bill, then I come out with my personal stand about this issue. Below are my arguments:
1. It violates our Constitutional rights;
1.1. If we read Section 28 (e) of this bill, that says, “Any person who maliciously engages in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act” as included as a prohibited act, it shows clear violation of our FREEDOM OF SPEECH (Bill of Rights, Article III, Section 4 of 1987 Constitution). Isn’t harsh to have any one who will express objections to this bill be subjected to penalties? Silencing its critics is a violation of our Constitution. We are in a democratic country with already the existence of laws against libel and defamation, so why need for the provision of this kind of bill?
1.2. Section 21 that states below, forces employers to provide the reproductive health care services to their employees. This is again a violation of the Constitution since employers have not given any choice whether the distribution of these contraceptives may be against their conscience or religion.
SEC. 21. Employers’ Responsibilities. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall ensure that employers respect the reproductive rights of workers. Consistent with the intent of Article 134 of the Labor Code, employers with more than 200 employees shall provide reproductive health services to ALL employees in their own respective health facilities. Those with less than 200 workers shall enter into partnerships with hospitals, health facilities, and/or health professionals in their areas for the delivery of reproductive health services.
Employers shall furnish in writing the following information to all employees and applicants:
(a) The medical and health benefits which workers are entitled to, including maternity and paternity leave benefits and the availability of family planning services;
(b) The reproductive health hazards associated with work, including hazards that may affect their reproductive functions especially pregnant women; and
(c) The availability of health facilities for workers.
Employers are obliged to monitor pregnant working employees among their workforce and ensure that they are provided paid half-day prenatal medical leaves for each month of the pregnancy period that the pregnant employee is employed in their company or organization. These paid pre-natal medical leaves shall be reimbursable from the Social Security System (SSS) or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), as the case may be.
1.3. Section 28 that states below, eliminates any choice for conscientious objectors and makes no room for their legitimate concerns. This means, doctors and health workers are forced to dispense contraceptives and other contraceptive devices and methods; if they refuse, they must refer another person who will dispense such things. If people will not cooperate as what is stated in the given provisions, they will be imprisoned for one to six months and will pay for a fine amounting to P10,000.00 to P50,000.00!
SEC. 28. Prohibited Acts. The following acts are prohibited:
(a) Any healthcare service provider, whether public or private, who shall:
(1) Knowingly withhold information or restrict the dissemination thereof, and/or intentionally provide incorrect information regarding programs and services on reproductive health, including the right to informed choice and access to a full range of legal, medically-safe and effective family planning methods;
(2) Refuse to perform legal and medically-safe reproductive health procedures on any person of legal age on the ground of lack of third party consent or authorization. In case of married persons, the mutual consent of the spouses shall be preferred. However in case of disagreement, the decision of the one undergoing the procedure shall prevail. In the case of abused minors where parents and/or other family members are the respondent, accused or convicted perpetrators as certified by the proper prosecutorial office or court, no prior parental consent shall be necessary; and
(3) Refuse to extend health care services and information on account of the person’s marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, personal circumstances, or nature of work; Provided, That, the conscientious objection of a healthcare service provider based on his/her ethical or religious beliefs shall be respected; however, the conscientious objector shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another healthcare service provider within the same facility or one which is conveniently accessible who is willing to provide the requisite information and services; Provided, further, That the person is not in an emergency condition or serious case as defined in RA 8344 penalizing the refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency and serious cases.
(b) Any public official who, personally or through a subordinate, prohibits or restricts the delivery of legal and medically-safe reproductive health care services, including family planning; or forces, coerces or induces any person to use such services.
(c) Any employer or his representative who shall require an employee or applicant, as a condition for employment or continued employment, to undergo sterilization or use or not use any family planning method; neither shall pregnancy be a ground for non-hiring or termination of employment.
(d) Any person who shall falsify a certificate of compliance as required in Section 15 of this Act; and
(e) Any person who maliciously engages in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act.
SEC. 29. Penalties. Any violation of this Act or commission of the foregoing prohibited acts shall be penalized by imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to six (6) months or a fine of Ten Thousand (P 10,000.00) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00) or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the competent court; Provided That, if the offender is a public official or employee, he or she shall suffer the accessory penalty of dismissal from the government service and forfeiture of retirement benefits. If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president or any responsible officer. An offender who is an alien shall, after service of sentence, be deported immediately without further proceedings by the Bureau of Immigration.
If the employer will not provide condoms to their employees because they politically (and religiously) believe that this act is a responsibility of the government; or the doctors and health providers themselves, will we punish them of imprisonment and fine? If so, both of the above sections are in clear violation of Article III, Section 18 (1) of our Constitution that says, “No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.”
1.4. The distribution of contraceptives violates Article II, Section 12 of the Constitution that says,
“Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the Government.”
Our fundamental law recognizes that human life must be protected from the moment of conception, therefore, contraceptives that causes early chemical abortion is clearly unconstitutional.
2. The Law of Void for Vagueness Doctrine applies;
If we search for this doctrine, we will find that it is about a law principle that says a given statute is void and unenforceable if it is too vague for the average citizen to understand (e.g. cannot generally determine what are regulated, what conduct is prohibited, or what punishment may be imposed.)
Going back to the sections of this law particularly Section 20 that states below,
SEC. 20. Ideal Family Size. The State shall assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development and encourage them to have two children as the ideal family size. Attaining the ideal family size is neither mandatory nor compulsory. No punitive action shall be imposed on parents having more than two children.
It poses many questions that will linger on the minds of an average citizen making the bill, itself, vague. How will the State assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development?
There are many ambiguous terms present in this section like desired family size, responsible parenthood and sustainable development- these are all subjective terms. What if my desired family size is 12? Was it sustainable? Am I a responsible parent for having 12 children? And how did this bill come out with two children as an ideal family size? Why 2 not 1 or 3 or 4? What if the parents want more children?
And Section 21 that states below,
SEC. 21. Employers’ Responsibilities. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall ensure that employers respect the reproductive rights of workers. Consistent with the intent of Article 134 of the Labor Code, employers with more than 200 employees shall provide reproductive health services to all employees in their own respective health facilities. Those with less than 200 workers shall enter into partnerships with hospitals, health facilities, and/or health professionals in their areas for the delivery of reproductive health services.
Employers shall furnish in writing the following information to all employees and applicants:
(a) The medical and health benefits which workers are entitled to, including maternity and paternity leave benefits and the availability of family planning services;
(b) The reproductive health hazards associated with work, including hazards that may affect their reproductive functions especially pregnant women; and
(c) The availability of health facilities for workers.
Employers are obliged to monitor pregnant working employees among their workforce and ensure that they are provided paid half-day prenatal medical leaves for each month of the pregnancy period that the pregnant employee is employed in their company or organization. These paid pre-natal medical leaves shall be reimbursable from the Social Security System (SSS) or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), as the case may be.
Section 21 obliges employers to provide for the medical and health benefits of the workers. What if the employer cannot provide for the expenses of the employees, will they be penalised? In this bill, yes, they will. How about the carinderia owners and other unorganised establishments? Yes, they will also. Because employers with less than 200 employees shall provide for the same health services to their workforce.
Application of the Doctrine: This doctrine protects the individuals’ right to due process and whenever violators were apprehended, they will not be punished because the law is vague in the first place. Hence, making it useless at all. Implementing RH Bill in the future will be a chaos.
3. RH bill is amoral
There is a difference between the terms amoral and immoral. “Amoral” means the inability to know the difference between right and wrong while immoral goes against the tenets of the society. Below are some reasons why this is amoral.
3.1. It makes the purpose of sex vague.
Why people have sex? Pleasure? Medium to express love? To make children? People have different opinions regarding this question. And I respect that. For me, RH bill is amoral because it makes people confuse which act is good or bad. I just remember my conversation with our janitor- Ka Oca during one of our lunch breaks. I asked him,
“Sir, Oca. If I were to give you condom, will you use it?”
Sir Oca’s answer was,
“It depends. If I will have to make sex with other women, of course I will use condom. But if I have to make love with my wife, I will not.”
I asked him again why he will not use it to his wife. And his answer was,
“Because I am confident that my wife is clean.”
You see. My point is, giving out free condoms creates amorality. Because people learns to like what they think is good for them and to dislike what is they think bad for them. Is this the choice we want? How can we be free to do something that is wrong from the beginning?
I just do not understand it: people promotes condom so that they may not get STDs. But how come Sir Oca thought that he will be using condom to other women but not to his wife? Was using condom makes men 100% safe from STDs or women from getting pregnant? I think, this bill further promotes adultery, concubinage, dishonesty and disloyalty. By giving out condom, we are opening ideas for our men to use it- not to their wives but for other women.
And another point, I asked Sir Oca,
“Aside from you are sure your wife is clean, why you would not use condom during your make love?”
And his answer was simple.
“Hassle. Condom is rubber. It lessens pleasure.”
You see. We are so altruistic about giving out free condoms. We are so concerned about over population. About people getting STDs. But, are we really sure if these condoms will be used every time they make sex? Because we are so generous, how many times will we provide our men these free condoms? Once a week? Twice a week? Three times a day?
I remember this joke during one of our class lectures.
Community organizers (CO) gave free condoms to this rural area. The organizers were so concern about deforestation and over population; because people were poor and have no other source of income ,they tend to cut trees just to sustain their living. So, to save the trees, flora and fauna of the place, they have given out free seminars about family planning.
After some time, COs got the result, their study showed that women were still getting pregnant! Worried and somehow frustrated, one of the COs asked one of the men:
“Did you not learn anything from us?”
The man said, “About what? About using condom? I thought this condom should be placed on my finger while having sex with my wife!”
You see. It’s just the same as in teaching sex education to our children especially during their crucial years of growing up. Instead of letting teachers discuss about the birds and the bees openly with their other classmates, why not parents do so? Isn’t children will learn better with 1:1 ratio than 1:50 (teacher:students)?
Also, RH bill promotes amorality because it confuses children from right and wrong. Are we going to teach them that it is OK to have sex but be sure to wear condom? If I will be a parent some day, of course, I will not allow my children to learn about sex at their very young age! Why grade 5? Why not high school?
Also, by doing so, it destroys the essence or purpose of sex. Before, I remember my mom told me that it is improper for men to touch any part of my body not until he becomes my husband. But now, we are going to teach them that these things are normal, proper and usual thing to do as long as we care or love the other person? Or just feel the want to do it just to satisfy one’s desire? Sigh.
3.2. It pushes reproductive health to become “right” but to whose rights’ expense? The big question here is- who is going to pay the price? We protect the rights of the poor but we are compromising the rights of the health and medical sectors as well as the employers.
I have few more questions:
Is it right to protect the rights of the poor?
But, is it right to increase our taxes so that we may provide these poor their reproductive health rights?
Is it right to compel our employers to pay for our FREE healthcare services?
But, is it also right to imprison them and fine them for not able to comply with the law because their fund is insufficient?
Is it right to protect women’s reproductive health rights by giving them more choices of family planning methods?
But, is it also right if most of the companies will hire fewer women in their industry because they cannot comply with the law?
