Marry, marry, quite contrary: Must we change the law to welcome bride-bride / groom-groom nuptials?

Just let them marry whomever they wish.

This line -- and other statements expressing a similar sentiment -- makes its way into conversations more often these days, whether such conversations are face-to-face or virtual. You'd think it's a plea or a piece of advice directed at a concerned parent hesitant to let go of offspring who are of proper age to make up their own minds about life decisions. Dad believes grownup daughter isn't ready for wedded life and is jumping into it with the wrong guy (imagined scenario). But no, the statement in this case is being directed -- on one level -- at citizens who recognize marriage as something meant to be entered into by one man and one woman. On a higher level, Just let them marry whomever they want  is being directed at the State, to persuade decision-makers to legally recognize marriage between members of the same sex.

It's simply a civil union, some say, and everyone has the right to be in a partnership that is recognized by society.

It seems quite simple, and adjusting the law to accommodate the request of some individuals insisting on their preference may be regarded as a step toward justice for all. Is it simple? And would it be just to make such adjustments on the law? Most importantly, would it be the right thing to do?

Give them what they want, seems the easiest route to take. But think about what my friend Mark pointed out here, about whether believers that marriage should be between one man and one woman, should seek to stop the legislation of same-sex "marriage". I quote his written remarks:

It has been said that state-sanctioned marriage is civil, not religious in nature. Christians will not be forced to solemnize same-sex "marriages". We will not be forced to attend those. In short, we will not be affected. Hence, we have no reason to oppose same-sex "marriage". Worse, they say, the only reason we oppose [it] is our homophobia, our fear and hatred of same-sex couples.

But is this the case? No.

The motivation for us to take a stand in the political and legal arena is that we recognize the Law as one of the highest expressions of our collective beliefs. Modern liberals believe that the Law is simply the rules of the game. We do not believe so. We believe that the Law embodies what our people believe in. It forms the collective teaching we impart to the generation after us.

If we legislate same-sex "marriage", we in effect as a people say that same-sex relations, in the context of marriage which is inherently a sexual relationship, are OK. But that is precisely what we do not want to say. We do not think such relationships are OK. We do not think people will find complete fulfillment in those relationships. Hence, we are committed by our conscience to fight such a legislation. And we have a right and a duty to do so as citizens of this nation, to participate in the debate as we chart our nation's direction.

This is not yet an argument against same-sex "marriage". Rather, this is an argument against those who seek the passage of a law allowing same-sex "marriage" on the mere basis that we believers in "traditional marriage" will not be affected anyway. The basic answer to those people is that that is not true. We will be affected, as our children and children's children will be affected.

Apparently, it takes a broader perspective to see the entire picture, and a more other-centered mindset to learn to consider the repercussions of one's actions on the rest of society.

Stop the presses!

Or maybe that should be "Hold the publish button!"

Before anything else, share this with every atheist you know. And every believer, too. Everyone is bound to learn something new here.

It's more fun in...

Now here's a place whose beauty will soon be discovered by more and more people the world over -- and I'm not even just referring to the picturesque scenes one can enjoy here. Cebu -- located in the central-southern part of my country, the Philippines -- has among the most captivating beaches on the planet (even international travel publications have attested to this) but the province's charm goes way beyond these. It's the people, the food, the fiestas, the history, and a whole lot more. Nevertheless, the captivating sights and sites of Cebu are truly something, as shown in this short video.

And now that major refurbishment on the Mactan-Cebu International Airport will soon be underway, that means more travelers discovering the place and probably wanting to go back again and again.

war and PEACE

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

 

Of grateful hearts and long-time allies

On May 13 -- that's less than two weeks from the time I'm writing this -- Filipinos will troop to the poll centers to elect their national and local leaders. That things have become more heated than I expected is an understatement. But today there is reason to be elated, for an invitation to set aside differences and to unite as a truly pro-life force has been extended. Now would anyone with authentically life-affirming aspirations for the nation and its people brush aside such a unifying invitation? It is much like a neon sign that flashes "hope".

