Helping abortion workers find freedom

There is something grim about praying for people who commit grave harm on others -- not the kind that involves mentioning them and their rehabilitation and then that's it (though a sincere prayer said this way of course gains merit as well in the eyes of God). I'm talking about keeping them in mind for an extended period of time, just like I did for the second time several days ago.

It was a day or two after news of the cash-for-baby-organs being carried out by Planned Parenthood broke out that I decided that my rosary for the day would be offered for everyone involved in that organization -- current and past. So for nearly 30 minutes, my heart and mind were fixed on the scenes from the Gospel, praying the prayers to please the Lord, and doing it all for abortion providers. It had quite a sobering effect.

I recalled the first time I did a similar thing -- it was around 2008 or 2009 and my co-worker Petrufied and I decided to participate in the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity in our own way. It was an annual event carried out in schools across the US and a few other countries whereby students keep silent the entire day and hand out materials  that express their life-affirming values and explain why abortion is wrong. Most of the participants put adhesive tape over their mouth with the word LIFE written on the tape. We didn't do it that way but I remember Petrufied wore a bright red and black bandanna around her wrist like a cuff (I don't remember what symbol I used, though).

On that day when I prayed the rosary, my sole intention was all abortionists out there. It sure felt strange offering prayers for people whom you knew killed babies regularly and for a living, but since they were committing such atrocious acts, I did my best to pray with as much attentiveness, love, and spirit of penance as I could.

It's easy to regard abortion workers as "the bad guys" because let's face it -- no matter how one twists and turns the issue to make abortion look like a necessity or a noble service for women or a selfless thing to do or the saving grace of poor women, it is basically the killing of a human being. In fact, it is considered a failure when the baby survives. Imagine calling something a success when the growing baby inside his/her mother's womb dies as a result of the procedure.

I just had a thought: if an abortion doctor or anyone who assists in abortions happens to be reading this, I assure you that hope is something you will get out of this, so let me get right to what I had set on sharing when I started this post. Abby Johnson, a former director of a Planned Parenthood facility in Texas, left the industry several years ago, but her journey didn't end there. She had the abortion clinic workers in mind when she put up And Then There Were None, a non-profit organization that helps clinic workers leave the abortion industry. More than 100 workers have broken free of the industry since And Then There Were None opened its doors so far. There really is hope. Have a look:






And Then There Were None website

And Then There Were None Facebook page

Marching to your own beat -- home-style

The kind of music one is listening to can, to a certain extent, affect the person's mood. Take the choice of songs on your playlist and how this influences your driving experience. Have you tried working your way through horrendous traffic jams or navigating along major streets known for the presence of "King of the Road"-minded drivers with hard rock and heavy metal playing over your speakers? How about trying to stay awake on the third hour of driving alone with only stretches of corn fields as your view on both sides of the road, while listening to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (1st movement), Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2, or Brahms' Lullaby over and over? While listening tastes vary with each person, there is normally a link between auditory stimulation and a person's mood. Which is why I suddenly got the idea of accompanying my next dishwashing session (actually, chore-doing in general) with a particular sound that I accidentally stumbled on when the Strauss waltzes playlist was all done -- which I had discovered later on -- and wafting over the speakers was a jubilant, strikingly robust tune.

I didn't know Strauss also composed music for marching bands. I thought his was all waltzes for balls and royal banquets, I said to myself. Curious, I peeked at my computer and saw that since YouTube now has a tendency to go on to the next video as soon as the last one is done unless the viewer/listener clicks on the pause or stop button, a non-Strauss thing was playing. It was called "The best Austro-German Military Marches"! What do you think of that? It sure was lively and it reminded me of parades and country fairs that I had never attended but seen in movies and on television.

Well, I could use this kind of jubilant mood while I do the dishes! I thought. Lately the enthusiasm with which I greet and carry out the tasks at home (dishwashing, cleaning, preparing meals, and the little cooking I do) had been dwindling, making me again wish I had Jedi powers to work the sponges, rags and brooms while seated comfortably from afar or even while blogging and chatting on Facebook simultaneously.

Sure, taking care of the home -- which includes doing some work (sometimes a lot of work) for its upkeep and often putting the needs of your loved ones on top of yours -- is a duty of love, with that last word deserving of the emphasis. There are no menial tasks, Petrufied underscores here. After all, "house chores, though effectively tiresome and repetitive, are never a lowly occupation. It takes some know-how to get them done well, some patience to get them done at all, and a lot of love to get them done with ease," she writes.

That's not to say we're spared from feeling bored when things seem to become monotonous and in instances that going out of the house for this and that other errand (or for some window-shopping!) is simply not an option. Regular rest is necessary, and if you must, "embroider" the tasks so that they don't make you fall into the feeling of drudgery, especially when keeping the house clean and cheery, doing kitchen work for your family, and all-around keeping the home in tiptop shape are such noble tasks. What "embroidery" is that? Nothing about needlework here; it means doing what you can to make them more exciting -- like what I plan to do the next time I'm in the kitchen working the sponge and suds. I've had quite a few different musical genres accompany me at the sink but this Austro-German Military Marches will be a first! Let's see how that'll work out! I'm pretty thrilled at the thought. Wish I had a Sgt. Pepper costume to go with it!

war and PEACE

"You can bomb the world to pieces... but you can't bomb it into peace."