3.3. It confuses people whether contraceptives are abortifacients or not. Whether using them prevents or encourages abortion. Whether these are medicines or causing diseases. In short, it confuses people whether the act of using contraceptives is right or wrong.
This time I am asking you a favor- to use the internet’s search engine and find yourself the effects of using contraceptives.
I have done my research and found out that others who are using IUDs have become prone to yeast infection, lost sex drive, experience lower back pain, had heavier menstrual flow, acne break out, migraine, cramps, depression, mood swings, etc.
The Church is against RH bill not ONLY because it is concerned in protecting women’s rights but also in preventing the future negative effects of these contraceptives on them if these were not strictly controlled and monitored. The Church believes that contraceptives may cause, inflict or encourage abortion. It is normal for them to react on this issue because it is their duty to check and balance or to weigh things on matters that will affect the lives of the people especially affecting their moral values. On my opinion, I am glad that the Church is challenging this bill, because through this we are able to see different sides of the story; and eventually, we will learn, improve and produce better laws in the future.
I would like to quote former Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz who warned about passing this Reproductive Health Bill into law. He said in an interview,
“What is the Church doing? The Church is trying to maintain the values system of the Filipino people. With the values system gone, look at what is happening to us? Let us be responsible and not to do shortcut because it does not bring good results.”
4. It claims as a panacea to issues like over population and poverty. Well, in fact, it gives promises and false hopes. RH bill will not solve these problems. And over population is not the SOLE cause of poverty but only ONE of its FEW causes that needs to be addressed ALSO;
Who am I to say that this bill is not the panacea to over population and poverty? I am just an ordinary citizen of this country, without any legislative or executive power to implement what is best for my people. But I spare you few more minutes of your time to further read my arguments based on LOGIC, EXPERIENCE and WISDOM I acquired from reading, hearing people’s opinions and basically knowledge I learned from the university- including law school.
I do volunteer works and I am actively serving the urban poor communities (where I also belong) by giving my time for them. For the past few years of organising people, I learned that poverty has many causes : 1. Macroeconomic issues 2. Unemployment issues 3. Unchecked population growth 4. Problems in the agriculture and forestry sector 5. Governance concerns 6. Armed conflict and 7. Disability.
To further discuss these seven direct causes of poverty kindly read on:
4.1. Macroeconomic issues
I am not an economist but I have subject about this and I learned that economic growth is important in determining or alleviating poverty; that poverty decreases when the growth rate of average family income is higher than the inflation rate. Our economy has not been high enough because of some mismanagement and other external shocks we experience (like El Nino, frequent typhoon visits, lack of investor confidence, etc). Also, it is because we are faced with fiscal deficit, public sector debt, poor investment climate since the Asian financial crisis, and gradual loss of international competitiveness.
4.2. Unemployment issues
I talk with people who were farmers and laborers and for them who have children, they see labor as an important asset of the poor. Like my uncle, who works in the rice field, his children were his assistants in managing their source of income.
By experience and dealing with people from different walks of life, I learned that unemployment and underemployment determines poverty. For this country to alleviate poverty, jobs must be accessible! And must provide adequate income for every worker! We cannot say that people who have more children are poorer because for them, their children are the ones who will give them source of income. The question here should be: what kind of job we will be employed and how much we will earn?
A study conducted by ADB in the Philippines have shown that the basic problem of the poor is not so much lack of employment as the low incomes derived from employment. This has to do with both low wage rates and the phenomenon of underemployment (Source: Chapter 6: Causes of Poverty in thePhilippines, page 93).
4.3. Unchecked population growth
You see, I recognise that population is also one of the causes of poverty. But I would like to quote ADB’s study about this issue:
“The population (of the Philippines) is projected to reach 111 million by 2015. Population growth in and of itself is NOT a PROBLEM IF resources are available to COPE with the additional people requiring public services, employment, housing, and so on. But in a country where the budget is already stretched and where poverty is HIGH to BEGIN with, population growth BECOMES a MAJOR issue.” (Check this link:
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Poverty-in-the-Philippines/chap6.pdf)
4.4. Problems in the agriculture and forestry sector
We know that thePhilippinesis an agricultural sector but again the irony is: the farmers who produce our food were the poorest. In this country, the agriculture and forestry sector are overlooked. The promises of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and the land reform agendas that have been adopted by successive administrations, not much has been achieved. The land ownership was still concentrated on the hands of the few elites. There is rampant forest degradation, denudation and ecological imbalance. If the land that is the source of food and our resources are mismanaged, how do we expect this country to become rich?
4.5. Governance concerns
In 1986, we ousted a dictator because we want democracy- freedom to choose what is best for our people. Over the years, there are still senses of disappointments over our leaders in their ability to address the needs of the society especially the poor. Corruption increases poverty because of reduced economic growth; biased tax systems and the use of wealth by people with self interests that lobby government for policies that will encourage greater income and will acquire assets in favour of the rich and well connected. Also, our government has inability to collect sufficient revenues. And lastly, we have weak judiciary that contributes to the weaknesses and inefficiency of our State.
4.6. Armed conflict
We know that conflicts result to deaths, disablement and displacement. There is more likely greater loss of breadwinners; disruption of basic services; destruction of transport system and general collapse of the affected community. Conflict has negative impacts to all forms of capital- financial, social, natural and physical.Mindanaofor example faces major poverty challenge. Armed conflict causes poverty, and vice-versa, poverty also produces conflict.
4.7. Disability
Just like the causal relationship of conflict and poverty, disability and poverty is also bi-directional. Poverty causes disability and disability causes poverty (not all disability is caused by poverty but poor people are most likely to have poor health, poor living conditions, and dangerous working conditions.)
5. No one is restricting our choice for the use of modern natural and artificial methods of family planning. But with the passage of RH Bill, government will have the power to REGULATE the business, medical and education sectors;
If the government through the Philhealth will pay for the reproductive health services of the people especially the poor, and the employers will pay for their workers, then we are giving the government the right to regulate or to control the prices of the RH services.
This bill if ever enacted will pose negative impacts in our individual rights and freedom because the government will have more power to regulate the business, medical and education sectors.
This proposal is worst than Martial Law where it seeks to penalise employers, doctors, health care providers, educators or teachers, government officials and even ordinary person who will fail to comply with the bill and will maliciously engage in disinformation about the intent or provisions of this Act.
6. It is a stupid way of spending tax payers’ money;
Our government will be compelled to levy additional taxes or borrow more money from foreign sources so that it may deliver its promises. It is a stupid way of spending our money to distribute something that we were not sure if these condoms and contraceptives will be used by the poor or the recipient community; or whether these free products will be truly delivered.
Our taxes can go extra miles- we cannot just waste it on something that is unimportant. Giving out condoms and contraceptives as many times I argue is not a solution to the problem of over population and poverty. Again, there are other causes that must take into consideration such as macroeconomic, unemployment, governance, conflict issues, etc.
7. It is prone to corruption;
I have little faith in the ability of our corrupt government officials to IMPLEMENT this bill. I remember Dr. Juan M. Pulhin, my professor from UPLB, during the discussion of poverty in our major class. He said that,
“It is so sad that in this country we have good laws but the problem lies in the implementation.”
I am so worried that despite the promises and claims of the RH Bill to curb national overpopulation, these government officials were incompetent and inefficient in implementing its rules and regulations. I believe that some corrupt officials cannot be trusted- that they will not really deliver the reproductive health services. Instead, they will enjoy huge amount of money for their own good; that the budget, which is allocated for the poor and women will be spent for their own pleasure.
The Department of Health has set aside four hundred million of pesos just to purchase these natural and artificial means of family planning including two million condoms to be distributed next year. Great sums of money, huh?!
There is lobby money behind this. Companies who will win as a bidder to provide for the condoms and contraceptives, without taking into consideration if recipients would eventually use these, will also hit a jackpot!
8. Through RH Bill, instead of teaching every Filipino family about “responsible parenthood”, we are teaching our people, especially the poor, to be dependent to the government (including business and health sectors) who will supply their condoms, contraceptives and other RH services;
What is responsible parenthood? I think, a separate article should be written to further discuss this. But as a gist and in relation to this bill, I believe that it will teach the other way around.
Instead of making couples as responsible in rearing their family, this bill will teach them, particularly the poor, to be dependent to the government (including business and health sectors) in providing their RH services.
Responsible Parenthood should educate couples how to become prepared in facing challenges of being future parents NOT to spoon-feed them or provide FREE RH services in expense of the tax payers’ money. Poor parents to become responsible must have good jobs to start with- with decent income to sustain the needs of their family members NOT to provide them CONDOMS and CONTRACEPTIVES, which are temporary solutions to the over population problem.
9. The LAW must PROTECT the freedom and NOT REGULATE it; and
It is not the role of the government to redistribute wealth so to help the poor. Social justice can never be achieved if there are some people’s rights that are to be ignored and violated. Remember, the law must protect our freedom but not regulate it. In this case, the rights of the employers, educators, doctors and health workers will be compensated if it will be mandatory for them to provide free RH services and products to the poor. Again, if the carinderia owner cannot provide for the ligation of his employee because of insufficient fund, will he be penalised? If this bill is enacted, yes, he will be liable. If this is the case, this Act will violate the freedom of the employers since the government will regulate the reproductive health rights of the employees instead of protecting it ONLY.
10. RH Bill will cause much higher prices of commodities and health care products in the Philippines because businesses and hospitals will be compelled to offset the reproductive health care expenses that they are going to pay for their workers.
I am against RH bill because this will cause higher prices in the commodities and services by forcing the medical sector and all the employers to provide for free reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers, more particularly women workers (See Section 17 of this bill). If the government will deliver free services to the poor, then to whom they will get the money from? it is from our taxes, of course.
We want to lessen population by giving free condoms and contraceptives (and other reproductive health services) to the poor but to the expense of increasing our taxes and having higher prices of commodities as a result? I think this bill is stupid.
SUMMARY:
RH BILL IS EVIL AND STUPID HENCE SHOULD BE KILLED
Yes, we can help the poor all we want. But we cannot be charitable by getting money from other people through taxes and by having the business, health and education sectors under state control in the name of helping the marginalised sector of the society.
If the government is really sincere in helping curbing out poverty, it must work its ways on how to INCREASE THE AVERAGE FAMILY INCOME OF EVERY FILIPINOS, instead, and NOT in WASTING our TAXES to buy CONDOMS and CONTRACEPTIVES! Why the government can’t focus in PROVIDING JOBS for its PEOPLE? INCREASE INVESTORS’ TRUST? AND INCREASE ITS COMPETITIVENESS IN THE WORLD MARKET?
I am a licensed forester and I learned from my professors during my college years about their frustrations on how the government has overlooked the agriculture and forestry sectors in terms of curbing poverty in this country using our available rich and diverse resources.
UNLESS lawmakers will GUARANTEE NO CORRUPTION and it WILL ALLEVIATE POVERTY in a drastic way, will I believe that they were sincere in their intentions to help the poor. For now, forgive me, but I believe this bill is EVIL and STUPID.