Atty. Marwil Llasos, a senatorial candidate running under the Ang Kapatiran Party, expressed his call for unity days after accepting an endorsement by the White Vote Movement (WVM). In the message he wrote on his blog, it was apparent that a servant's heart and a general docility were at work, thereby his expressing gratitude for the endorsement and extending the invitation for all working for the cause of life to "put aside for the moment whatever little differences we have and focus instead on the remaining days of the campaign."

Llasos also said that he did not actively seek the WVM endorsement "simply because I do not really actively seek the endorsement of any group. I respect the freedom of the discernment process of each group."

"Contrary to the inaccurate and confusing reports," he added, "I am not declining the WVM [endorsement]. I owe it to my supporters and to the causes that I espouse to accept the endorsement of WVM with a grateful heart."

Read his entire message here

While the lawyer demonstrated hints of statesmanship and a quiet docility even before his candidacy sees fruition, others who have spent years in the political arena are also busy making the rounds of the campaign trail. Among them is former Congresswoman Mitos Magsaysay, who had been Zambales Representative for several terms and was quite involved in formulating legislative measures and working with the rest of the pro-life solons for legislation promoting respect for life, family, and women's welfare, among other vital issues.

Notwithstanding her participation in several public debates on the controversial Reproductive Health bill, she made sure she empowered school- and community-based audiences by speaking to them about the folly of the measure. I was fortunate to attend several of such speaking engagements, in which part of her message was often the fact that the citizens are stakeholders in the matter and have every right to influence the direction of legislation. "May karapatan kayong makialam," was among the reminders she would tell the people.

Personally, I am reassured by the presence of Mitos Magsaysay in the legislature because while many other government officials (current and aspiring) claim to be pro-women, it is in her that I find an authentic concern for women. She is one of the authors of the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) -- signed into law in 2009 -- and has repeatedly called on government to do what must be done for the measure to be implemented. Further, she acknowledges the shortcomings of the government when it comes to implementation of laws.

Here's an excerpt from an article about one of the senatorial candidate's talks given in 2011:

“Marami pong nagbubuntis sa distrito ko pero hindi ko sila kailangang bigyan ng contraceptives. They undergo tests, are examined by doctors just to make sure that theirs will be safe pregnancies,” she related, adding that vitamins and other nutritional supplements are provided to pregnant women by her office for free; smooth transactions at the hospital come delivery time are also ensured via PhilHealth cards also provided to the women by the solon’s office.

The congresswoman from Zambales likewise mentioned procuring necessary medical equipment for the health centers in her district as part of the program.

“That’s where good governance comes into play…kasi kapag hindi mo inilaan sa tamang programa ang pondo mo, kahit na ano pang batas ang gagawin natin sa Kongreso, hindi din po ‘yan magiging successful. Wala silang magagawa sa implementation,” the solon said.

Read the whole thing here

Another ally that has for years been in the crusade to keep pro-life legislation alive is Buhay Party list, that which has seen solons such as Rene Velarde, Michael Velarde, Carissa Coscolluela, Hans Christian Seneres and Irwin Tieng representing it. It was organized in 1999 by then-Manila mayor Lito Atienza -- himself one of the partylist's nominees for this term -- and Mel Robles, after which the two sought out El Shaddai servant leader Mike Velarde and requested him to lead the Buhay party list advocacy.

I only recently learned of the party list's record in the elections through the years since 2001, when it first won two seats in the House of Representatives: in the 2001 elections it ranked 12th; in 2004 it ranked 4th; in 2007 it was the number 1 party list! In the 2010 elections it placed 3rd. 

Through the years Buhay has been making sure that anti-life legislation is kept at bay, and the sanctity of human life is upheld, the rights of individuals are respected, that care for the elderly, the sick and disabled are given due attention so that laws are responsive to their needs, too. "Maka-Diyos, maka-tao, maka-kalikasan, maka-bansa," it says on the brochure I have which details the party list's principles and programs of government. 