 

The big picture at a glance (with a dinosaur doing a cameo)

All this talk lately about the "reproductive health" bill or RH bill has been keeping more and more people occupied on separating truth from falsehood. And one thing I'm grateful for is that more of the facts have been brought out, and more sound views have been circulating on the internet.

Not everyone, though, has much time (or the inclination) to read and make heads or tails of numerous scientific findings, analytical write-ups or opinion pieces. But that's no reason to keep oneself from being informed. Here, some graphics that show the big picture and help one realize just what's been going on. Make sure you really ponder on that last question down there.

Then, to really get people out of the dark, I'm putting a link to an article that's quite revealing about the people who are deeply involved in the RH agenda, and what you should know about them. This has been making the rounds of Facebook, but then social networking sites are not top priority for everyone. So if you missed this, no biggie. Here it is.















The Road to Legalized Abortion

"Baby capsules," normalizing aberrant behavior, and a great movie

A look back at the goings-on in May as far as the culture of life is concerned.


A new Hollywood movie that breaks the rules

After peaceful protests failed, Mexico's "Cristeros" formed an army to fight the government in the name of defending their religious freedom. The three-year war cost 56,000 lives, but in the end, the Cristeros mostly prevailed.

Hollywood wouldn't be expected to touch a topic that put Christians in a heroic role.

But that isn't where the film's uniqueness starts: "Many Mexicans have never heard of the Cristiada," Garcia told IBD. The film was made not by Hollywood producers, he said, but by a Mexican producer who wanted to inform his countrymen about their own invisible past.

"It's a fairly taboo topic in Mexico, where the history has been swept under the rug," Garcia said. "They did it because they believed in it."

* * * * *

A gay pride parade in Moscow

Pro-family activist Dmitry Tsarionov told reporters: “I will not allow perverts to bring the wrath of God onto our city,” and added: “I want our children to live in a country where a sin that so awfully distorts human nature is not preached in schools,” according to the Associated Press.

* * * * *

Christians, Muslims, Buddhists uniting to fight abortion in Mauritius

Catholics and Anglicans in the island nation of Mauritius have organized a common front against legislation under debate to legalize abortion, while United Nations bureaucrats and the “human rights” group Amnesty International are urging the government to approve the bill.

The two religious groups have also joined with representatives of other religions, including Muslims and Buddhists, to create the “Platform for Life,” an umbrella group that affirms the fundamental value of human life. A rally held by the Platform on May 20th, the day the bill was debated in Parliament, reportedly drew 400 people, including religious leaders, doctors, politicians, and pro-life activists.

* * * * *

Former boy band member who turns pro-life advocate

Just because abortion is legal does not make it right. There was a time in this country when denying a woman the right to vote was legal. Was it right? No. There was a time in this country when slavery was legal. Was it right? No way.

* * * * *

40+ Catholic institutions suing Obama government

This lawsuit is about an unprecedented attack by the federal government on one of America’s most cherished freedoms: the freedom to practice one’s religion without government interference. It is not about whether people have access to certain services; it is about whether the government may force religious institutions and individuals to facilitate and fund services which violate their religious beliefs.

* * * * *

Doctors in India who feed aborted girls to dogs

“A person even saw a foetus being fed to the animals. This is known to everyone in Beed, but the police are not taking action as Munde is influential,” Deshpande said.

She added that some other doctors in Beed kept dogs for the same purpose – to avoid the hassle of disposing of the bodies.

* * * * *

A president who opposes right to life admits and who admits opposing marriage, too

The main stream media is abuzz over the acknowledgement by President Barack Obama in an interview with ABC News that he no longer supports marriage as between one man and one woman. The politically correct way of writing about his announcement would be to follow the verbal engineers in the Human Rights Campaign, the Nation's largest Public Interest Law Firm promoting what they call the "LGBT Agenda", and say the President supports "marriage equality". I will not do so. The President opposes marriage.

* * * * *

Pulverized babies made into "health-enhancing" capsules

These pills, sold as a “stamina enhancer” and to “cure certain diseases,” are being smuggled across China’s border and into South Korea. Some fear that the pills may begin to appear on the internet for sale worldwide. A South Korean documentary team first brought this horrific trade to light in the summer of 2011. The San Francisco Times reported on the team’s findings:

The Korean team acquired the dead baby capsules and ran DNA tests on it. The test results reportedly indicated the pills were 99.7 percent human. The test also found hair and nail remnants, and even the gender of the baby could be identified.

Nobody relishes sharing weird news, especially that which makes it undeniable that there is a diminishing regard for the lives of persons. So let me end this post with the trailer of the movie mentioned above, a movie that at least shows that "Hollywood," "substance" and "integrity" can be compatible. I hope this'll will be shown in my country, too!