I believe that there is a large amount of lobbying money behind this. That this will encourage immorality, abortion, corruption, will legalise stealing money from the tax payers and will violate our constitutional rights- the main reasons why this bill is EVIL!
It is STUPID because 1. It is just a waste of our money (to distribute condoms and contraceptives without assurance that recipients will use these) and 2. It makes us believe that by giving out these for free and also by teaching our Grade 5 students about sex education will solve our country’s problem of over population and poverty.
RH Bill is evil and stupid, the main reason why this should be killed! We have existing good laws that only proper implementation is needed. If we are really concerned about the welfare of the poor (and women), why we don’t provide them DECENT JOBS with GOOD SALARIES? Why not go after big fishes and collect their taxes so that we may have higher revenues? Why not protect our FORESTS (oceans, and others with ecological importance)? Why not manage our lands well, and distribute them properly (not only in the ownership of the few elites) so that we may increase our resources? Why not implement MORAL RECOVERY PROGRAM, instead?
Let us stop war in Mindanao! Let us provide the poor with greater access to basic services! Let us educate our people but not by teaching sex education to our young children!
The poor does not NEED RH BILL! We don’t need this to be well informed! We can maintain the status quo without this!
If RH Bill is killed, we will still have access to every promises lawmakers used in this bill to DECEIVE the people. What do I mean? We can still enjoy the freedom of choice we want: there will still be promotion and protection of gender equality; protection of the elements of the reproductive health care and ensure massive and sustained information drive on responsible parenthood.
How do I say this? Because, today, for example, are malls prevented to build breastfeeding areas in their establishments? If we want to buy condoms and pills over the counters, is there any one or any thing preventing us from doing this? If adolescents would want to know about safe sex, do they have access?
My point is: Without RH Bill, we still have the choice! But with the passage of this bill, it will REGULATE OUR FREEDOM (far from protecting it!) The law will force every employer including doctors and health workers to give condoms and contraceptives! The law will penalise those who will not comply! They will punish every individual who will engage in disinformation about this bill! Sex education will be included in the academic curriculum of our students at very young age! Our taxes and prices of commodities will increase because they will give free condoms and contraceptives to people without consideration if recipients will use these! RH Bill violates our FREEDOM OF SPEECH and RELIGION. It is UNCONSTITUTIONAL! All of these are reasons why this bill is stupid and evil.
And one more thing, I believe RH Bill is evil because it attacks the weaknesses of the Church instead of focusing in giving answers to the questions that will encourage improvements in our future laws. Satan enjoys seeing his opponent being dragged down; he is like a roaring lion that prowls around looking for someone to chew up and swallow. Satan uses encouraging words but deep down is a hidden intention- evil intention.
SATAN IS THE FATHER OF ALL LIES
Last night, I am discussing this RH bill with my cousin and my boyfriend. But before I go to sleep, I really was alarmed how people were deceived by its promises. I never felt so compelled about writing something such as this article. I felt that there is this need to oppose the bill- in my own way (which is writing). So, I prayed that God may give me the wisdom and the courage to write about this issue.
Every time I am confused, depressed, and enthusiastic about something or before I make any important decisions in my life, I do pray and ask for His message. I believe that His message was written in the Bible- that any answer to my prayer is found in its pages.
After I prayed, I flipped over the pages of the Bible and this particular verse in John struck me:
“But you are exactly what your father does.”
“Don’t accuse us of having someone else as our father!” they said. “We just have one father, and he is God.”
“Jesus answered: If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and only from him. He sent me. I did not come on my own. Why can’t you understand what I am talking about? Can’t you stand to hear what I am saying? Your father is the devil, and you do exactly what he wants. He has always been a murderer and a liar. There is nothing truthful about him. He speaks on his own, and everything he says is a lie. Not only is he a liar himself, but he is also the father of all lies. Every thing I have told you is true, and you still refuse to have faith in me. Can any of you accuse me of sin? If you cannot, why won’t you have faith in me? After all, I am telling you the truth. Anyone who belongs to God will listen to his message. But you refuse to listen, because you don’t belong to God.”- John 8: 41-47
I would like to quote one of the intelligent bloggers (aka jlocute) I read online. This is in relation to the topic that Satan is a great deceiver and many have led astray because of his use of deceiving and encouraging words.
“We are really at the end of time era. These are all Satan’s works. We should be aware how he works. As he said, ‘I pretend to love men in order to destroy them; serve them in order to ruin them; deceive them and help them in order to pervert them and draw them into these my hellish regions.’”
To continue, jlocute emphasized that,
“People have been persuaded by the devil that they are entitled to have sex when they choose, rejecting any unwanted life that may result. The enemy may tell (us): ‘that God is too demanding and unreasonable. If we distributed more condoms, we would not have disease or the need to abort babies. And that it is God’s fault (if our population booms or poverty prevails) because God’s Church is against the use of condoms’.”
For jlocute,
“Sexual intercourse, by its nature and intent is potentially (a) life giving act. This is God’s version. (But) the enemy’s version is that sex can be closed to give life and used for physical pleasure only. Enemy’s version of sex is selfish, emotionally dangerous and bad for humanity. The enemy offers an answer to this too, and led souls to avoid consequences by offering widespread contraception and abortion. Both men and women are now told that sinful sexual behaviours are allowable and acceptable. God intends that a man and woman enter a blessed union (through marriage) and then share their sexuality with one another. (Using this bill) the devil is mocking God because he depicts God’s purpose. He is laughing because many led astray on this sin.”
Last night I also prayed that He may give me enough time so that I may write article opposing RH Bill just like this; and just this morning, my immediate boss sent me a message that he will be on leave today. God has answered my prayer. He has not just given me few hours to write about this article; He gave me whole day of business work to finish this! Is any one can explain to me how the bible verse and time to write this article incidence were so appropriate? I believe there is really a reason why these coincidences happened.
I have read and heard about the arguments of the Pro RH Bill. Again, forgive me, because I already had decided- I am against it because I believe this violates the law of men and is against the will of God. So to speak.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Most of my arguments came from this site. So, please consider visiting this link: http://fvdb.wordpress.com/ The author has very good insights.
I suggest you also check my references below. Thank you so much for taking time reading this article.
“But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
2 Corinthians 11:14 (NLT)
“You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.”
– Naguib Mahfouz
“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”
–Mother Teresa
“The biggest obstacle was mixing abortion with overpopulation. These are two things that have nothing to do with each other. ”
–Jacques Yves Cousteau
References:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/overpopulation.html#ixzz1MV2rSYdM
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/poverty.html#ixzz1MV2RcX9e
http://worddoodling.wordpress.com/2011/03/23/3000-words-to-pwn-you/
http://fvdb.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/rh-bill/#comment-9744
http://aristogeek.wordpress.com/
http://fightrhbill.blogspot.com/2009/06/its-time-to-kill-bill-5043.html
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=481421
http://alfi.org.ph/home/index.php/2008/10/hb-5043-is-like-the-forbidden-apple-in-the-garden-of-eden/
http://www.phnix.net/HB5043_coercive01.pdf
http://www.thelaw.com/dictionary/VOID.html
http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Poverty-in-the-Philippines/chap6.pdf
http://filipinasinshowbiz.com/index/2011/04/08/rh-bill-gets-support-from-dingdong-dantes/
www.gmanews.tv/story/218626/nation/iglesia-ni-cristo-supports–rh–bill
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=672157&publicationSubCategoryId=63
http://wiki.lawcenter.ph/index.php?title=House_Bill_4244_(15th_Congress)
http://www.pngoc.org/manifesto_of_support_for_the_rp-rh_bill.html
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/279761/advocates-overjoyed-pnoys-prorh-stance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reproductive_Health_Bill_(Philippines)
http://oppositeofapathy.wordpress.com/tag/reproductive-health-bill/
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Birth-Control-Contraception-/Copper-IUD-side-effects/show/160039
Youth Bible. Global Edition. Holy Bible Contemporary English Version. United Bible Societies. 2004.
Letch's Journal 
” …and would like to value
the quality of life
you can give to a child
that considering
the quantity”
Read more about RH BILL issues: http://wecantalk.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/standing-with-the-church-or-thinking-for-the-whole-community-rh-bill/
Thank you for taking time to read this article. You emphasized on my argument about me wanting 12 children. It was just an example. My point is, we have our choice- we can decide whether how many children we want to have. No one, even the government can dictate to us about that decision. It is our right.
By the way, I think there is really something wrong about our idea on different concepts like poverty and quality of life. My mom has 7 siblings but they were all raised as good people. And my grand parents were proud to raise them all by hardwork, patience and great faith in God. What is wrong about being poor? There were rich people but are worst than the poor in terms of values system. I included in this article a quote from Mother Theresa that I would like to reiterate:
Poverty is a broad issue. And is subjective. What is poor to you can be rich to me. It is about perspective. About how you see things. I think contentment and acceptance can be attached to it. I don’t know. Maybe I will write a separate article about these things.
My point is, belonging in a poor family makes me proud. Why? Because poverty allows me to experience suffering. Suffering produces endurance. Endurance produces character. Character produces hope. And hope brings greater faith in God. (Romans 5:1-21 ESV)
We have learned successful stories of people, from rags to riches. Manny Pacquiao is a good example. He became a strong man because he endures suffering- physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and financial. He once poor but that inspires him to strive harder and succeed in his own field which is boxing.
Other than Pacquaio, there were many other great men and women who because of poverty had strong character. Our saints had great faith in God because of suffering.
I am not against giving quality life to my future children. Read my arguments. Those are against specific sections of the bill that will have great impacts to us when not carefully scrutinised.
I am a licensed forester and the greatest lesson I learned from our university is this: Ecology is healthier if it has diverse forms of life- different types of fauna and flora. Same concept in any society. It is considered healthy if it has different points of view. Because that means, people are thinking.
I appreciate your time on reading this. We should remember that it is not against you and me. This is not about who is right or wrong. Or who is more intelligent.
I am glad about the response of the people regarding RH Bill- about people who are PROs and CONs. That is a good indication that people are starting to care about issues of our society.
Have a great day ahead! =)
Superlike I cannot add more but it seems to me that 1 – 3 is already a passe coz there is already an “intention” to repeal most of them thopugh they are still there but Lagman promises that it will “soon” be “repealed”. As of now there were there? I think for us to guess if they will repeal it or not 🙂
I read your article with great admiration. Please continue to write, to inspire.
Suffering produces endurance. Endurance produces character. Character produces hope. And hope brings greater faith in God. (Romans 5:1-21 ESV)
Nice 🙂
pro rh bill should read this well written article. God bless!
Thank you. I am hoping that people before they make any stand about something should do some research first. RH Bill is a crucial thing especially when enacted. We should care about this because this will have impact on every Filipinos, not only the poor. God bless the Philippines! God bless you, too.
