Donations help Church help poor Pinoys

Have you been in the provinces especially in the Visayas? People are so poor , they really need help. Most people have no work. Yes, malls have sprouted almost anywhere in this archipelago. Ask, though, if people are buying those global brands.


If you're a Bishop or a priest assigned in a highly depressed area, and your faithful co-religious folk approach you for assistance, where will you get the money to at least support them? The ready answer is through the contribution bag. 


IN all honesty, some of my priest friends are really hard pressed helping our impoverished brothers and sisters in most parishes. Poverty is so stark, it eats even the souls of those afflicted by it. 


As for all of those who work for God's flock, a priest will never ever abandon his flock. He will do everything possible. 


That's why churches encourage donations. These donations go a long way in helping poor Filipinos. Cutting them would create social imbalances. 

RH Bill: Lower Prices of Condoms Now!

A high quality condom for five pesos, is it possible? Yes, it is. Don't tell me that the poor folks out there do not even have five pesos to buy a decent condom?


Don't tell me that poverty hinders someone from protecting himself from unwanted pregnancy. Poor folks have the money to pay for a few hours in a motel, don't even tell me that a 5-peso condom is not entirely possible for him to buy?


A friend of mine says that children or kids who were taught about sex education can actually protect herself from abuse. What?


So, a kid knowledgeable about sex can protect herself from her abuser, by what? BY telling her abuser that he must use a condom before abusing her? Or telling her abuser, that, hey, its her "period"--don't abuse me now.


Sexual abuse is not about sex--it's about power. 


If rich folks of the middle class want to curb population, ask condom makers to lower the prices of their goods, so that the poor would be able to buy them by themselves.


It is definitely not right to tolerate sex by the government buying all those condoms and distributing them to the public. It sends a wrong message. The message is this---just go ahead do it. You're not responsible. You're protected. Go ahead. Sige lang ng sige.


BUt if you educate the poor and let them buy their own condoms, you make them realize that their every sexual act has its consequences that they must face...even if they're "protected."

Why is the Left supporting RH Bill?

The reproductive health bill is one of the measures being promoted and actively supported by funds by the United States government. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton supports RH. And I understand that the Philippine Left is traditionally anti-imperialist. Why am I seeing cadres of the Left  in active support of a very clear imperialist program?


The United States is the world's biggest manufacturer of condoms and other contraceptives. 


Akbayan and I think, even Bayan Muna, support the passage of this bill, seen as a "main "anti-poverty measure". Really now. So, what happened to the argument that the system is the problem, and not the people?


The thing about the RH bill is really quite simple: the State blames the people for producing more than the State can actually support thru government. 


Why blame the people when it is government that mismanages the resources of a country. 


Listen to the arguments of the pro-RH bill advocates, and you'll always find them blaming the poor people for having five or ten kids. 


They don't know why people, especially those living in the rural areas and even in some urban slums, see having a big family as a plus rather than a bad thing.


For poor people, the more kids you sire, the more chances you have of getting a better life. Poor people have this "lotto mentality"---more kids, means more helpers in the field. In urban areas, more kids means more chances of getting economic opportunities.


Fact is---why not do a survey to find out if large Filipino families really are unable to survive in this harsh economic environment? 


In my family alone, my grandparents sired ten kids--now all successful people.


In rural areas, young girls marry early because of the lack of economic opportunities for them in the provinces. Marriage is seen as an escape from poverty. 


It is not because they don't know about condoms, oh no. Filipinos know about condoms. Filipinos are not ignorant of contraceptives. 


It is not really wise to pass this RH bill. Let us grow our economy first. Let us expand or widen the economic opportunities in the provinces and in our cities. Fix our economy first. Then let's see if our population is really the root cause why many of us are poor. 

Catholic Church backs out from Church-Govt Dialogue on RH Bill

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) just backed out from the planned discussion with the Palace on the Reproductive Health bill.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said, the CBCP's decision to back out was prompted by recent palace statements regarding the RH bill. CBCP says its useless to dialogue with Malacanang on the issue.