Young heroes come out of the woodwork

Sometimes it seems that only superheroes can save the day or make the world right again. Wouldn't it be great to be able to flash the bat signal each time help was needed after some crime was committed? Or, you know, Superman patrolled the skies just in case someone was in dire need of his assistance?

But nah, that's for the comic book. We're in the real world where the most that superheroes do is have us enjoy a couple of hours in the theater watching their crime-fighting moves to save the day and make the world right again. In the real world, it is we -- not caped crusaders or science-lab-accident-products -- who act, influence, improvise, defend and fight (if necessary) to uphold the good. In other words, the promotion of truth and the pursuit of justice are in our hands.


Recently, though, I couldn't help but think of a bunch of young dudes as a Justice League of sorts. That a Marvel Comics-based flick is abuzz boosts the comparison. And how can one not think of them as some kind of heroes when they're going against the current, speaking out with a message that is -- at the moment -- not the popular one in mainstream culture, and doing so in a nation where keeping quiet is the default setting when there's the risk of ruffling a few feathers?

The "reproductive health" bill or RH bill has enjoyed "ooohs" and "aaahs" from either misinformed or lacking-in-love-for-country fellows for years, and the bill's proponents and supporters have been the noisier party in the culture of life / culture of death equation. But the tide has been turning in the United States, and whether we like it or not, when the US sneezes, the whole world catches a cold. Add to that several incidents and developments happening on our own shores that have prompted more and more Filipinos to have a say -- actively -- in what's happening as far as the RH bill is concerned. And now we have the future of the nation speaking out -- the youth... not to say that birth control is a right that ought not to be denied young people, or that it is useless to expect teens to be interested in other things besides getting laid so might as well go by low standards and feed their minds with more provocative materials for six years -- and make it super-easy for them to get their hands on condoms, OCs and every other pregnancy-prevention drug and device there is. No, none of them even implied that an RH measure would propel the Philippines to catch up with the rest of the modern world and hopefully achieve economic progress, too.

The two ladies and four gentlemen who represented a youth coalition during a press conference on May 7 showed precisely what the youth are capable of -- capable of understanding, of doing, of achieving, even of blasting when it comes to stereotypes that portray young people as cynical,self-focused dudes who couldn't care less about the future of their generation and their country. Here's what one of them said, reading from the statement of the organization he represented:

“This is a call to solidarity. The youth now calls upon the entire nation to rally behind us and demand that the Reproductive Health Bill… be laid to rest once and for all. The bill must never be passed, not just because it is uneconomic, not just because it is unhealthful, not just because it is impracticable, not just because it is flawed, but, most importantly, because it divides our people. A nation divided is easily conquered. Indeed, we face the threat of being conquered by the motives of larger, more powerful nations who dangle the promise of aid and support in exchange for the shifting of our mindsets, the erudition of our values, and the degradation of our values as Filipino families and individuals. Against this, we must stand united.”

Engineering student Kiboy Tabada is the head of UP for Life -- a system-wide alliance of students, faculty, staff and alumni of the University of the Philippines -- and it was also he who read out loud the manifesto titled Our Voice, Our Vote after all the groups had read their statements.

"Why the haste to force uncertainty into reality when you have in your hands the opportunity to give the Filipino people what they really, direly need: quality education and employment opportunities, genuine rural development, and the protection of the integrity of the Filipino family and society? Opposition to the RH bill would not have lingered if the arguments against it were not valid, if the chances of detriments were slim, and if the strong need for it were justified," he continued.

The five other youth leaders representing CFC-Singles for Christ - Youth for Christ (Raymond Ibarrientos), Youth Pinoy! (Eilleen Esteban), Federation of National Youth Organizations (Lea Dasigan), Columbian Squires (Allen Paolo Guballa) and National Capital Region Youth Ministry (Peter Pardo) delivered their respective groups' statements, after which came the open forum. Expectedly, there were questions about the validity of their claims, especially after other noisier groups who enjoyed more mainstream media mileage had been giving the impression that the youth sector is unmistakably behind the birth control measure. Singled out was the National Youth Commission, the youth office of the government, whose programs and direction are all geared toward promoting the coercive RH bill and all that it stands for.

The replies from the youth panel were candid and simple:

“The National Youth Commission–opisina lang ho ‘yan ng gobyerno, and what we all know is [the government supports the] RH bill, kaya po [‘yang bill ay] nandoon at hindi naibabasura” (The National Youth Commission is only an office of the government, and what we all know is [the government supports the] RH bill, that is why that bill is there and is not being junked), said Esteban of Youth Pinoy!

“We are here on our own volition. We have the blessing of the CBCP but we have come here representing our organizations, wala po kaming pera, wala po kaming funding mula sa malalaking institusyon (we have no money, we have no funding from big institutions). At naniniwala po kami na kaya kami nandito ay malaki ang stake ng future namin dito sa bill na ito, na gusto naming maibasura (And we believe that we are here because our future has a big stake in this bill, which we want to be junked)."