Pag pumasa yang RH bill mai-educate ang mga tao. Kaya malaki ang mababawas sa namamatay na sanggol, mababawasan din ang bibinyagan, mababawasan din ang isasama sa kumpil, mababawasan ang namamatay na ina sa panganganak. Ang resulta: MALAKI ANG MABABAWAS SA PERANG KOLEKSYON NG SIMBAHAN SA BUONG PINAS, ang tawag dito pagka-gahaman sa pera, CBCP pera ang higit na iniisip kaysa kapakanan ng madla, CBCP kayo ang imoral
I noticed you linked to one of my posts which, unfortunately, should not be used as a reference because it was a satirical ad hominem piece on a writer I very much dislike. If you’d like something worthwhile to read about the issue, I suggest you look at this link instead:
Thank you. 🙂
Marco
OK. Thank you, too. c”,)
Hi Joanne,
I understand your sentiments regarding the RH Bill. I cannot comment on stuff related to its legality but being a theological student I would like to note that it falls within issues of praxis for the Christian life.
Anyways the salient point that needs to be remembered in ethical-theological issues as such is that Christian churches are more than welcome to passionately struggle over what Scriptures since it is the rule and ultimate standard of faith. The place of logic; the significance of Church tradition and the experience of the historic episcopates, that locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying needs of the nations and peoples called of God into the Unity of His Church, have to say about it.
In fact, even segments of Filipino Evangelicals (Born Again believers) & Mainline Protestants (churches/denominations that can trace its roots in the movements that came out of the Protestant Reformation) also have particular stances and compelling reaons why they would favor the bill contrary to the conservative, fundamentalist independent churches and Roman Catholics that are against it.
I suggest that Christians should be more discerning and passionately invoking what Scripture has to say about it thus adhering to to Ecclesia semper reformanda secundum verbum Dei (that is the Church reformed and always reforming according to the Word of God), which is a good way of saying that the church should never be afraid to always give a second look about what the Scriptures say about issues pertaining to the faith, and this is not about forming new doctrines but rather reorienting old ones by reclaiming what lies deep at the heart of Scriptures.
Personally I am in favor of the bill however, I am jaded with the opposing poles of the most outspoken representatives of both sides. And I feel for the Roman Catholic Church since whether we like it or not it is by far the world’s largest NGO so to speak and they are at the forefront of taking care of the people who are already here and of the people who are in the margins and they do not deserve being ridiculed by upstart secularists, humanist, atheists and whatnot who are in the pro-RH bill bandwagon because they despise institutional religion.
Anyways I hope the pro and anti RH Bill proponents will both be as passionate about access to good education, life-saving medicines, decent work, etc. And show that their stand is really for the benefit of real people by investing even half as much time, energy and money to care for the children who are now in this world because of or in spite of “reproductive health” issues.
Bottomline is we cannot make blanket and sweeping generalizations on issues that does not have final consesus yet. Thanks.
Peace,
Chuck
Hi Chuck,
Thank you for spending some of your time reading this article. Pro or Con we are, for me, the most important is that we took the stand on the issue. I respect each and every opinions. I go for diversity- greatest lesson I learned in school. I am just hoping that our lawmakers who have the power to enact or kill this bill are as passionate as the people in (re)thinking about this topic. That they may not decide only based on their personal interest- the lobbying money behind this, I should say, is a great motivator for some. I don’t know. Who am I to judge people?
By the way, you are correct when you’ve written that I have this strong sentiment about RH Bill. I believe that like Greenpeace principle that would always teach us about the web of life- how interconnected and interdependent we are to each other, I just think that bill like this should be critically scrutinised. So to provide what is for the common good and not only for the interests of the few. I know you know what I mean.
I believe that if we are to care for our future especially our children (like our advocacy in Greenpeace), we should NOT ONLY be good stewards of this earth BUT ALSO work our ways to truly serve our people especially the poor, marginalised and oppressed. These I think are great actions that will speak our faith in God.
Again, I would like to express my sincerest thanks for your time spent here. And I apologise about the incidence lately (in our site hehe. Hindi na mauulit hehe).
Cheers,
Jho
sobrang salamat sa pagpost ng ganitong kaalaman.
i will share this to all my classmates sa PLMun.
muntik na din ako madeceive.
salamat po tlga.
Salamat din sa time para basahin ang artikulong ito (naks, artikulo talaga,haha).
Anyways, naniniwala ako na each of us can be instrument of God. We are just being used in different ways depending on our skills, talents, gifts, blessings, and scenarios in His time. I just hope and pray that everyone will be wise enough to choose what is for the common good without compromising our Human and Divine Laws.
Again, I would like to reiterate that this RH Bill is everybody’s concern. And thank you for being one of those concerned citizens (as a student) who has sentiments for the welfare of the poor, women and Filipinos in general.
Ingats! =)
Thanks for this article. I have not yet read the whole things about the bill but I believe you have point. PRO or ANTI RH Bill must read this. This is very informative. Again, thanks.
Thank you, too.
Like i told you in the email. Precisely why i did not want to take the argument on sex and religion because RH Bill is not about sex and religion. Its a smokescreen, its not about women rights like the many women advocates wants us to believe or more precisely at least what they believe the legislation would create ” Women Freedom”, until a woman is liberated from the chains of poverty she would never be completely free. All it does is create an illusion that a woman is now in control of her body but the truth is a woman or man for that matter continue to be enslave by poverty ( which creates an environment that gives no other option).
RH Bill is all about a government giving up on the problem. Too many maternal deaths so the solution is to control pregnancy. Oil prices is unabated; solution give out Pantawid Pasada Cards, just this morning the news said “Deped to add shifts to accommodate more students” the worst part is they argue that its better than the schools refusing new enrollees. These is the kind of attitude we get from the Aquino Government, in Tagalog there is a term “Todo Pasa”. They say that we should accept the fact that the government can no longer do anything with the problem of poverty. So its up to us. Whats next? They say there should be population management and peg the ideal family size at two (2) and yet did not put punitive actions or rewards.
The RH Bill talks about “freedom of informed choice” meaning its all up to you. If you do what they want they’ll give you what you need, if you do otherwise will the government still support you? if yes, whats the law for if not then its not freedom of informed choice.
Freedom of Informed Choice??? while they continue to harp about States Police Power?
Seriously, if the government wants to uplift the status of the people then the least they can do is provide land to the tillers, raise the daily wage of the workers both private and public, specially the teachers, control the price of oil and other basic commodity.
Ang isang matuwid na daan ay nangangailangan ng mga lider na may buto, may gulugod at handang sumuong sa mahihirap na pagsubok handang magsakripisyo para sa bayan, hindi isang duwag na takot humarap sa suliranin at batugan na hindi makaisip ng ibang paraan.
Thanks for the insights brother Joseph. Just to share to everyone. Below is your letter to me yesterday re: RH Bill- arguments you presented during our email conversation. I posted it here so everyone will also read your very good insights. Regards na lang kay Father Jundep. Ingats! =)
Dear Joanne,
So nice to hear from you i really admire your industriousness in writing, its my weakness….. I’m lazy. I sure hope that your position would enlighten a lot of people..especially the youth.But i don’t want to take the debate THERE! (by citing various provisions and its flaws) No i would even grant them that. Assuming for arguments sake everything they said and put in the law was correct and well meaning the mere act of proposing it is wrong. It is an act of surrender and of pure abandon. I might even say that if the President signs it into a law we might as well impeach him for “Betrayal of Public Trust’ why so?
Imagine a FATHER who has four (4) (why four? because its the average size of a Filipino family), would tell his children to refrain from eating enough because he can only work so hard. Imagine telling your children not to take a bath because the water bill is no longer affordable or literally tell them not to get sick because hospitalization would cause money.
The RH Bill is like that. They say 350 thousand women die of pregnancy yearly… solution don’t get pregnant.
Analogy: The air we breath contains enough poison to kill us in a span of time..solution hold your breath.
Real solution: Improve maternal health care provide free antenatal care like ultrasound machines in every Barangay Health Center, Provide Free Nutritional Feeding for Pregnant mothers. Increase the salary of rural health workers better yet provide them with security when they do their work in far-flung areas.
They would contend that its “expensive”.. Expensive for who? for them? Expensive for government leaders to save their people? Why not forgo of their income and give it to the poor mothers. NO NO NO. We cant do that.. because its sacred..more sacred than life?
Why cant the father work harder,maybe get another job or be creative. I know a FATHER of five (5) children, He is a Metro Aide (MMDA) his earnings barely keep them underwater. He would collect cans, bottles and recyclable materials and sell them before one of his children’s birthday and give the proceed to his children saying “Buy whatever you want, if i were to choose for you you may not like it and it may ruin both our day”. He could say anytime ” Sorry we don’t have enough, so forget celebrating your birthday”. No excuses. That FATHER died poor.
The real story here is that Government is reluctant to solve the problem. The real problem. That of Social Justice. The unequal distribution of goods in society. The poor that these government wants to abandon is the same poor that voted it to power, the same poor that pays taxes even before they can get their payslip. The same poor that makes the economy run, The workers, the peasants, the lowly teachers, the policeman, the taxi driver, the street vendor, the government employees.
That is the sad state of this law. It is an act of cowardice covering itself as champions of women. Worst its a concoction brewed by entities that is foreign to us and does so to forward their self interest- profit. IMF World bank, US and all those lobbyists are not on it because they love us, if they do then why can they just exonerate our debts. They lobby because they want government to save money..not to channel them to other services like the proponents of law says ( if they do they should put in the law that it automatically goes to health education etc.) but to make sure that they would be paid by the government. Controlling our population is to the best of their interest.
So there it goes my five centavo worth of mind. I like talking better.
JOSEPH
Hello,
I am a pro-RH Bill but hopes that some of its section be revised because as you had said, it is open to misinterpretation and some are just not that good or is beneficial to the country or people.
However, in reading your article, I had found some misinformation and/or lacks some about things. Here are my remarks about those:
1.1
Please review the “freedom of speech” especially its limitations. Please also recheck the meaning of malicious and disinformation as used.
1.2 & 1.3
There are duties of the employers that should be abode by; whether it is by or against his own beliefs.
1.4
Contraceptives are not abortifacients. To use it as such is called “misuse” and abuse. There was no mention of any abortifacient within the proposed bill. “Your action is your responsibility.”
2.
Having two children is the ideal family size considering factors such as cost of living and the attention to be given. Your child is your responsibility no matter how many or how few they are. People who do not do so is called an irresponsible parent.
~
I have to agree with the CBA part of the bill, it will be better if it will be revised.
~
3.1 is more of a personal view of a conservative. Sex is done for pleasure, reproduction or any other things you can think of. What exactly is right or wrong? It all depends on the person but we have laws to restrain abusive acts; not by the belief of an individual or a group.
3.3 Using contraceptives like any drug or device should be used responsibly. Any result of irresponsibility from using it is your responsibility.
That is most of my comments regarding your article. I do like some of your main points however.
Hi,
Thank you for your insights and for your stand. As I mentioned in my replies above, I welcome diversity of opinions. I assume you thought over many times your arguments before making any stand on the issue, so I really respect your opinion.
I am hoping that our lawmakers will be as critical in scrutinising every sections of this bill so to come out with a good law that will benefit Filipinos, in general.