House Bill 4244 which is the amended or modified version of the Reproductive Health bill seeks to include provisions acceptable to the church. It was later learned that the CBCP objects even this modified version of the bill.

The question that everybody is asking right now is this--is the Aquino administration ready for a direct confrontation with the Catholic Church?

Clearly, the Aquino administration wants to push the agenda of the United States insofar as reproductive health is concerned. The administration is beginning to show signs of puppetism.

Who will win this time? Will the Aquino administration be able to withstand a very strong Church oppositionist group?

SCRAP 2 BILLION PHP FROM RH BILL

I will support the Reproductive Health bill being peddled by Congressman Edcel Lagman and Congresswoman Garin if they will agree to scrap the two (2) billion pesos proposed fund of the bill. 


That two billion pesos are intended to buy condoms and contraceptives through a bidding at the Department of Health (DOH). That will be a major source of corruption. 


According to insiders, two groups, one a dummy by a former health secretary, are now preparing for the bidding of the contraceptives. They even hired a PR firm to manage the crisis. 


The group wants to control the bidding and procurement of the contraceptives.


I warn the Filipino People against this bill simply on the basis that several corrupt people will rake in billions worth of profits because of this bill. 


This bill will not lower our population, nor will it solve the present problem of poverty in our country, no.


Poverty is the manifestation of inadequate or mismanagement of our resources and graft and corruption. Do not blame the people if they are poor.


I admit that most provisions of the bill will benefit the women and the Filipino Family. However, what really pisses me off is the FIDUCIARY ASPECT of the bill. 


This proves that lobby money from condom companies are making the rounds. This is unacceptable.

The Great Debate: To RH and not to RH

For RH bill advocates, the logic is simple: to eradicate poverty, eradicate or lessen population. There are abortions here and there, women are not being given the right for their bodies, and poor people are having babies as many as ten per family. Government is helpless in taking care of them, that's why, let's give them condoms and contraceptives. They can have all the sex that they want, for as long as they use condoms. 


Recent studies show that condoms are not effective in population control. Condoms even induce cancer among women. Condoms are not effective in preventing pregnancies. Condoms have a 15% failure rate, according to the Mayo clinic study.


Anti-RH bill advocates believe that population is not the root cause of poverty. They blame the inefficient allocation of the government's resources. They blame graft and corruption. Why not put that 2 billion pesos worth of the people's money in other priority projects, like job generation? Instead of giving it to contraceptive or condom companies, give it to the government so that the money will be used in other purposes.


I am surprised that democratic socialists like Pia Hontiveros believe in the RH bill. This is a US backed initiative and something which is more pro-government than anything. It is like admitting that the problem is not the system but the people. I thought AKBAYAN is pro-people?


Why blame the people, says Congressman Roilo Golez and former Laguna governor Joey Lina when the Philippine population density is one of the best in the world (18th in rank). Golez says that contraceptive companies will only benefit from the bill, since they would be given at least 2 billion pesos by the government thru the Department of Health. Lina, meanwhile said, that in the Philippines, the more populous an area is, the more prosperous it is. So, the population is not the root cause of the problem.


Let's admit it---BEHIND THIS RH BILL IS THE PROGRESSIVE LOBBY OF CONTRACEPTIVE COMPANIES HELL-BENT IN MAKING A KILLING. 


CONDOM COMPANIES ARE FUNDING RH BILL INITIATIVES ALL IN THE NAME OF CAPITALISM--THAT IS WORTH TWO (2) BILLION PESOS. 


I URGE RH BILL PROPONENTS TO MODIFY THE BILL AND SAY THAT GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE THE ONE WHO WILL SHOULDER THE PROCUREMENT OR BUYING OF CONTRACEPTIVES AND GOVERNMENT WILL IN FACT, ENCOURAGE CONDOM COMPANIES TO EVEN LOWER THEIR PRICES FOR THE SAKE OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.


I DARE THEM. OF COURSE, THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THIS NOR WILL THEY EVER STRIKE THIS PROVISION IN THE BILL. WHY?


BECAUSE THIS IS THE "KITA" PORTION OF THE BILL. WHY ARE CONGRESSMEN INTERESTED IN PURSUING A DEFECTIVE BILL WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF LOBBY MONEY?