A lot transpired during the press conference, and you can get the lowdown on what happened from this article (links to the statements of the different youth groups can be found there as well). The Our Voice, Our Vote Youth Manifesto can be read here, but allow me to quote from it:

We are for population management and development and we, too, dream of progress. However, genuine progress can never be achieved until our government genuinely invests in our people. Our population is an asset. Government must treat it as an asset... While the RH bill posits itself as a comprehensive attempt to relieve itself of a particular ill, it is this very claim of comprehensiveness that blinds it from its cons. We cannot afford to gamble our future. We cannot afford to legislate what constitutes harm to our people.

It's no coincidence that the day these youth decided to declare their stand against the divisive measure that is the RH bill was also the resumption of Congress. Much depends on the legislators, which is why the youth who believe in the capabilities of the Filipino people and are asking the government to have the same faith and to empower the people, are working to have their true sentiments known.

Then on the eve of the resumption of Congress, some brilliant lights shone on a part of the UP Diliman campus. No, there was no UFO in sight, but the flicker of candles on one side of the sunken garden that for some minutes showed why there is indeed hope for this university that has been dismissed -- until recently -- as simply "going with the flow" as far as RH legislation was concerned.




A group of students quietly but firmly expressed their rejection of a proposed measure that ignores the real needs and the capabilities of the Filipino people and which yields to the subtle demands of foreign powers. And while such quiet demonstrations of protests and while more and more young people speak up just as the youth alliance's representatives did this week, there will be no need for caped crusaders or gravity-defying superheroes. They can simply stay on the silver screen (or the comic book page) and let us humans carry out the pursuit of justice and the promotion of truth. With allies like the six young fellows who stood quietly strong as they made their pronouncements, the job can undoubtedly be handled without superheroes.

One tough cookie... and something about cupcakes

It's almost 11pm and for some reason, my stomach is sending me signals: "I need food!"

Before I head for the kitchen, here are some interesting stories of the gustatory kind -- but they're not just your typical foodie news. It just goes to show that when it's the upholding of the culture of life that is the motivation, sky's the limit as regards ideas! Cupcakes for Life? Cookies for Life?





Grace Swanke is a 10-year-old who realized she didn't have to stop selling cookies, which she enjoyed immensely as part of the Girl Scouts. She could still do it -- she'd just have to bake them herself. Here's the story on her raising money via the cookies to help fund a medical pro-life women's center situated beside a Planned Parenthood facility (last year her cookie sales yielded nearly $600 to benefit an ultrasound machine project).

By the way, Grace's being an ex-Girl Scout is quite significant, and if you'd like to go directly to that angle of the story which delves on the Girl Scouts USA's involvement with Planned Parenthood and what happened at a United Nations meeting in 2010, check this out.





Another initiative that has taken the culinary route to spread the pro-life message is Cupcakes for Life. There's even a National Pro-Life Cupcake Day! Did you know that? It's celebrated on October 9 and it's a day when all these yummy cupcakes are given away! Wondering how it's tied in to the pro-life advocacy? Check out the website, which even has a cool video of the kids and their cupcakes (chatting it up with hungry or just curious passersby in New York) here.

The Cupcakes for Life photo is from the group's blog.

"You don't adapt to injustice; you oppose it"

That statement above is probably the most necessary and most striking statement people need to hear during these times. During these times of what? Well, in an era where it is easy to forget that all persons are to be protected from harm, and that a tiny baby's being inside his mother's womb since he's not due to be born yet does not wipe out his personhood (in the same way, personhood is not magically bestowed the moment a baby makes it to the "outside world" -- he is a person from day 1, and by "day 1" I am referring to conception).

Justice in all forms and in all aspects of daily life is what we ought to be striving for, and yet we know that for one reason or another, things are done -- sometimes on a grand scale -- which show that some people's sense of fairness seems to be based on extra-terrestrial standards. Who knows what their motivations are? It's only God who ultimately knows -- and knows completely -- what is in their heart. Still, we do what we can so that fairness prevails as much as possible.

Right now there is so much going on pertaining to the birth control mandate in the US; in fact, developments are happening so fast that it's hard to keep up. Plus, there's the wealth of information one has to sift through to know what's going on and to make sure you're getting the facts and sound analyses. So, I've gathered some of the (I believe) most factual accounts and analyses of the issue, from sources I trust. But first, something which should make you think, no matter what part of the culture of life/culture of death spectrum you're on right now:

"Think about this: the pro-abortion side has always cried for Christians to 'keep your rosaries off my ovaries,' yet they want Churches and religious organizations to fund their sex lives. Do you see the irony in this?

Imagine if the President mandated that all companies pay for every employee’s Bible, religious supplies and gas money to get to church. It is ludicrous to think we can force anyone to pay for this, so why is it ok to force companies to fund its employees’ bedroom activities?"

You'll find that in one of the articles I'm sharing below.

To start off, here's a graphic that illustrates the situation concisely:

This post from Mommy Life has an article dated Jan. 24 containing a statement from a US bishop about Obamacare's violence against Americans' First Amendment rights (for those who are still catching up on what the entire issue is all about, there's a bit of basic summary here).