My intention in writing this article is to present arguments as ANTI RH Bill. Period. Not to prove who is right or who is wrong. We are in a democratic country so every one is entitled to his or her own opinion.
Terms like contraceptives (whether abortifacients or not), freedom of speech, responsible parenthood, and ideal family size are subjective words. Including moral topics. What is right to me may be wrong to you, or vice versa. I may think contraceptive is abortifacient, you may think it is not. But it is OK. It is not our DUTY to prove its true nature- let’s leave it up to science (scientists and educators) and religious sectors. Also, your ideal family size may be 2, mine is 4 (or 12, as set in the example). But again, it is OK. We all have the rights to decide how many children we want to have. No one can dictate to us in making such decision, not even our government can. Because it is our right. But of course, in line with the rights, there is the responsibility, as what you have mentioned. We can have as many children as we like but we should be as responsible to provide also their needs.
Topics about politics and religion will really take long discussion (sabi nga, mahaba-habang usapan hehe). Because who is right or wrong will take time to prove (and to show strong evidence.)
Again, this RH bill topic is not against people- especially for pro and con to fight who is right or wrong or who is more intelligent. Since at the end, it is really our lawmakers who will decide. What is more important is that we have already presented both sides. We learn from them and these serve as guide in making good laws in the future. For now, let us just hope and pray that our legislators will do their job. For the welfare of the general public. Not for their own greed interests.
Again, thank you for your time spent reading this article.
Have a great day ahead! =)
Hi everyone,
I would like to share letter below. This is from a friend who emailed me regarding his insight about RH bill. I posted it here since I want the world to see also his good points. Enjoy reading!
Hi everyone,
This is a follow up letter from Sir Del. Once again, just to share his good insights. Thanks and enjoy reading! =)
Dear Joanne,
1) You’re right. Population is not the real culprit that we now have widespread poverty in our midst. Yet – how do we deal with the situation where so many marginal, poor couples especially those living in the slum areas have 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10+ kids and the mother still giving birth without let up??? Both parents jobless??
2) We have to alleviate their poverty. Give them livelihoods, educate them and their children, etc. But it must be an honest-to-goodness, no non-sense, resolute campaign which, sadly, no previous administrations had truly carried out nor the current administration, or other future administrations for that matter will ever undertake, it seems, given the fact that politics and protection of vested interests, are the real priorities in this country for those in power. So, let’s rely on the private sectors, the NGOs, the religious groups … There are some real, sincere groups and individuals among those sectors but they are being overriden and overshadowed in number and “quality” by unscrupulous factions masquerading as benevolent social partners but whose ulterior motives hinge on the same, old political agenda and protection of their vested interests!
3) The RH Bill, in reality, and unknown to many of its proponents (which makes it even more complicated) is a thinly veiled measure that is debasing of the very essence and existence of the creature called: “Human Being”. Man is created on the likeness and image of his Creator God. From the very start, that condition, ordained by God Himself, is under assault by the Great Oppositor, God’s adversary who will spare no effort to ensure the collapse and destruction of God’s most significant creation – Man. Starting from the forbidden “apple”, and on to the rise of false prophets, the “cross vs. the crescent”, the great Inquisition, the scriptures of Barnabas, World War I, World War II, the “last Prophet”, the promise of “New World Order”, the advent of state-of-the-art technologies especially in communication where we now have this IT – (Information Technology) – (but at what cost vis-a-vis individual, family, community, social values, and moral stability?), the Genetically-Modified foods that promises to be a panacea to famine and hunger across the globe, the suicide bombings as one sure way to reach heaven, wonder drugs, same-sex marriage, etc, etc. Alas, the Great Oppositor had proven and continues to be the Great Adversary … and then, lately, the RH Bill !
4) Admit it or not – man or the world, is in its present state of being “beleaguered” or “besieged” from all fronts. Hence, we are increasingly forced to accept many measures and agenda, albeit, unGodly … taking them as bitter pills, and/or trying to satisfy ourselves calling them somehow as “Choice of Lesser Evil”. As the now proponents of the RH Bill will so cunningly argue to stem the tide of growing opposition versus the measure. Nevertheless, Greater or lesser … it is still evil! A spade is a spade!
5) However, the great irony is: some sectors opposing the RH Bill were, themselves, guilty of the very conditions that brought about the conceptualization of the Bill in question!!
6) The RH Bill, whether or not it is finally approved and made into law by the majority votes of congress is: a winner. If it is passed into law, then it wins. If it is rejected, it still wins. Why? Because you have the country and its society saying: We won, and killed the evil, that is RH Bill! Missing the fact that the RH Bill is in itself only the sympton, and not the cause! Thus, root causes were not eliminated but people are elated and euphoric. So, it is still go-go for:
– the 80 – 90 % wealth of the nation, being under the hands of only 5 to 10% of the whole population, while the rest make do with the 10-20% of the nation’s wealth;
– election in the country continues to be believed at, and accepted as effective instrument of the so-called “democracy”;
– Pork barrel continues to be dispensed to – and raked – by the “blessed chosen” to serve political agenda and not the interest of the constituents,
– Environmental pollution and degradation continues;
– Population at large not knowing what Imperialism is! They only know it is just absolutely, pretty normal to be born poor and slaves in their own land. Look at the Igorots who gleefully bang their little gongs to create what for them are good music after travelling by foot from their ancestral land down to Manila to beg some few coins! Yes, they actually own that ancestral land now called “Baguio” and the adjacent Mountain Province which have huge gold deposits – and still significantly producing tons of precious Gold in their midst. But who are benefitting and raking the profits? Not the Igorots, the true, real inhabitants of the area since time immemorial! And this situation is no less true among the Mangyans, the Tausugs, the Dumagats, and other indegenious ancestral inhabitants of this 7,000 + group of islands!
– Political dynasty, commercialized education, etc, etc.and so on and so forth.
YET – do we hear cries and protests ?? Protests and wails are loud and clear against the RH Bill – the symptons. On the contrary, there is a deafening silence against the fundamental ills – the real causes of troubles.
So, is the RH Bill, actually, some kind of a ploy by the “Powers that Be”?
Hi, Praegrandis
I don’t believe that what is right or wrong should depend on what a person believes is right or wrong. Because if that is the case, one might believe that killing you or me (whatever his reasons might be) is the right thing. But you don’t believe that that is right. If what is right or wrong is what anybody thinks is right or wrong then anybody can be justified for his deeds.
I believe that what is right or wrong is determined by our Creator. And I believe that our Creator is the God of the Bible. And He has already told us what is right and wrong in the Bible.
(also think about this… how did our lawmakers know that killing is wrong?
where did they get that idea?
Well I believe that our Creator has programmed that into our thinking. We are creatures with morality. And we know deep inside what is right or wrong. But sometimes we cannot determine what is right or wrong because our conscience has been calloused with sin. But as I have said we can determine right from wrong through our Creator’s word, the Bible)
I believe that sex should only be done by married couples because that is what’s right according to the Bible.
I am against RH bill because there are things in that bill that would encourage unmarried couples to have sex. And because this is sin against our Creator, he might turn away more of his graces from us and more people will suffer.
Hi Jeriboy,
Yes, I agree. Last time, I and my boss (after discussing about RH bill) have come out into a conclusion that we are ALL SINNERS and we should ASK FORGIVENESS. We all fell short to GOD’S STANDARDS. Definitely, DIVINE LAW is greater than HUMAN LAW (Let’s not forget the LAW OF NATURE, too). So, when making laws of this land we should not forget about taking into consideration God’s standards of right and wrong. Of what is good or evil. Because if we fail to do this, we will not succeed in our endeavour.
I hate RH bill because it is AMORAL. It confuses people which is right or wrong. It DECEIVES us. It CLAIMS to help the POOR (and women) but NOT ANSWERING the REAL problems of this society.
I remember this oratory piece entitled: The Two Standards by Horacio de la Costa, S.J.
Life is a Warfare: a warfare between two standards: the Standard of Christ and the Standard of Satan. It is a warfare older than the world, for it began with the revolt of the angels. It is a warfare wide as the world; it rages in every nation, every city, in the heart of every man. Satan desires all men to come under his Standard, and to this end lures them with riches, honors, power, all that ministers to the lust and pride of man. Christ on the contrary, invites all to fight under His Standard. But He offers no worldly allurement; only Himself. Only Jesus; only the Son of Man; born an outcast, raised in poverty, rejected as a teacher, betrayed by His friend, crucified as a criminal. And therefore His followers shall not be confounded forever; they are certain of ultimate victory; against them, the gates of Hell cannot prevail. The powers of darkness shall splinter before their splendid battalions. Battle-scarred but resplendent, they shall enter into glory with Christ, their king. Two armies, two Standards, two generals… and to every man there comes the imperious cry of command: Choose! Christ or Satan? Choose! Sanctity or Sin? Choose! Heaven or Hell? And in the choice he makes, is summed up the life of every man.
In this fight for poverty alleviation, which standard we will choose? Standard of God or Standard of Satan? In the end, it is really us who will decide.
According to Pro RH bill people (especially the legislators), this bill WILL NOT 1. ENCOURAGE CORRUPTION 2. ENCOURAGE IMMORALITY AND ABORTION 3. INCREASE OUR TAXES 4. INCREASE PRICES OF COMMODITY AND 5. VIOLATE OUR CONSTITUTION (Freedom of Speech, etc). I pray that whenever this be enacted, their CLAIMS will not HAUNT us.
Hi Jeriboy,
This fight against RH bill is difficult. Satan works his ways to DECEIVE people. He DIVIDES our nation. He makes PEOPLE ARGUE of who is right or wrong. He DISGUISES as an ANGEL of LIGHT who CLAIMS to SERVE the poor and the WOMEN.
Let us all PRAY for the best of this country. Let us PRAY guidance so that our LAWMAKERS will really do their JOB for the welfare of the Filipinos, in general.
Thank you for reading this. God bless you more! =)
Pills and IUD prevent the newly conceived child from implanting to the uterus. This aborts the life of the unborn child who normally develops in the uterus. Thus pills and IUDs are abortifacients. They kill the new life.
Dear Tomprober,
Yes, I believe too that certain contraceptives are abortifacient as proved by SCIENCE. These are Depoprovera, RU 486, IUD, Norplant and Morning pills.
very well said.
I would like to ask your permission if I could copy your post and share it to my students. I want to give them both sides. I am also anti-RH bill and I believe this is the most informative post ever.
thank you and God Bless.
Dear Teacher Edsel,
Thank you. Yes, you may share it to your students. (Disclaimer: Again, this is just my position paper- written as part of my journal- not any scientific study that can prove whether RH bill is good or bad). But still, I think this may encourage how we may see RH bill in its entirety. So, it’s OK if people whether PRO or CON may read this.
I am glad that you will use this in your class discussion. Again, I go for diversity of opinions. More school of thoughts, the healthier our society is because that means we are thinking and free to express ourselves.
I am hoping that again, legislators will do their best to really serve the poor and alleviate poverty in this country.