Responsible Parenthood is still pro-choice, pro-life

We are overpopulated, that's why we need to manage our population, says Senator Ping Lacson in support of the efforts being made right now by the administration to modify the RH bill and turn it into a Responsible Parenthood bill. This bill, being crafted right now, is a full modification of the RH bill, to make it more acceptable to every sector in Philippine society.


Communications secretary Ricky Carandang says Filipinos live in a democracy, hence, should be given the right to choose which method to use in countering unwanted pregnancy. I agree with Carandang. People should be given the right to choose, as it is now. 


What is so contemptible about the current version of the RH bill is the principle of state intervention  or state interference in that choice. Why is the government so willing to buy billions of pesos worth of condoms to be given for free to people? One would reason that that's the essence of democracy--for people to avail of other options, government or the state should help them gain free access to these other methods.


But, that's just it. If you truly understand the concept of rights and democracy, you'll accept the fact that for every right exercised, there is a corresponding responsibility to it.


You want other methods of contraception available for you, do something to avail them without government buying it for you. Poverty is no reason for the un-exercise of responsibilities. Poverty is also no excuse for you to enlarge your family. In feudal societies, parents want a big family because it's additional hands in tending the land. In a capitalist society, big families are being frowned upon because of the high costs of maintaining such. 


What the Catholic church opposes is the principle of state intervention in family planning. If, say the Palace says that it is amenable to the democratic way of solving the balooning population problem, it has to recognize that it must give people the free hand to choose which method and emphasize that the exercise of such rights entail responsibilities. One of that responsibility is financial.


If condoms and other methods are expensive, the solution is not for government to buy them and distribute them for free. The solution is lower their prices so that a higher number of people would be able to avail of them.

Catholic Church Show of Force Against RH Bill: A Serious Challenge for Pro-RH Bill Advocate and to the Aquino administration

In what could be billed as the very first "big demonstration" against this new administration, the Catholic Church yesterday rallied some 40,000 plus people at the Rizal park against the Reproductive Health bill. 


Three things about this event:


First, this was something of a strong showing of collective force against the RH bill, countering pro-RH bill propaganda that the bill enjoys strong public support. 


Second, this is a political message to the Aquino administration. That figure, 40,000, is best remembered only in EDSAs. There is some subtle message being sent by the Church, and that is, if this administration does not want to be toppled by a popular revolt, it better withdraw its support of the bill. 


And third, this is a challenge to those who support the RH bill---mount a bigger rally than what we did. 


Question--is the pro-RH bill advocates up to the challenge?


The Catholic Church is determined to pursue this issue up to the very end. The question is---does the administration and those who support the bill feel the same thing?


President Aquino has consistently issued support for the Reproductive Health bill. Publicly, he was quoted as having second thoughts about it. However, there are reports that Malacanang is moving its allies and marshalling them to support the RH bill, in  deference to the United States. 


Reports also verified the strong lobby of the makers of condoms and contraceptives. This billion dollar industry is moving its muscles and using its lobby money to make this bill a reality. 


Really, this issue broke the tenuous relationship of the Church with that of civil society, who largely support the bill. Fact is, this bill seems to have split the ranks of civil society so much so that groups allied with the Church, and once populated the ranks of the political and ideological opposition have broken themselves from the coalition. 


Most of the opposition centers on the use of public funds to buy contraceptives and distribute them to the poor. Most of those opposing the bill say the funds have better uses. Most feel that immorality will somewhat rise when the State allows the mandatory teaching of sex education to students as young as ten or twelve years old. 


Use of public funds is not an expression of free choice. Rather, it is a subtle way of the State telling the individual to exercise extreme caution.


Free choice means respecting the right of the individual to engage in sexual activity and the liberal use of any method to avoid contraception, be it natural or artificial.


The State does not have the right to dictate upon an individual what method of contraception he should use. It is up to the individual to determine that.


Using public funds to distribute contraceptives is not an expression of free choice. By procuring these condoms, the State already expressed its preference towards artificial contraception, something which violates the religious beliefs of majority of Filipinos.