What bills/laws have the party list filed and passed in the past Congresses? Find out here

When it's people and groups like these working together to uphold a culture of life by way of legislation and governance, I see words like "hope," "success" and "thank God" flashing in neon signs. There is definitely hope for our nation, no matter how long and arduous the path will be!

Pep talks on the battlefield

Movies that revolve around sports are rife with scenes of pep talks. It's the same with flicks with plots that involve a teacher and wayward students. There's always bound to be one big scene in which the mentor will deliver some speech meant to push the mentee to give his all and defy his limits.

Have you ever heard such a speech in any movie that has the mentor talking about how convenience and comfort are the path to success? That commitment and sacrifice are better off forgotten? That aiming high is for losers? How about "Do whatever catches your fancy, and throw integrity, service and hard work out the window"? No, such lines and ideas sound more like what the enemy, the bad guy, the traitor would say to his minions or an apprentice he's training for life on the dark side.

Movies about basketball or football games may be worthwhile viewing for such plots and scenes, and though they're just movies, they may reflect slices of  real life. For instance, one lesson that's repeatedly conveyed in such films is that attitude is instrumental in a person's road to success or descent to defeat. And in this case, it's all about a basketball game, or a football championship, or a shot at a college education (if it's one of those maverick teacher - "dead-end future" students scenarios) that's at stake -- petty compared to, say, if it's the future of Middle Earth, the survival of Jedi Knights, or diplomatic relations between powerful countries hanging in the balance.

Think of the movies about wars and battles you've seen, and you're unlikely to remember any motivational speech given by the leader of the good guys that puts vice on a pedestal and downplays virtue, that doesn't tell the men to rise to the challenge or get out of their comfort zone. Right now I'm thinking of Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King since I saw parts of it today on TV.  Aragorn's speech outside the gates of Mordor is striking and rousing, one that men of valor would need to hear when up against evil (and seriously grotesque) opponents and they feel they are on the losing side. I couldn't help but liken the situation these men were in to that which we in the Philippines are currently confronted with. We had just lost a battle of sorts, and though it is merely part of a war, the loss has temporarily disheartened some young and tired souls. During such times it can be easy to forget that there is always hope and that the wisdom of God is infinitely beyond that of man.

I'm sharing two videos below: one is of Aragorn giving that speech at the Black Gate, and the other is the scene from Rocky Balboa in which the Rocky opens his son's mind about some things. Both are inspiring, but the second dwells more on a personal level as it imparts words of wisdom from a father to a son.

Attitude -- it can really spell the difference.

Celebrating the RH bill’s enactment into law: Doing the right thing?

How can it be the right thing when you help promote irresponsible parenthood by transferring to the State the parental duty of forming one’s children? When you needlessly endanger -- seriously in many cases -- the health of women and then even require taxpayers to finance putting women's lives at risk? When you treat poor people like animals and assume they can't learn or discipline themselves or think for themselves if given the correct information and encouragement? When you force people of faith to violate their faith and then call the measure something that promotes freedom of choice? 

How can it be the right thing when your message to people is basically to enjoy sex and make pill-popping or condom use a regular part of their lifestyle, then force others to pay for all that? When you keep insisting that what other people do in their bedroom is none of our business while you expect us to finance their enjoyment of sex – whether extra-marital, pre-marital, sodomitical or criminal?

How can it be the right thing when the basic premise of its sex education program is that satisfying, pleasurable and safe sex is a right – and a human right at that – and a priority in life starting from adolescence? When this message is delivered through six years of the same basic idea? When educators and educational institutions are required to deliver this message to their students?

How can it be the right thing when a massive budget will be devoted to ingraining in the youth such a message, when it’s goal-setting, decision-making, traits such as integrity, honesty, perseverance, self-mastery, diligence, other-centeredness, delicadeza, sincerity, respect for elders, love of family and country, and other life lessons that they need to be equipped with to prepare them for the future?

How can signing an RH measure into law be the right thing when it will clearly destroy the future and the very soul of the nation?