God bless! =)
I read your article again. please do write some. If I may suggest write to our congressmen. that they may rethink their stand on the rh bil
I read your article again. please do write some more. If I may suggest write to our congressmen. that they may rethink their stand on the rh bilL (sorry nawala yung ‘more’
Zatho,
Thank you. Sige, I may consider your suggestion. This article has been posted in the Catholic’s official site against RH Bill. I am hoping that some of our church people may also consider my arguments. Again, thank you and let us all hope AND PRAY for the best for this country.
Dear Joanne,
Thanks for great executive summary! Unfortunately, only few had known the pros and cons of this RH Bill, and how sad that the issue was focused on the use and not, of contraceptives to limit the chances of pregnancies as protrayed by the local media.
From this stand point, who wants to argue against it anyway? . . . isn’t it, there’s already some form of deception?
Now back to the main argument: Legislating this RH Bill has nothing to do with the reproductive health of women as it claims to promote. It’s a joke! a very insidious Joke, anyway! Why? How the government knows and control, that during every sex, contraceptives (eg. Pills, condoms, etc.) are being used? What’s the essence of the bill, then? This is one sided. It will just give only to the goverment, if passed, the legal basis to interfer with family-level affairs, without assuming the actual responsibility, of how to help the family earn enough to support its desired number of children; leaving no choice for the family how many children it likes to have, (A tRUE fREEDOM!). -this is more of governmental control to the lives of its citizens!
Other Provisions in this Bill are to ensure compliance by means of penalties imposed for non-compliant citizen! It’s a modified communism!
The Bonus: Have sex to whom whoever you want. Just use contraceptives to prevent STD’s. Why?…because normally, husbands and wives do not fear of having this diseases… only sex outside marriage! Can you do me a favor, Joanne? Kindly asked our pro RH Bill congrssmen and senators , if they are afraid to have sex with their spouses because of STD? Then, I will fully support their Bill.
GOD HAVE MERCY TO MY BELOVED PHILIPPINES!
Dear Bro,
I understand your sentiments regarding this bill. Actually, I am very emotional when discussing this with my friends and loved ones. I think our legislators have DECEIVED people by claiming that this is the panacea to issues like over population and poverty. Which is NOT.
Last time, I broke up with my boyfriend because he was pro RH bill and I forced him to read first my article before he will judge me that I am against the poor and women hahahaha. Anyways, after he had read this, we managed our difference and he resorted to compromise hahaha.
Let us all hope and pray for our legisators to be enlightened so that they may also see the EVIL side of this bill.
Thank you for reading this. =)
Dear Joanne,
Thanks for giving me a space in your blog.
There’s a hidden manipulation behind, so concerted, that very difficult for an average person to see. We are being framed to believe that Over population is a problem! And the solution is PopCon, (AKA: RH Bill) Please let me share this very good site from Population Research Institute (PRI): http://overpopulationisamyth.com/, and for everyone who is reading this article, to really weigh-in what really is the source of poverty, by facts, not by sole arguments.
For sure, it’s not over population is the rootcause of poverty, as what we are being made to believe.
Japan and China, and other countries who exerted much effort to control their population, please find out what their problem is, today. ..we must learn from them. Please see this link…a good article by John Mangun of Business Mirror.
http://bayan-natin.blogspot.com/2010/05/myth-of-overpopulation.html
God Bless!
Dear Bro,
Again, thank you and God bless you, too! =)
So what is your alternative? Please remember that the most affected by this will be the very poor. Not to be condescending but, they are not like you and me. They live a “different” life, where it is a daily struggle to survive. Their education level is minimum, if any at all. So you would prefer to withhold vital information and the tools for them to make informed choices?
Rebuttal to your presented opinions:
1. It violates our Constitutional rights;
===> Note the word “malicious”. Your freedom of speech is not absolute. That is why there is libel and slander. Try shouting “fire” in a crowded theater. This is not covered by freedom of speech.
2. If the employer will not provide condoms to their employees because they politically (and religiously) believe that this act is a responsibility of the government; or the doctors and health providers themselves, will we punish them of imprisonment and fine? If so, both of the above sections are in clear violation of Article III, Section 18 (1) of our Constitution that says, “No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations.”
===> I do not see how the RH bill is “political”. It involves the reproductive rights of women so we should not inject politics into it. Secondly, your religious freedom is also not absolute. If my religion prohibits paying taxes, or serving in the compulsory military service – can I invoke “religious freedom”?
3. Our fundamental law recognizes that human life must be protected from the moment of conception, therefore, contraceptives that causes early chemical abortion is clearly unconstitutional.
===> This is a common fallacy used by the Catholic Church to confuse the masses. Contraceptives prevent conception. So if there is no conception, there is no fetus. No fetus = no abortion. Unless you consider sperm cells a full human being.
4a. How will the State assist couples, parents and individuals to achieve their desired family size within the context of responsible parenthood for sustainable development?
===> By giving couples the information and tools needed to plan their families to the size that they are financially capable of sustaining.
4b. What if my desired family size is 12? Was it sustainable? Am I a responsible parent for having 12 children?
===> The government will not stop you if you want 12 or 120. You yourself can answer if it is sustainable by calculating your financial capability. The government will assist you by giving you the information to plan your family.
4c. And how did this bill come out with two children as an ideal family size? Why 2 not 1 or 3 or 4? What if the parents want more children?
===> By studying the socio-economic condition of a cross-section of a typical Filipino family. It is well within a family’s rights to have more children if they so choose. The government will not castrate you. This is another topic the Catholic Church tries to scare the masses with.
5. Conversation with your janitor Oca
===> It is this sort of thinking that is why we need the government to educate the people. Unless you prefer Oca to hold on to his misinformation.
6. I have few more questions:
Is it right to protect the rights of the poor?
===> Yes
But, is it right to increase our taxes so that we may provide these poor their reproductive health rights?
===> Yes. It is called social justice and equality, wherein the haves are to help the have-nots. That is why the rich are taxed more than the poor.
Is it right to compel our employers to pay for our FREE healthcare services?
===> Subsidize yes. Free, subject to conditions. Again this is part of social justice and equality wherein a business owner is considered wealthier than the employees.
But, is it also right to imprison them and fine them for not able to comply with the law because their fund is insufficient?
===> Other progressive countries require their employers to set up a contribution for their worker’s health, insurance and retirement. This is not a unique requirement. In other words – any decent business owner knows how much they can afford and will adjust accordingly. I know because I’ve been a business owner for 30 years already.
Is it right to protect women’s reproductive health rights by giving them more choices of family planning methods?
===> Yes. Absolutely.
But, is it also right if most of the companies will hire fewer women in their industry because they cannot comply with the law?
===> The government has to strictly enforce gender equality law. And frankly, women in general are paid less than men doing the same work sometimes by as much as half.
The RH bill does not force you to have 2 children maximum. It simply aims to disseminate information, again for people to make an informed decision. Also it does not claim to be a panacea for poverty. But it is a single albeit important step in the right direction, the effects which will be seen in the coming years.
7. It claims as a panacea to issues like over population and poverty. Well, in fact, it gives promises and false hopes.
===> It is not a panacea of course. But it is a big step in our fight against poverty. You cited the ADB study that population is NOT the problem IF there are enough resources to COPE. But that is exactly the problem, there is NOT enough resources to cope. Let’s not even talk about the macro view. A family of 10, the parents can only buy rice for 4. Where will the other 6 get their food. They will probably have to share. So all 10 ends up malnourished.
You mentioned that it is a “stupid” way to spend taxpayers money. I see it as an investment. Going back to the family of 10 above: Everyone ends up malnourished, which means poor health and less productivity. How much will the taxpayer spend to support these people in medical care? How much will be lost because some cannot go out to work because of poor health? And then there is the social cost of crime. How many will turn to a life of crime due to desperation? Now multiply this family scenario by the hundreds of thousands.
8. This bill if ever enacted will pose negative impacts in our individual rights and freedom because the government will have more power to regulate the business, medical and education sectors.
===> In the RH bill context, would you rather prefer these are all deregulated? Do you know why the USA health care system is worst than in Europe? Do you know why Africa has a very high incidence of AIDS? Do you know why Africans cannot afford AIDS medicine? Equating this with martial law is really strange. In that case, Western Europe like Germany and Holland are in Martial law! But the last time I went to these 2 countries the Germans and Dutch do not seem to mind 😉
9. If the government is really sincere in helping curbing out poverty, it must work its ways on how to INCREASE THE AVERAGE FAMILY INCOME OF EVERY FILIPINOS, instead, and NOT in WASTING our TAXES to buy CONDOMS and CONTRACEPTIVES! Why the government can’t focus in PROVIDING JOBS for its PEOPLE? INCREASE INVESTORS’ TRUST? AND INCREASE ITS COMPETITIVENESS IN THE WORLD MARKET?
===> You should know by now that the government is not omnipotent. Which government does not want to provide jobs to all its citizens? The reality is you have to start with the population. Think of the Philippines as one big family where the breadwinner’s (Upper and middle class) income are not enough to feed the large number of children. So most of them end up malnourished adding further burden to the family. And they keep breeding like rabbits.
10: It is prone to corruption
This is akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater. So let us not build roads and other infrastructure, build schoolhouses or hospitals, do any government programs, in fact do anything because everything is prone to corruption.
11.I am against RH bill because this will cause higher prices in the commodities and services by forcing the medical sector and all the employers to provide for free reproductive health care services, supplies and devices to all workers, more particularly women workers (See Section 17 of this bill). If the government will deliver free services to the poor, then to whom they will get the money from? it is from our taxes, of course.
===> Wrong! If you studied the socio-economic model of Western Europe you will see how they try to achieve social justice and equality. No it will not cause prices of commodities and services to rise (hence de-regulation is not the answer). This is utter falsehood. Sorry.
In conclusion – I see a flaw in your understanding:
1. The RH bill is not unconstitutional as it does not restrict your freedom to have a million babies if you so choose. But it does give you the information you need, and the tools you need to plan your family responsibly.
2. Freedom of speech is not absolute. Key word: “Malicious”.
3. Conception only starts when a sperm fuses with an egg. Since contraceptives prevent sperm from fusing with the egg, there is no human life aborted.
4. We have a responsibility to help the less fortunate among us. Thus is the consequence of living in a society. That is why taxes are not similar among different income brackets.
5. Sex is not only for procreation. If that is the case – assuming I only want 2 kids. Does that mean I can only have sex twice with my wife for our entire lives?
6. Have you ever heard of teen pregnancy? They will have sex whether we have sex education or not. So you aim to prevent teen pregnancy by not teaching our children how to avoid pregnancy?
7. You say the poor does not have to be this well-informed. My question to you is why? Oca does not need to be this well-informed? He thinks his wife will not get pregnant because she is “clean”! And he has contact with educated people like you. What about those in the provinces or far-flung areas?
8. RH bill will cost millions, but the benefits we reap will be even greater – reduced medical care expense, reduced crime, increased productivity among others.
9. Consider Italy, where the Vatican is, has their own version of the RH bill which is not too dissimilar from the Philippine version. You do not see the Vatican railing against it, no? And you do not see the Italians engaging in hedonistic orgies on the streets. What’s good for the Italians is not good enough for the Filipinos? And also Switzerland – look at their laws. But I do not see the Pope dismissing his Swiss guards.