Here's a piece from The Wall Street Journal that analyzes the situation, pre-"compromise". There's quite a bit of background information here as well. Dated. February 8.

Pro-life leader Bryan Kemper weighs in on the contraception mandate, too, and shares the official statement issued by Priests for Life National Director Fr. Frank Pavone about the lawsuit the organization is filing against the US government. If you'd like to go directly to the statement, it's here.

EWTN Global Catholic Network has also filed a lawsuit to stop the contraception mandate.

Though it has been mostly Catholics expressing their opposition to the trampling of constitutional rights, Evangelical Christians have begun to voice out their rejection of the mandate as well -- a most welcome and edifying development! Know more about it from here and here.

Then came the "accommodation" or "compromise" from the government as a result of the firm resistance from the people a couple of days ago. Is it any better? Judging from the response, it indicates a disdain for religious liberty even more.

Why abortion groups opposed the religious exemption but support the "compromise" (Jill Stanek)

Unacceptable -- former Vatican ambassador, Prof. Robert George, others respond (CatholicVote)

Update: President Obama's FALSE accommodation on birth control mandate -- it is actually worse. (Bryan Kemper)

"Adjustment" to HHS mandate nothing but a shell game (Pro-Life Action League)


Fr. Frank Pavone's statements should really be some kind of road map in these exciting times:

"The rule is unjust. You don't adapt to injustice; you oppose it."

On our own shores, the Philippines, the same thing is happening.

So, since Filipinos are basically great imitators, I rejoice over the vigorous opposition that defenders of life and liberty are carrying out against the tyrannical policies of the leader of the "Land of the free."

Let the tiny ones speak...

... even though in reality, they need us born ones to be their voice.

* Translation of Tagalog text: I AM PRO-LIFE! Hopefully you are, too. The RH Bill is one step toward legalized abortion in our country.

* February is PRO-LIFE MONTH in the Philippines!! Information about the different events can be found here (update: the Eucharistic celebration on Feb. 26 will be held at the main church in Antipolo instead of the Manila Cathedral). International speakers Michael Voris of RealCatholicTV.com and Luana Stoltenberg and Kay Painter of Operation Outcry are flying in for a series of speaking engagements, the schedule of which is here.

How's life around the planet?

A lot has been going on in the crusade to uphold the culture of life. Some of the news has been rather disappointing, and I'd like to highlight the positive developments and tidbits in this post. Here they are in five headlines:

Council of Europe votes against euthanasia
January 27, 2012. (Romereports.com) For the first time in decades, euthanasia has been directly rejected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

* * * * * * * * * *

Largest crowd ever for TeenSpeak 2012
- Posted by John (Jan. 31, 2012 at 11:48 am)

“Phenomenal!” “Absolutely fantastic!” “I loved it!”

These are just some of the comments that sum up the reaction of the more than 140 teens and adults who attended TeenSpeak 2012 on January 28 at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Brook, Illinois—the largest crowd we’ve ever had at a TeenSpeak conference!

* * * * * * * * * *

Miss Delaware: "Life is beautiful, and life begins at conception"
By Jessica Ferraro, Pubished Jan. 31st, 2012

Maria Cahill is not your typical Miss Delaware. Underneath the glittery dresses, and dazzling smile is a girl who is down-to- earth, motivated, and courageous.

* * * * * * * * * *

Spain's new government to eliminate homosexualist indoctrination
BY MATTHEW CULLINAN HOFFMAN

February 1, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Spain’s new government, swept into power in November after seven years of socialist rule, has announced the elimination of a controversial program to indoctrinate students with homosexualist and socialist ideology.

* * * * * * * * * *

Breaking news: Honduras court rules against morning-after pill
Posted on Feb. 2, 2012 by Wendy Wright

The Supreme Court of Honduras has ruled against the morning-after pill by one vote. This ruling covers the concept of morning-after pill, not just one brand. The decision isn’t available yet. The president of the supreme court was the deciding vote.

Slipping in unnoticed

Now that the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona has started, and a good part of the Philippine population is fixated on the issue, I can't help but remember this. After all, it's easier to slip in when no one's looking --







Vigilance is key.

The brave bunch

On Friday last week, the campus of the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman saw some action.

Supporters of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill -- a piece of legislation that proposes taxpayer-funded, State-guaranteed procurement and distribution of the "full range" of birth control supplies and services -- held a demonstration to manifest their position. But that's not really what I'm blogging about.

Sure, rallies like this are noteworthy. But even more amazing is when a small group of students swims against the current and demonstrates a stand, which, till that day, had been regarded as the unpopular one on campus.






UP has long been known for fostering an environment of activism, encouraging the habit of speaking one's mind and standing up for one's beliefs. And on Friday I was pleasantly jolted back to this reality, that voicing out one's convictions was something I would witness on campus that day. I had no idea, though, that seeing the first signs of this freedom of speech would be so exhilarating.