The goal is to build a nation, preserve it, and protect its people’s fundamental rights – not destroy the nation and strip its people of their rights.

Mr. President, you have wronged the Filipino people --

big time.

Let the Women Speak

The times call for it, and the times have equipped us with much, much more than typewriters, the Pony Express, and even "snail" mail.

With all the means at our disposal, there aren't many reasons not to take part in Let the Women Speak. In a nutshell, the Philippine government is poised to force upon the people a proposed bill that will carry out population control by way of institutionalized birth control and a comprehensive six-year sex education program for all schools -- brushing off intense and massive opposition from various sectors. In the middle of all this are the women.

Now is not the time to be a mere spectator. Filipinas, wherever in the world you are right now, be counted! Gentlemen, please share the following with the women in your life (wife, mother, sisters, other female relatives, friends and colleagues...). Believe that your signature will make a difference -- then pass this on.

WE are women who believe that the Reproductive Health bill, in all its past and present forms, is detrimental to us, our sex, our marriages, and our families.

WE are Catholics and non-Catholics. We are women of faith, and we are also women of reason.

WE believe in true women’s health. We believe in respecting our bodies and the natural processes with which we have been gifted. 

Far from empowering us as women, the RH bill promotes our objectification. It does not address the causes of exploitation and violence against women at their roots. It does not solve the problem of men seeing us as mere sources of pleasure. It does not promote our inherent dignity as human beings worthy of respect. State-funded, state-guaranteed access to contraception only empowers those who wish to take advantage of us without having to worry about consequences.

WE do not believe in artificial birth control. Birth control does not come free. As taxpayers we will be paying for it, and as women we will be suffering its effects on our bodies. We will not tolerate the deliberate dismissal of scholarly research that shows contraception’s deleterious effects. We will not tolerate the trampling of our Constitution that says life must be protected at all stages from conception to natural death. 

We will not tolerate the imposition of governmental contraceptive programs meant to control the population and to brainwash our youth. We do not want the long-term effects of the sexual revolution brought about by a contraceptive mentality.

Granting that the secular government is not beholden to the Catholic or Christian faith, attempting to speak for us women via a socialist agenda destroys the very fiber of democratic breath we have as a people. Doing this undermines our freedom to adhere to something Good, Moral and Ethical. Recognizing our “reproductive” rights as women should not include FORCING us to discard our right to freely believe in morality and goodness and if we choose to, our religious tenets and doctrines.

No one speaks for all of us on these issues. We stand with the Catholic bishops and all leaders, religious and otherwise, who recognize the truth of life-affirming teachings with regard to sex, marriage and family. We call on President Aquino and our Representatives in Congress to heed the voice of all Filipino women, not just the loudest ones. We call on all our leaders to continue to allow us to freely witness to our faiths and beliefs in all their fullness.

Please send your name, address and occupation to the person who sent you this message, or to thefilipinos4life@gmail.com or to thefilipinosforlife@gmail.com. Thank you!

From Filipinos for Life

To all freedom-loving people

The US presidential elections are coming up. This one's for you, Americans! For the rest of us, this is certainly something to ponder on, again and again. Are we headed in the same direction, Filipinos? Many seem to still be infatuated by a piece of legislation that is essentially unnecessary and indicative of a very low regard for poor people.

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

Bad move by a young public servant

A public servant is seeking to impose a ban on the Creator of all human life.

That's what it all boils down to, but many -- particularly the lawmaker who proposed to legislate a path toward Godlessness -- fail to see it that way. Why? Perhaps for the same reason that it's easy to fall into professing one's faith then forget to live one's day-to-day life according to the teachings of that faith: the connection between faith/religious belief and daily life is overlooked.