Although I see several weirdness I will not even attempt to address your religious views because it goes into dogmas which are strictly personal.
Thanks for your time.
Dear Jim,
I attempted to post here a table I made to present both our arguments, but I failed. I think, wordpress has no capacity to post table on their comment (or reply) section. Sigh.
Anyways, I made a separate site (Shutterfly account) so that I may upload the said table. You may see it here: http://fightrhbill.shutterfly.com/. Please look at the FILES SECTION.
(ASSUMPTION: You and our readers have read the table I mentioned above. Kindly read my response to you below:)
I TRUST our readers’ intelligence to decide on their own which arguments they will choose to believe. (After READING the table in FILES SECTION of http://fightrhbill.shutterfly.com/).
As I mentioned in my replies to the previous comments, my intention in writing this article is to PRESENT THE ARGUMENTS AS ANTI RH BILL. Period. Not to prove whether who is right or wrong. I accept the fact that we are NOT in a position to revise, enact or kill this bill- ONLY our legislators, can. So, answering every comment to what I have written I think, will be futile. I believe you have already decided to support RH bill and I to go against it; with the assumption that we both have read the entire sections of this bill before we first presented our arguments.
It depends whether you have something to add or to revise in the said table (Please see FILES SECTION of this link: http://fightrhbill.shutterfly.com/). But for now, let us LEAVE to our INTELLIGENT readers the decision to whether TO SUPPORT or TO GO AGAINST the RH Bill by examining our main points presented there. I think, we already have contributed enough- we have already done our part- in this HEALTHY DEBATE ABOUT RH BILL.
After I cite our differences (using the said table), let me ONCE again present what arguments we both agreed, so far. Please correct me if I am wrong. I think these are:
1. RH Bill is NOT A PANACEA to POVERTY. (According to you: “It is not a panacea of course. But it is a big step in our fight against poverty. You cited the ADB study that population is NOT the problem IF there are enough resources to COPE. But that is exactly the problem, there is NOT enough resources to cope. Let’s not even talk about the macro view. A family of 10, the parents can only buy rice for 4. Where will the other 6 get their food. They will probably have to share. So all 10 ends up malnourished.”)
2. We need information dissemination so to inform our people about basic rights and proper family planning; and (According to you: By giving couples the information and tools needed to plan their families to the size that they are financially capable of sustaining.)
3. No law can impose how many children we want and we will have. (According to you, “The RH bill does not force you to have 2 children maximum. It simply aims to disseminate information, again for people to make an informed decision. Also it does not claim to be a panacea for poverty. But it is a single albeit important step in the right direction, the effects which will be seen in the coming years.” And again, quoting you, “The government will not stop you if you want 12 or 120. You yourself can answer if it is sustainable by calculating your financial capability. The government will assist you by giving you the information to plan your family.”)
Recognising these similarities of arguments, I think, despite YOU as Pro RH Bill and I as ANTI RH Bill, we will both END UP AGREEING that this bill has FLAWS so it needs revision before it must be fully enacted. Considering SOME BASIC REVISIONS will benefit NOT ONLY the poor BUT ALSO Filipinos, in general. =)
So far, I have presented arguments (points we argued and agreed) based on what I have understood in your comments as FAIR as I CAN. This time, for argument sake, please allow me to correct your misunderstanding of some of my points:
1.I DID NOT SAY (or write) that the poor does not NEED to BE WELL INFORMED. By so doing, you are misleading our readers. If you re-read my article, you will see that my point is: THE POOR DOES NOT NEED RH BILL TO BE WELL INFORMED. Period. Your comment is FAR different from what I have mentioned.
2. I am NOT anti poor or against women. Instead, I am against specific SECTIONS of this bill that I think violate BASIC HUMAN AND DIVINE LAWS.
3.If for you, it is WEIRD that I attempt to address my religious views, I respect that. But please keep your opinion on your own. Because no matter what you say (or write), I WILL NOT BE INFLUENCED BY YOUR DISBELIEF! You are correct when you’ve written that it goes into dogmas that are strictly personal, so, questioning about my FAITH will be FUTILE. I will CHOOSE to BELIEVE what I WANT to BELIEVE.
I would like to emphasize that this article is part of my JOURNAL ENTRY under DAILY DEVOTION CATEGORY. So, I apologise if you read verses included in here. I write this as my personal reflection. So you should understand that this is biased in using bible quotes.
I would like to remind you that this is MY BLOG. NOT A FORUM. I suggest you make your own position paper, too.
Thank you, too for spending time reading all of these. I think, I have succeeded in my objective to present different sides of this bill. So, AGAIN, thank you so much for serving as an instrument.
By the way, you are asking what my alternatives are? I suggest you re-read my article to find my recommendation. =)
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
To all our valued readers, please consider visiting the link in the Shutterfly account I mentioned above. It is best if you print the table to further understand MAIN POINTS presented by ME and JIM. Thank you.
Dear Jim,
Great Argument!
Have few concerns though: I’m not as good as you, to point out line by line, and give my opinion. But for the common people like me reading this article, I want to get the layman’s point of view.
In my understanding, RH Bill will help in long term basis, by educating parents to have a manageable family size based on their income.
I have here presented two possibilities, with RH Bill, and Without RH Bill.
Posibility # 1: (with RH Bill)
The role of the government then is: educate poor parents to have fewer number of children, by means of contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Telling them, you can’t afford more than this number, or that number. Right? Then, the government will spend 3 Billion pesos a year to support this initiative.
Posibility # 2: (without RH Bill)
The role of the government then is: educate poor parents to have fewer number of children. But leave to the parents the option to use, or, not contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies; – same with RH Bill. But, the government will spend 3 Billion pesos a year to build infrastructures to help this poor family increase their income, and will be able to support bigger number of children of their choice.
Lastly, the timeliness of this bill.
The government has limited funding as we all know. Is it timely to spend 3 Billion pesos, buying contraceptives “WITH THE HOPE” that this RH Bill will be effective, or, to spend this 3 Billion pesos a year to build schools for the Poor, from Kinder up to College, for “FREE!”? – just an example.
In summary:
From the argument that, “bigger family is not a problem as long as you can support your children’s need”.
Then, RH Bill is a delimiter of the poor to have a bigger family. And a wayward way of spending, for the government with a limited funds!
Thanks.
Dear Bro,
Thanks for this great example.
To all our valued readers,
Thank you for visiting this blog site. Again, I welcome presentation of arguments from PRO and ANTI RH Bill. As I said, for me it is HEALTHY if we have different points of view. That means we are all thinking and FREE to express our own opinions.
If you might be interested I have prepared a table that shows the main arguments of PRO and ANTI (In the http://www.fightrhbill.shutterfly.com FILE SECTION). You may check this out especially for the undecided. You may DECIDE on your OWN which SIDE you will CHOOSE. The said table is based on our shared views (Jim and Joanne). I hope this will contribute enough in the HEALTHY DEBATE about RH Bill.
However, since this is MY BLOG, I suggest A RULE: We can present our own ARGUMENTS only. NO NAME CALLING or HITTING BELOW the belt or anything. OK? In the previous comments, I am glad I found nothing offensive yet. So I am hoping that as this presentation of arguments continue, we shall all maintain PROFESSIONALITY.
So far, good job JIM and good job BRO! =)
Jim, forgive me but no matter what you will say to support RH bill, I have already decided to GO against it. And it’s final. I believe it is EVIL and STUPID. Period. My biased is in favor of the ANTI. But for the sake of healthy discussion, I will WELCOME and POST comments from the PRO RH Bill.
Again, thank you everyone. I hope, our LEGISLATORS work THIS WAY in DECIDING whether to KILL or ENACT RH Bill. FOR THE WELFARE OF THE FILIPINOS NOT FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH, GREED AND EVIL INTERESTS ONLY! =)
God bless the Philippines! =)
Hi. I stumbled upon your blog on the RH Bill. I just see a lot of similarities in our opinion about it. It’s got lots of loopholes. I am very much hoping it doesn’t get passed into law.
We must not support the RH bill because the priest said so.
No.. Not because the priest said so.. but because it contains things that promotes immorality (according to Biblical standards) to the next generation..
pro rh ako. ok na sana mga sinulat mo except dun sa satan2 naging illogical ka tuloy pakinggan.
Hi Stephanie,
I respect your opinion. By the way, I did not write this so that I may persuade pro RH people. If you still believe the arguments of the pro after reading these 10 arguments against it, I will respect you for that. However, about the Satan thing, if you find it illogical, I don’t even care. This article is part of my devotion. So it is biased in using biblical terms. I did not write this to please you or other people. I write this because I want to. So, again, illogical or not, it is just your opinion. Others may not even consider this as what you think it is. So it is OK. And I thank you for your time spent reading this. =)
I don’t think na magiging illogical kahit may satan2 because naka-base yung characterization niya kay Satan sa Bible and Satan is portrayed in the Bible just like what she said above.
Siguro magiging illogical lang siya kung sinasabi niyang pro and Bible sa mga bagay na pinopromote ng RH bill.
Hi Joanne .. I just want to say that i really like your article .. Too bad it took me this long before i found your article .. I am a member of a Anti RH Bill page in Facebook, and the moment i read your article, i felt so inspired to share it to my fellow Lifemates .. (that’s what i call my co-anti’s) ..
Anyway, i really admire you, and thank you for sharing this to us .. You have such a wonderful gift, you’re able to convey your thoughts in writing, not all people have that kind of gift, so use it wisely ..
Continue inspiring people Joanne, again thanks you very much 🙂
Hi JCP,
Thank you, too for taking time reading and sharing this. Let us keep fighting a good fight and continue praying for the best of this country! =)
I am doing the best i can. i would like to invite you on our page in Facebook, the Anti RH BIll page,if you have tome,please drop by and share your insights 🙂 .. Thanks again Joanne, god bless you always .
Hi Joanne,
I admire you for your ability to write,express and organize your thoughts well.
I have read your article while researching my points for my upcoming debate, and this article of yours helped me a lot.
Thank you!
Your effort is commendable, although there are arguments of your that are blatantly non sequitur. Nice grammar, btw.
Hi joanne! This is a great article. Thank u for summarizing most of the reasons why we should oppose the bill. PNOY said that he wants to fast track the passing of the Rh bill this year, so we really need to be more vigilant on informing others of the truth behind this bill; and vigilant with our prayers also.
More power to your blog.
St. Michael, pray for us.
i really2 agree!!! .. i believe that overpopulation is not the real problem of our country!! its CORRUpTIOn..
and besides .. reproductive health bill losses the value of SEx as Desynded by GOD.
i agree with only a few things you wrote. but my main concern is that most fili[inos do not know the actual meaning of sex education in schools. they don’t teach how to have safe sex until high school when teens are prone to doing it. at grades 5 and 6 they teach WHAT is happening to the body. such as growth and development when it is actually happening to the students.
Joanne, I really admire you. =) I’ve read your entire post even your replies to your comments.