As I entered the campus, from afar I saw patches of red on huge acacia tree trunks; coming closer I saw red ribbons and pieces of cloth tied around the trunks, some bearing the ubiquitous "No to RH Bill" stickers. What joy! "There is hope!" was my first thought upon setting eyes on the crimson representations of opposition to an oppressive proposed law that others seem to welcome with open arms, either out of ignorance, anger at perceived control freaks, misplaced idealism, or sheer disregard for the ones to suffer from such a measure.





I also spied the stickers on street lamps, waiting sheds, jeepney stops and other structures around the academic oval. Oh, joy! Never had I associated the "No" symbol (you know, the red circle with the diagonal line to indicate something forbidden) with fun or freedom more than when I was still in the habit of watching "Ghostbusters" cartoons on Friday nights in the '80s.





After driving around campus some more -- stopping several times to take snapshots -- then talking to some folks, I headed home. What an exhilarating experience! Who knew ribbons and stickers could have such an effect?

But it didn't end there. An RH march was scheduled in the afternoon, and I knew about a planned counter-activity that would express opposition against the RH bill around the same time. Nothing big, nothing spectacular. Still, I was thrilled that there were students in my alma mater who believed so intensely in their life-affirming principles that they would work so hard to make sure these principles were demonstrated in a campus that merely went with the flow as far as RH legislation was concerned.





They came from the direction of C.P. Garcia. When they appeared -- mostly garbed in red (the chosen color) -- each was holding a bunch of red balloons. A few of them had balloons attached to a piece of manila paper bearing the "No to RH" icon (the same one with the red circle and slash).





Pretty soon the group was nearing the oval, a few meters away from the AS steps, where a crowd of 100+ RH supporters along with some curious bystanders were gathered, listening to speeches.





As they turned and casually made their way toward the ongoing program, I couldn't help but admire these young souls even more. Not even curious gazes and clapping seemed to daunt them; as they approached the group gathered at the steps and I realized they were really headed straight for the people, anxiety momentarily enveloped me. But it left me right away as soon as I saw the gutsy bunch stop, UP Against RH-marked balloons still in hand, and linger as they probably wondered how to execute the release of the balloons as swiftly as possible (placards, after all, were attached to some of them).





Well, it wasn't much of a tough choice; all they had to do was pick a spot and let go. And let go they did, amid simultaneous cheering (why the anti-human-rights-of-the-unborn dudes were cheering, I couldn't say) and chanting of "Ipasa, ipasa....RH bill...." or something. Up, up and away went the balloons, with a few getting stuck in the canopy provided by lovely branches of the huge acacia tree, and one bunch attached to a "No to RH" sign being grabbed by someone who obviously thought nothing of claiming something as his even if it didn't belong to him. Oh, well.

What a display of composure and courage this bunch exemplified. And it wasn't because they were a brash, fearless lot. They weren't; they felt uneasy, and representing the silent majority the way they did was quite the challenge. For a moment there I had visions of David vs. Goliath, all because next to the people milling about the area, either actively taking part in the ongoing program or simply hanging out disinterestedly nearby, the group seemed to me like a child full of hope and idealism beside a much bigger, washed-up, jaded, overconfident grownup. And guess who triumphed?




I'm sure the deed was regarded by some as a senseless act, but when one knows it's backed up by conviction and a sincere desire to let truth and goodness prevail, it makes perfect sense.

What makes no sense is letting the news release about an event (the RH march) see cyberspace for over 24 hours when what it describes in detail (and in the past tense) are the happenings of the event that did not happen (translation: the RH march was originally scheduled for June 25 and was cancelled due to bad weather, yet a news release describing what "happened" was on a news and events website till some of us called their attention to it). Anyway, more details about that can be found here.

(If I may add, another thing that makes no sense to me is blowing up the official count of attendees in an event to, say, 800, when photos as well as eyewitness accounts show the actual count to be 200 at the most. If RH people were more truthful about such details, they would probably sway more people to their side)

Still, while inconsistencies on the other side continue, the side of Life remains dedicated to the truth. Even if truth for one day were symbolized simply by beribboned trees...






... or a bunch of red balloons.





Read a news story about the event here

Related story here

"Oasis of life"

In May 2010, actor and producer Eduardo Verastegui hosted a United for Life congress to benefit the construction of a pro-life medical center. An "oasis of life in the middle of a desert of death" was how he referred to the planned facility, since it was to be built in an area in which 10 abortion centers were located.

Now, the Guadalupe Medical Center is a 5,000 sq. ft-facility that caters to the needs of pregnant women and their unborn babies, in many cases providing pre-natal care services for free. The 10 abortion clinics are still there (within a one-mile radius of the center, to be more precise), but the presence of the pro-life facility has been responsible for hundreds of babies and their mothers being saved from the consequences of abortion, according to the director of a pro-life counseling center near Guadalupe Medical Center.

It's plain to see that Eduardo Verastegui is out to help make the world better for women and children. Read the story here


* Photo from Eduardo Verastegui official website (Spanish)

The Times of your Life

I still remember the day I got a crystal-clear but non-verbal reminder that I sorely need to get back to regular exercise.