When Congressman Raymond Palatino -- who represents Kabataan Party List -- filed a bill prohibiting the conduct of religious ceremonies and the display of religious symbols "within the premises and perimeter of offices, departments and bureaus, including publicly owned spaces and corridors within such offices, departments and bureaus," he obviously failed to consider that he was, in effect, imposing a ban on God. Ceremonies such as the Mass, and religious symbols such as crucifixes, pictures of the Blessed Mother, statues of canonized saints, for instance, are expressions of faith in God. Sure, a small statue of Our Lady of Fatima or a portrait of St. Pio may indicate a special devotion to Mother Mary or the Franciscan stigmatist, but if the person's faith and understanding run deep, the devotion is rooted in a love for the Source of all that's good -- God.

So really, though the solon claims legitimate reasons for the "need" for the bill, what he's doing is violating people's personal freedom. And as mentioned above, banning the Source of all life, the Maker of heaven and earth.

One of the things that occurred to me after considering this piece of legislation was that should it be enacted into law, then it wouldn't be surprising if corruption in government and the incidence of crimes being committed by workers in government offices see an upsurge. Why? Many times it's only simple reminders of right and wrong that keep a person on the right path. In government, which is not spared from situations that pose temptations to the people around, how much more will such temptations be difficult to resist if you take away the bible, the portrait of Mama Mary, the sight of the Savior showing his unconditional love via the cross, and images of heroic people down the centuries who persevered to stay faithful?

Good thing we have some legislators who don't let such things pass. Congressman Roilo Golez of Paranaque spoke up and inadvertently made it clear that the younger solon didn't spend a lot of time thinking things through before filing the bill.

Read all about it here

Church officials also made brilliant points about the matter here and here

* * * * * * * * * *

ABS-CBN came out with a report titled Solon withdraws 'Ban God' bill, says sorry days ago, yet nowhere in the article does it say that Palatino has already withdrawn his bill. The closest to this is:

In a statement, Palatino said he is withdrawing House Bill 6330 “in response to the appeal and clamor of some of our members, constituents and supporters, various groups, institutions and the general public to reconsider the filing of such measure.”

As a friend pointed out, is this merely your usual "press release" meant to appease protesters and vigilant citizens? Is there truly an intention of withdrawing the "Ban God" bill? Wish someone would ask the congressman point blank and get a straight answer.


Addendum: I came across this statement on the Kabataan Party List website just now. Same thing -- no mention of the solon already having officially withdrawn the bill. But there are contact numbers through which the lawmaker's Chief of Staff may be reached. Express your sentiments; clarify whether or not her boss has already done what he said he plans to do about the measure. Get in touch with:

Vanessa Faye Bolibol (Chief-of-Staff Kabataan PL Rep. Palatino)
0926-1703655/ 0933-5660635

Pilipin showbiz... and "mental colony"

I was all set to echo the sentiments expressed in this hilarious video by Mikey Bustos, but then there's no need to (I'll just end up ruining the whole post).

Addendum: After publishing this, I realized that the "frozen image" from the video that appears may give the impression that the content is inappropriate. It isn't :-)

Bye-bye, buko pie!

Detours and U-turns in history

There used to be a weekly television show called Seventh Heaven, and one episode had the inquisitive son, Simon, learning about Adolf Hitler and the Nazi holocaust. Simon, then about age 9 or 10 probably, was visibly baffled by the prospect of such atrocities happening in the past. Why didn't anyone do anything to stop it? he asked his dad in that episode. The dad's reply escapes me now, but I do remember him explaining the different facets of the issue with great difficulty.

Come to think of it, a lot of horrible things have happened over the centuries that would make anyone wonder either of two things: what could have gone wrong with people to commit such atrocities, and how could people have allowed such atrocities to happen.

Though repulsive incidents still happen nowadays (just monitor the news online for a week or two and you'll see), society has progressed considerably in many ways. But do you think we have been moving forward in terms of evaluating the worth of creatures -- whether they're persons or objects? That's something to think about.

Here's a video produced by Pro-Life Wisconsin that gives one a bit of history on events that deserve to be remembered, if only to learn from the past so as not to commit the same mistakes again. Glad to come across such materials!





H/T: LifeSiteNews

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.

A parody that hits the bullseye

This movie scene has been humorously messed with numerous times! Here it is once again and this time, it provides a summary of the developments in the fight for a culture of life in my country this year.