Please keep enlightening people under God’s wisdom. Let’s continue to fight the RH Bill, until no deceitful provisions shall give an inch to evil acts.
God bless you Joanne. =)
Thank you and God bless you, too!
Joanne you’re article is enlightening.The pros must read it.
God Bless
Thanks for your article Joanne, nice write..as a member of the hoi poloi, much is to be read and studied..it is an understatement to say that jim’s argument also made sense. anyway i guess we just have to wait and see next week whats in store for us…although i prefer to act on the matter
ahmm, would like to post your writing on facebook, if you don’t mind? thank you. 🙂
I hope it could help the pro-RH people to think things and have a change of heart and mind.
@Joanne dami mong npaaagree ah…sigurado ba kyo na hindi kayo magkakakilala??
I don’t really get the problem with this though,You can buy condoms,birth control pills etc right now,You could even buy abortion pills(illegally though).I don’t really get what all the fuss is about.Also i don’t really get why sex is a such a stigma here,If it’s so wrong then,why don’t we just outlaw it completely,even marital sex,for procreation we’ll just use artificial insemination,Plus its nice how there’s a de facto union of church and state here.
On my observation, it’s such a trend lately that those politicians who are anti-RH are the trapos in the government, narrow-minded, corrupt officials who doesn’t want change. Few ex, Sen Enrile, Ex Pres. Gloria Arroyo, Sotto, Trillanes, Villar etc and those who are Pro RH are the politicans, with clean records in public service, who wants to improve the life of the Filipinos, ex. President Aquino, Miriam Santiago, Angara, Drilon, Pia Cayetano, Osmena, etc. And so as in the congress… Why?
does the church also follow this trend?
ate pede ko po tong gamitin reference ..,.gagamitin ko lng po sa debate.?tnx po…
Ate pwede ko po ba tong magamit sa aking debate? Salamat po…..
Pwede po. Go ahead. Thanks.
Salamat po..God Bless 🙂
Salamat sa iyong tulong!!! GUSTO KITANG BIGYAN NG MALAKING PASASALAMAT……..dI KO aakalaing may tao palang ganito sa mundo!! Ikaw ang anghel ng aking buhay!!!! isa kang bayaning maitutulad kay Rizal, marangal, makatarungan, at makabayan……….SALAMAT>…….=D
It was a very good article and straightly pointed out what should be addressed. On the other hand, have you been in the slum or in the remote areas in the country? Have you experienced giving community health care? I believe not, because you are only taking much of the consideration of what should not be taken from you in terms of the taxes that will be taken out from your salary. Don’t you think its about time to think about what will happen in the country in the future if we start now educating people? I have seen them..and the poor and poorest continues to reproduce, teaching their children to work at a very young age just to make a living. Silang mga namamalimos sa kalye and we cannot do something about it, we even tolerate child labor syndicates to corrupt those children. The more na dumadami ang mga bata, the more na dumadami ang syndicates. More so, the authorities nor the church cannot do something about it as well. Those poorest who rather stay outside the church than goes inside, who sometimes run when there are police coming towards them. They are too many all over the city. Who will educate them? And it will continue to happen if we do not do something about it. If there will be no one to guide and assist them, they will not know exactly what to do. Its not literally stopping them from getting pregnant but to educate them the consequences of having big and extended family. Take again Nene at age 13 gets pregnant in the slum for she can’t go to school and have no enough knowledge on what to do. So, who do you think who can help her? There are thousands..millions of them here. Can we monitor them all and help them one by one?
kudos for this. i for one is not pro RH Bill.
[…] https://joanneconstantino.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/10-reasons-why-we-should-kill-rh-bill/ […]
this says it all, would you mind if i share this to facebook? i hope it’s okay, thank you
The RH Bill is not methods of satan.. But before anything else, first I want to give my opinion..
This is my reason why my stand is to support the RH Bill
It is God’s commandment to control the population
As Clearly stated in the Holy Scriptures:
Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, BE FRUITFUL, AND MULTIPLY, AND REPLENISH THE EARTH, AND “SUBDUE” IT: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
As I quote again the very words of God: “BE FRUITFUL, AND MULTIPLY, AND REPLENISH THE EARTH, AND “SUBDUE IT”, it is quite clear in this statement that God orders the first couple to multiply which also means to populate or reproduce and replenish the earth, he did not say “OVERFILL IT”, did he? Once the population reached the level that the earth is fully replenished, God said:
“SUBDUE IT”
SUBDUE means:
“SUBDUE : verb, to bring under control [Webster’s 3rd New International Dictionary]”
See, my dear fellowmen, God did commanded us human beings to be responsible for this matter, that we should subdue or put the population under control.
Because if we were not able to provide the needs of our children or was not able to take care the members of our own family, because they are too many the Bible stated this:
1 Timothy 5:8 “But if any do not take care of their relatives, especially THE MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN FAMILY, they have denied the faith and are WORSE THAN AN UNBELIEVER.” [Good News Bible]
How we would be able to afford the expenses of a large family members these days? Due to the fact that the prices of prime commodities are continuously rising.
The “Natural Method” is not approved by the Scriptures
The Catholic Church rejects the RH Bill, since it will be promoting the usage of Artificial Contraceptives, because they are promoting the Natural or Rythmic Method to avoid pregnancy. This method requires the married couple to avoid having intercourse in certain periods, which also known as abstinence. This method is not allowed by the Bible, as the holy book clearly states:
1 Corinthians 7:3-5 “A man should fulfill his duty as a husband, and a woman should fulfill her duty as a wife, and EACH SHOULD SATISFY THE OTHER’S NEEDS. A WIFE IS NOT THE MASTER OF HER OWN BODY, BUT HER HUSBAND IS; IN THE SAME WAY A HUSBAND IS NOT THE MASTER OF HIS OWN BODY, BUT HIS WIFE IS. DO NOT DENY YOURSELVES TO EACH OTHER, UNLESS YOU FIRST AGREE TO DO SO FOR A WHILE IN ORDER TO SPEND YOUR TIME IN PRAYER; but then resume normal marital relations. In this way you will be kept from giving in to Satan’s temptation because of your lack of self-control.” [GNB]
The married couple should fulfill or satisfy each other’s needs, and the Bible clearly stated that they should not avoid each other, because both of them are masters of their bodies as I quote again: “A WIFE IS NOT THE MASTER OF HER OWN BODY, BUT HER HUSBAND IS; IN THE SAME WAY A HUSBAND IS NOT THE MASTER OF HIS OWN BODY, BUT HIS WIFE IS.” The Bible said: “DO NOT DENY YOURSELVES TO EACH OTHER, which clearly objects the Natural and Rythmic Method.
But the Anti-RH Bill would say:
It said also in that verse that: “DO NOT DENY YOURSELVES TO EACH OTHER, UNLESS YOU FIRST AGREE”, Isn’t it that the Natural Method functions that way? The couple will agree not to have intercourse during the fertile period?
The question is what if one of the couple, say the husband, feel that he wants it during that period, so the agreement is forfeited, since the husband is the master of his wife’s body, can the wife disagree? The Bible said: “EACH SHOULD SATISFY THE OTHER’S NEEDS’’ and “DO NOT DENY YOURSELVES TO EACH OTHER’’, so their agreement not to have sexual intercourse ends there.
So what’s gonna happen after that? Therefore a risk of having a baby is inevitable. That’s where Artificial Contraceptives save the situation. It is safe and far more effective than the Rythmic Method that the Catholic Church promotes.
The couple can satisfy each other, therefore they will not disobey what the Bible said, and at the same time follow another commandment of God which he said “SUBDUE IT” or put it under control…It’s like hitting two birds in one stone, isn’t it?..
The True Reason why the Catholic Church oppose the RH Bill
Of course the Catholic officials were not dumb not to comprehend that the Natural Method is only effective for those women with regular menstrual periods, and totally inappropriate to be used by those women that have irregular periods, and they knew so well that if that method will not work, of course a new baby will be born from a Catholic couple, and that means A NEW CATHOLIC MEMBER.
The Catholic Church do not propagate or increase their member’s number by inviting people to join them in their religion, have you ever noticed that not even a single program in the television, radio, or newspaper that the Catholics have that is convincing non-Catholics to join their church?
That’s why the reason for opposing this RH Bill is quite obvious whether they admit it or not.
The RH Bill is a BIG THREAT to the CATHOLIC CHURCH’s CONTINUOUS GROWTH.
Was Baptizing innocent infants a commandment from God and Jesus Christ? Ask a Catholic a verse as a reference if anyone would like. Believe me they can’t show you not even a single one…
Jesus Clearly states:
Mark 16:15-16 “He said to them, “Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people. WHOEVER BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED; whoever does not believe will be condemned.” [GNB]
Does an infant pass this requirement?
That a person to be baptized should be taught by the gospel first, then he should believe then that’s the only time he is qualified for baptism.
Can a baby understand the Holy Scriptures? Does an infant have the capability to believe? I bet you can never answer YES.
And that means Infant Baptism is against the teachings of the Bible.
The problem on catholic church is they don’t have anything else proof about
that and there’s a self opinion follow in them bcoz they promote that the rh bill is abortion to encourage our countrymen to unite in their self opinion..
What are the moral aspects of the proposed bills that I support? Since modern methods of contraception—by preventing married couples from having any unplanned pregnancies—assist in supporting this Christian principle, I support their use as long as these methods are empirically not abortifacient. Abortion and the use of abortifacients involve the taking of life, which God explicitly forbids (Exod. 20:13).
as I quote again, the rh bill is not abortion..
I do not support the natural family planning method and all its variants. These so-called birth control methods depend upon abstinence on the part of the married couple when the woman is fertile but allows marital relations only when she is not. These methods are not only unnatural and ineffective but they also are immoral, since they contradict the commandment that God has given to married couples. The Bible instructs married couples not to deprive one another of intimate marital relations for long, extended periods of time; further, any abstinence at all for a married couple is supposed to be with the mutual consent of husband and wife and not for the purpose of preventing pregnancies (I Cor. 7:3-5).
Actually There’s no reason could not pass the RH Bill because first, It is God’s will to put it under control the population and there’s a lot of benefits that indicate in the RH Bill. It is good opportunity for all parent’s if the RH Bill will pass because this is the time to follow the good ethics to all their young man/woman who does want to be a good parent’s in the future and to be responsible in their family to provide them of their children with food, shelter and clothing as well as proper education and religious and moral training especially they follow the commandment of God because all parent’s have a moral obligation to plan the number of their children and provide their needs of his own household. If you open your eyes and mind I think you could easily to understand the dire situation of our country cause by overpopulation.. Please do not encourage yourself to be selfish, remember first the welfare a lot of many before our self..
that’s why; It will be very difficult for us to unite, if our own personal beliefs stands on the way. Why not we neglect and disregard our own personal views, and only accept and obey what is written in the Bible as our guidelines of truth. By this way we will all be united, and that’s the will of God:
John 17:23 “I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me.” [Good News]
Anyway, Thanks Joanne for your message about RH Bill, I do appreciate your time..
good read