Red corner

Since Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquiao has displayed commendable sportsmanship again in today's boxing match with Shane Mosley, coupled with the fact that he won...






CONGRATULATIONS, MANNY PACQUIAO!

Why we can't just chill about pills

There's been a lot of talk about contraception over the years, and more so lately -- oral contraceptives in particular -- because of a slip of the tongue perhaps.

Here' something that puts a comical twist to the resulting scenario among the proponents of a certain legislative measure that, if passed into law, means State-sponsored, State-promoted distribution of the full range of birth control drugs and devices nationwide.




But then after the chuckles and guffaws, one ought to get down to business and do something about the situation because, really, playing with the lives of women -- and trying to justify it in some way -- is a serious matter.

In case you're not up to date on this issue, or are feeling like it's got nothing to do with you, then try thinking of it as depriving yourself of the truth. Now who relishes being deprived? And think about it -- being informed is one way of being empowered.

For starters, check this out to gain some perspective on some developments on the issue (and bring yourself up to speed about three quasi-celebrities in the process).

Then know more about what transpired at a press conference which tackled this hot issue. An excerpt from "Cancer risk of oral contraceptives ignored by RH advocates":

When asked to comment on the continued push for tax-funded promotion and distribution of contraceptives despite Cabral’s recent admission and despite the Pill’s being categorized as class 1 carcinogens by the World Health Organization (WHO), [Rep. Luzviminda] Ilagan remarked, “Well, all that it said is that it increases the risk. So according to doctors, well…say in my case, I was told that I should not use the Pill [due to a condition], or women who smoke should not use the Pill. Then they have other choices. That’s the principle ― that you have a wide range of choices. The RH Bill is not against natural family planning.”

When asked to confirm if she would still continue to promote the bill with the provisions on oral contraceptive promotion intact despite the established health dangers, the congresswoman was evasive.

Full story here

Reality, accompanied by the valse

Makes you think, huh?

Learn more at Filipinos for Life

Life around the world in 5 headlines

Here's a look around the world without leaving your living room (or wherever you are as you read this). In just five stories one gets a picture of the varied perspectives on the value of a human being's life. There's more good news than bad here; fortunately, there's always hope as long as one is alive! But one sure can see red sometimes, especially when getting news of the latest scheming measures that a certain global organization is up to again.

So, how's life around the world? Get a glimpse from these excerpts (followed by links to the full articles):

They direct their book to those who, having received a devastating diagnosis, have decided, or are still in the process of deciding, to continue their pregnancy knowing that their baby’s life is expected to be brief. Yet their positive and encouraging approach to these heartbreaking realities paint the choice of abortion as a sad mistake and a missed opportunity for emotional growth and healing.
.....
Because of the shared pain, courage, faith, and, often, wisdom of the mothers and fathers who relate their experiences, any reader can achieve a better understanding of what it means to be a mother and a father:

“As a mother, I have always felt that it was my job to identify what my children need and give it to them. Sometimes those needs are simple and straightforward–clean laundry, a healthy meal, a hand to cross the street safely. Maggie’s needs were not like those of my sons. She needed us to give her a safe and peaceful transition from one world to the next. Carrying Maggie to term did that for me–it gave me the opportunity to ‘mother’ her until she didn’t need me anymore.” ~ Alessandra (p. 345)

"A Gift of Time: Continuing your pregnancy when your baby's life is expected to be brief" at MercatorNet

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Roger Kiska of the European Center for Law and Justice said he was “overjoyed” by the new Hungarian constitution, calling it a victory for democracy, for life and the family, and for Hungary. Kiska said he found “shameful” the attempts by the European institutions to undermine the Hungarian government, a government overwhelmingly approved by popular electoral vote. “I hope that Hungary stays strong in its convictions because what is at stake, life and the family, are too high a price to pay simply to appease the bureaucrats in Brussels.”

"New Hungarian Constitution recognizing life 'from conception' signed into law" at LifeSiteNews

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The UN is about to ask governments to fund the vaccination of every girl in the world against the sexually transmitted disease HPV, human papillomavirus. The controversial campaign could cost as much as $300 per person, totaling billions.

Dignitaries who launched the campaign at the UN in mid-April included a prominent African first lady, leaders from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the American Cancer Society, and the contraceptives manufacturer PATH.

"UN wants billions for STD vaccination scheme" at C-FAM

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This is disgusting. CBSLA News has glorified an elderly woman selling suicide kits as “death with dignity.” From “91-Year-Old Grandma Sells Suicide Kits To Help Terminally Ill Die With Dignity”:

Meet Sharlotte. Like a lot of grandmothers, she likes to keep busy. But while some grannies sit and knit scarves and afghans, this 91-year-old has a decidedly different hobby. She makes suicide masks… Sharlotte, who sells her controversial kits for $60, demonstrated how they work in front of our cameras.
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Opponents to changing the law point to one of Sharlotte’s clients, a 29-year-old Oregon native. He wasn’t suffering from a terminal illness. He opted out because he was tired of dealing with his chronic depression. His suicide touched off a major controversy. And now, a group called Californians Against Assisted Suicide wants to stop Sharlotte and her masks.

"Media pushes suicide assistance" at Secondhand Smoke

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The meeting between the 7-year-old boy and the 31-year-old man began awkwardly, as meetings of strangers often do. But then young Jacob Kowalik sized up the adult, and began to drop his guard.

They played tic-tac-toe. They talked about hockey. Jacob and his parents invited Marshal Davis to their house for pizza, Jacob's favorite meal.

There also was a gift, a husky dog stuffed animal, though it wasn't for young Jacob. It was FROM him, a small token of thanks to this man who'd given Jacob a gift that the boy was too young to fully understand.

"Jacob's donor: Bone marrow transplant forever alters two lives" at MSNBC

From within

People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,
their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light
from within.

- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Swiss-American psychiatrist and author