The Queen of Pop

Uh...Pop Control that is. That's Hillary Clinton, whose relentless push for universal access to abortion is quite known.





She's coming to Manila once again, and though it's a mere one-day visit and it's supposed to celebrate some treaty's anniversary, how can she pass up the chance to give a boost to the RH cause here, especially when more and more Filipinos are opening their eyes to the truth and learning more of the truth about RH legislation, population control and why these are not the solution to poverty.

But don't take my word for it. Do more research on the history of "reproductive health" -- read up on the NSSM 200 (that stands for National Security Study Memorandum 200, a formerly classified then now declassified document that reveals quite a lot), and see what you'll dig up about Margaret Sanger and International Planned Parenthood Federation.

For starters, check out an article to get some insights on Clinton's Manila visit from Filipinos who are in the know when it comes to the whole reproductive health affair because for years they've been living in a country that's been immersed in the RH lifestyle -- the US.

Quotes:

"She has stated again and again that reproductive health must always include access to ‘safe, legal, and rare’ abortion. I hope the anti-RH people in the Philippines will show her that we Filipinos do not want this for our country, that we Filipinos are baby-loving and family-oriented people. I hope there will be a very big rally to show Hillary Clinton we don’t need her telling us Filipinos how to live our lives. The Philippines is a sovereign country and liberal laws in the U.S. have no place in our culture!"

"What is there to say? Hillary’s known for her liberal views, especially her famous words that reproductive health and reproductive rights include the right to abortion. I’m sure if she spends any time there at all, this will be one of the top items on her agenda. That’s a given."

Full story here

Ring action for today

The Pacquiao-Marquez boxing match in Vegas happens in a few hours, and since I don't relish real fighting (okay, it's considered a sport, but what transpires is no cartoon or video game either, so people really do inflict pain on each other and it always ends up with real injuries), below is the kind of boxing I'd much rather go for :-)

To Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao, do your best and let your sportsmanship, humility and unparalleled skill shine once again!





Okay, I just came across another boxing clip, this time featuring Buster Keaton, whom I first heard about from my old penpal nearly 20 years ago but just never had the chance to look up till today. Hilarious! I'm sharing it here as well --

"Don't you worry about the situation..."?

Well, of course worrying won't solve anything.

But first, some pictures...





















What happened? Why were those people out in the streets? Why were students holding placards bearing such messages? What's with the thumbs-down sign?

It was a press conference on July 15, called by the interfaith Pro-Life Coalition. About what? Find out here

That young man and woman seated at table and who represented different youth groups had quite a lot to say. Read all about it here and here

On the 25th, something good will happen. On the same day that President Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivers his State of the Nation Address, this will also take place...

The trashing of a treasure

There have been times that I felt that my own people (lawmakers, to be precise) were selling my country, its heritage and its future to foreigners. It can be quite disturbing (and painful in some way) because aren't public servants supposed to take care of the public? Aren't the people whom they should be serving?

Lately I've been having that feeling again due to developments in legislation. Not a day goes by that I don't think of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, partly because reporting the developments concerning this issue is part of my job. But the more I learn about it and the more I understand the tiniest details about its history and provisions, the gloomier I feel about my own government leaders apparently putting other interests above protecting the country and its people. I mean, they can't all be ignorant of the facts.

Then just this week I attended a House committee hearing on the proposed divorce bill. What else will our elected leaders push our people to accept?

Below are articles I recently wrote that shed more light on the issues and developments:


More funds for RH mean less for basic services -- solon

MANILA, May 30, 2011―Allocating millions of pesos for House Bill 4244 means slashing the budget that would have otherwise been spent on education and other basic services, said a member of the House of Representatives in a recent press conference.

Full story

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RH Bill redundant, similar to int'l agreement

MANILA, May 26, 2011― Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez has underscored the redundancy of a portion of the Reproductive Health bill during interpellation in Congress on Wednesday.