It was a Tuesday and I was in the halls of the House of Representatives. Thanks to Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, I realized just how out of shape I was. I hoped for an exclusive interview and I got it. That it was less than 5 minutes is irrelevant; I got my answers and that's all that mattered.

But one thing I learned is that the world boxing champion walks really fast. I had to trail him from the plenary hall to his office in the adjacent building, and so as not to lose sight of him, I had to semi-run. Hence, by the time his party and I slowed down outside the building elevator, I was nearly out of breath (but of course trying to conceal it).

Small (and irrelevant) details aside, below are several articles I recently wrote for CBCP for Life, the portal launched by the media office of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines not too long ago which focuses on life and family issues and which contains not just news reports but Church documents, position papers of different groups, videos, podcasts, and many other resources necessary for anyone who wants to know more about and understand the issues. Expectedly, there's quite a lot you can read about House Bill 4244 or the reproductive health (RH) bill here since this piece of legislation is right smack in the middle of the whole issue.

Does the RH bill really promote freedom of choice? Can we call it a truly pro-women measure? If we're so family-oriented and life-loving, why is there such a thing as an RH bill that is even getting the rabid support of some dudes on our shores? Here are some articles, starting with the one containing Rep. Pacquiao's briefly stated insights, to shed more light on the proposed measure. Please feel free to share with others --

Commercial interests, lack of information behind support of RH

MANILA, June 3, 2011―Sectors that stand to gain materially from a reproductive health law are among the supporters of House Bill 4244, asserted Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.

When asked why something like an RH bill is being proposed by Filipino lawmakers and being supported by many despite being a naturally life-respecting and God-fearing people, the solon said that this can be attributed partly to the presence of big companies in the local birth control industry.

“Sa tingin ko ‘yan ay suportado ng mga naglalakihang companies dito sa atin―’yung mga gumagawa ng mga condoms, pills. Iyon ang sumusuporta dito para lumakas ang [business] nila.”

Based on the DKT International website that detailed figures concerning the Philippine market, the company’s program in 2010 sold over 40 million condoms, over 27 million oral contraceptives, over 1 million injectable contraceptives, and over 30,000 IUDs.

Full story

* * * * * * * * * *

RH Bill is anti-women, anti-human – lawyer

MANILA, June 18, 2011—Though often touted by its proponents as a necessary measure that responds to the needs of women, the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill is nothing like the pro-women piece of legislation its supporters make it to be, asserted a lawyer during a four-hour forum at the Sta. Isabel College, Manila.

“Marami diyan ang nagsasabi na pro-women sila. ‘We are for women, they say, but I tell you, nothing can be more anti-women than the RH bill. Bakit? Sino ang pinapalagok ng pills? Babae. Sino ang nagkaka-kanser? Babae. Sino ang ginagamitan ng condoms? Babae,” said Atty. Marwil Llasos, one of three representatives of Filipinos for Life.

And yet who basks in the pleasure everytime, he asked the audience. “Mga lalaki.”

No self-respecting woman should support the bill “because it violates your personhood. Ang babae sa ating pananampalataya ay minamahal, inaaruga at inaalagaan,” he said to the audience, composed mostly of female high school and college students as well as faculty members, who at this point responded with thunderous applause to Llasos’ statements.

The lawyer, also a staff apologist of the Defensores Fidei Foundation, expressed misgivings about the controversial bill for its apparent basic assumption that persons are incapable of self-control and of understanding truths about human sexuality.

Full story

* * * * * * * * * *

Lawyer blasts RH bill’s coercive nature

MANILA, June 20, 2011―The absence of respect for freedom of conscience in House Bill 4244 is among the reasons for one lawyer’s opposing the P3 billion measure.

In a June 17 forum on the RH bill held at Sta. Isabel College, Atty. Marwil Llasos of Filipinos for Life cited the provision concerning refusal to extend reproductive health services (Sec. 28. Prohibited Acts), which states that while the conscientious objector’s refusal due to ethical or religious beliefs is acceptable, he is required to “immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another health care service provider within the same facility or one which is conveniently accessible who is willing to provide the requisite information and services.”

In other words, if a doctor refuses to perform a vasectomy, for example, because he believes this to be unethical, the bill compels him to refer the patient to another doctor. The lawyer pointed out that this still goes against the first doctor’s conscience “because what you are prohibited from doing directly, you are mandated to do indirectly.”

“At mas imoral po ‘yon. Bakit? Kasi kung siya lang ang gagawa ng paglabag sa kanyang konsensya―halimbawa, nagbigay siya ng condom o pills, nag-perform siya ng vasectomy o naglagay siya ng IUD sa isang tao, siya lang ang nagkasala. But if he is going to refer to another doctor, dalawa na silang nagkasala,” Llasos pointed out.

Full story

* * * * * * * * * *

RH Bill shows State’s failure to protect women

MANILA, June 21, 2011―The State is remiss in its duty to protect the people’s right to health, based on the facts presented by pro-lifers in a June 17 forum on the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill or House Bill 4244 at the Sta. Isabel College, Manila.

Atty. Jo Aurea Imbong, Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Legal Office, alluded to a constitutional violation that the State is committing by mandating the distribution of dangerous drugs and devices as part of its family planning program.

Article II Section 15 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that “The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.”

The government has been carrying out its family planning program since the mid-1970s, facilitating the distribution of artificial contraceptives and now seeking to pour additional billions of the national budget into a proposed measure to ensure the swift procurement and distribution of the “full range” of contraceptives and reproductive health services despite established findings of grave side-effects.

“Ito po ang mga devices na pinamumudmod sa ngayon,” Imbong began, enumerating a list of drugs that are easily accessible to anyone in the local market in spite of serious health dangers that these pose, which the lawyer briefly explained.

Full story

Because "11 maternal deaths daily" continues...

...to be used to justify a piece of legislation that will mandate taxpayer-funded procurement, promotion and distribution of the "full range" of birth control drugs and devices -- and tax-funded provision of all birth control services -- here's something to make believers in the Reproductive Health Bill think more about what they are supporting:







There's another eye-opening video -- courtesy of Filipinos for Life -- about this issue, but that one is likely to remind you of Darth Vader :-)

Reality, accompanied by the valse

Makes you think, huh?

Learn more at Filipinos for Life

Nothing tender about legal tender

"How did the word 'monies' come about? Where did it start?" I asked a friend a few months ago.

"I don't know," she replied.

"Ask your friends. C'mon, try to trace where the word came from," I persisted, amused and amazed that new words keep cropping up and finding their way into mainstream usage. "Wonky" didn't use to be in anyone's vocabulary, and how come "interwebs" had to be coined when "Web" was just fine with its monosyllabic convenience? But "monies" I didn't mind. I liked the word "monies" and got a kick out of being able to use it, every time. I must admit that I use it in such a way that the word is the last one in the statement because as far as the subject-verb agreement is concerned, "...monies is..." and "...monies are..." both sound awkward to me.

Syntax notwithstanding, the concept of money being the root of all evil has occurred to me several times lately. I don't fully agree with it; I think "Love for money is the root of all evil" is closer to the truth, though I don't completely agree with it either. What I agree with completely is that taxation makes a lot of people miserable. Another thing I am convinced about: taking pains to know where your money goes is part of being a responsible person. Go by a budget, count your change, research on organizations which you choose to help financially. And practice vigilance when it comes to expenditures using taxpayers' money.

Check it out -- the first is an animated interpretation of the Beatles' "Taxman," followed by a simple accounting -- to the tune of the Imperial March, a relaxingly laid-back ukulele version -- of what Filipino taxpayers' money will fund should the RH bill be passed.

The volt-in for Life

March 25 was first established as the "Day for the Right to be Born" in El Salvador in 1993. Since then several other nations (many of them in Central and South America, but also including European countries and the Philippines) have been commemorating the date with their own festivities to mark what is now known as the "International Day of the Unborn."

It is fitting that the day of the solemnity of the Annunciation was chosen to mark a day dedicated to the rights of unborn people. And what a remarkable day it was in Manila this year, for the people were called to what was dubbed the grandmother of all rallies against the RH bill -- "Filipinos Unite for Life," a prayer rally in which not only the Catholic faithful took part but people professing other faiths as well. It was a huge gathering and, for me, an exhilarating one.

I took photos but I'm posting as well photos taken by Tito Robert, Haggai de Cena, Elmer Baguioro, and Corinne Medrana. [Click photos to see larger versions]




View from the stage of the Quirino Grandstand after the program had started. It was a hot afternoon but it didn't matter!





Petrufied and I parked inside Intramuros then proceeded on foot to the grandstand. Among the many who were walking with us were two nuns. They reminded me of "the living saint," of course.





Taken at past 4:00 pm. Still quite a lot of space on the grounds at this time, but at around 6:00, 6:30, the crowds swelled to over the "tens of thousands" that most mainstream media outfits reported.





The man's sign says "Stand up for human life, this is for our own achievement of peace" in Tagalog.




Each has a place under the sun. "How can there be too many children? That's just like saying there are too many flowers. - Mother Teresa" reads one sign. Another goes "The contraceptive lifestyle destroys the family."







She had a ready smile for me!





Blowing in the wind -- CFC Kids for Christ flag




More signs of the times. Left: Pregnancy is not a disease... Pills & condom are certainly not the cure! Right: Poverty is treatable...but not by pills & condom.



















Real pro-life fellas are happy, can you tell?




A quick snapshot of some "groupies" :-)




Former TV host Christine Jacob-Sandejas, one of the speakers at the event, had her whole brood with her.




Representatives of different religions declaring their support for life and family and their opposition to the RH bill.




Petrufied and I originally did not plan to stay for the Mass, but praying with the people and celebrating the Eucharist at this most crucial time became top priority.









Read about the event here

Another account can be read at Filipinos for Life

The homily given by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales is here