Full story

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Curb corruption, not population to kill poverty -- pro-lifers

MANILA, May 27, 2011―A legislative measure that regards members of a huge population as the cause of poverty does not provide a proper solution, say pro-lifers who were present at this week’s plenary debates at the House of Representatives.

Full story

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RH legislation a "cultural intrusion" -- lawyer

MANILA, June 1, 2011—While the formulation of Philippine laws is essentially based on the needs and conditions of the country’s citizens, the crafting of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill cannot be attributed to Filipino lawmakers but to foreign organizations, said Atty. Jo Aurea Imbong, Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Legal Office.

Full story

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Divorce a gross injustice to children

MANILA, June 3, 2011―The cost of divorce on children was among the crucial points repeatedly brought up at Wednesday’s Congressional committee hearing on the divorce bill sponsored by Gabriela Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana de Jesus.

Full story

He's a (life-) lover and a fighter

I've bookmarked some articles that reveal just what Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is made of, but yesterday's editorial cartoon from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and a recent news article from CBCP News will have to do for now. More to come soon!





Boxing champ Pacquiao uncovers Lagman's misleading claims of amended provisions

MANILA, May 19, 2011—In what started out as a seemingly one-sided debate Wednesday between a neophyte and a veteran legislator, with the newcomer looking hesitant in some instances, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman ended up admitting to the newbie that certain provisions of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill he had been claiming amended were, in fact, still intact in House Bill 4244.

Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao queried the bill's principal author on the provision regarding a two-child ideal family size, saying that such a measure may lead to a population drop in the country.

Lagman replied that the bill's authors had already removed the two-child ideal, adding that it would take a century before a feared "demographic winter" would set in.

After expressing his concern over the bill’s P3 billion proposed annual budget, the world boxing champion then focused on mandatory sex education, which the bill requires for students from Grade 5 to 4th Year high school in all schools as well as for out-of-school youth.

"Puwede po bang tumanggi ang isang estudyante sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang mga magulang?" the solon asked, airing his concern that more students will be unable to graduate from high school should they miss their sex ed classes.

"Ang compulsory sex education ay labag sa constitution," he added.

Lagman replied that the provision on mandatory sex education had also been amended.

"Wala na nga pong obligasyon na ito, tinanggal na nga ito," the Albay congressman said. "Walang basehan 'yung apprehension na walang makaka-graduate. Exempted sa pag-attend, exempted din sa pagkuha ng periodic tests. Ang mga estudyante po ay makakagraduate."

The Sarangani congressman then brought up the question of whether or not employers will be required to provide condoms and other artificial contraceptives to their employees, as stipulated by the RH bill.

He expressed concern that this would disregard the religious convictions of employers who believe that the measure goes against their beliefs.

"Amended na ang provision na ito. Hindi mo yata narinig dahil nag-eensayo ka para sa laban mo," Lagman countered. "Incomplete ang impormasyong ibinigay sa iyo. Hindi ito sapilitan."

In an unexpected turn in the line of questioning, the pound-for-pound fighter then asked the solon from Albay why there were amendments to the bill when they were still in the period of interpellations. Once a bill has passed the committee level, amendments may only be proposed and accepted during the period of amendments that comes after the period of interpellations.

Lagman responded by relating the March 22 deviation he and ACT-TEACHERS Party List Rep. Antonio Tinio carried out in which the proposed amendments were merely voiced out. This took place after the Committee on Population and Family Relations had already formally approved the Committee Report.

Pacquiao then asked Lagman by what rules these supposed amendments were accepted, as the period of amendments were yet to be reached. Lagman was unable to provide an answer.

In other words, the so-called amendments that Lagman and the bill's co-authors have been insisting are still proposed amendments. The current version of House Bill 4244—which contains provisions on mandatory reproductive health and sex education (Sec. 16), ideal family size (Sec. 20), and employers' responsibility to provide RH services to employees (Sec. 21), as well on malicious disinformation under "punitive acts" (Sec. 28)—stands. (Diana Uichanco)