Thy Condom Comes; The Politics of Contraceptives

This is the news, “Women activists present condoms to Philippine bishops.” What’s new? The Philippine Catholic bishops have been waging a bitter war with the government against the use of contraceptives. The Catholic church has never been weakened with its stiff stand against Family Planning and the use of artificial methods of birth control.

The Philippine Catholic Bishops have always been critical of any administration or political parties that support birth control and family planning. In fact presidential aspirants in the like of Senator Noynoy Aquino have been very careful with their stand with regards to population issues. The Bishop can always call on the Catholic faithful some 75 millions out of the 90 to 100 million Filipinos not to vote for any candidate who supports the family planning program of the government. One of the important criteria the good Bishops are looking to any politician vying for an elective position in the government is his policies and stand on the issues of family planning and birth control.

Even if President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo knows the significance of high birth rate in combating poverty problems in the Philippines, having been once a DSWD secretary, she tends to be careful with its population management program so as not to provoke the ire of the already critical Clergies to her administration. The bishops also took advantage of the government soft stand on Family Planning and birth control by calling for a ban on the advertisement of condom however the Arroyo’s administration only shrugged off their demands.

As if trying to maim the bishops stiff opposition on birth control and contraceptives, here comes Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral (former DSWD Secretary) “handing out condoms on February 13 as part of an information campaign on HIV-AIDS.” Her action may not necessarily be the collective stand of the government but nobody in the bureaucracy stood up to sanction her. She had not violated any law, she just exercised her political independence to promote actions responsive for the health and general welfare of the entire population. Yet the Bishops angrily called for her to resign.

But Health Secretary Cabral found allies on women’s health and rights advocate groups like the Party of the Workers who picketed and presented two baskest full of condoms at the headquarters of the Catholic Bishops Conference.

Judy Ann Miranda, the party’s secretary-general asked the bishops to “bless the condoms as a conciliatory gesture to unite for reproductive health and women’s rights” but unfortunately no bishop was around to receive/bless it.

As a response to the women activists action the bishops said, through spokesman Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, that they could not compromise on the church’s opposition to birth control devices. Again, a manifestation of the unwavering Catholic dogma on contraceptive devices which are perceived to tamper with the flow of nature and life. They the bishops however have no specific response on how to promote women’s reproductive health and quality of life.

“If contraceptives are immoral, nothing can change that… not even the vote of the whole country can change that,” Quitorio said. But should he not consider also immoral to see the health of women deteriorate just because couples are denied on the used of contraceptive devices. I think there is nothing more immoral than allowing spread of diseases and overpopulating the limited space we have in this country just because we can not control our rapid population growth.

And going back to politics, is the issue on contraceptives a leverage for a politician to improve his chances of winning in the presidential race? Will the good bishops support senator Manny Villar if he makes a covenant with the Catholic Church in the Philippines never to support legislative measures that advocate the use of contraceptives and other birth control devices? What will happen to the leading presidential candidate on surveys now should he decide to go against the bishops on their resistance to contraceptives and population control programs of the government?

So there we go, peace on earth and condom to all!

Absent Ako Bukas Ma’am Seg

Sinalubong ako ni Joy, may ibinulong: “Absent ako bukas ma’am Seg.”

“Bakit naman,” ang tanong ko.

“Sasama ako sa rally. Kayo sasama ba?”

“Siempre naman pero sa hapon pa ako aalis, wala akong klase by that time.”

“Ay may klase pa tayo sa umaga?”

Nangiti na lang ako. Alam ko ang gusto niyang sabihin, Iwill not check attendance anymore. Pero hindi, wala pa namang rally. Sayang ang panahon. At saka sa mga ganitong pagkakataon kailangang panindigan pa rin natin ang mga patakarang pinapairal sa school. Naiintindihan ko ang kanyang enthusiasm na makipagparticipate para sa kapakanan ng bayan ngunit kailangan pa rin nating maging tapat sa mga patakaran ng Unibersidad. Maliit na bagay lang ang hindi ko pag-check ng attendance pero di ba sa mga maliliit na bagay nagmumula ang mga malalaking anomalya?

“Sige ma’am marked me absent na lang. Maaga kami kasi magkikitakita ng aking mga kabarkada sa Diliman. Basta huwag lang kayo magpapa-quiz.”

Napatawa tuloy ako. “Ano, marunong ka pa sa akin.”

Makulit talaga itong si Joy, “para sa katotohanan at katarungan ma’am Seg, huwag kang magbibigay ng test bukas para ganahan kaming sumama sa rally.”

Grabe, sasama lang sa rally may consession pa siya. Kaya hindi umuunlad ang bayan dahil ang lahat ng bagay ay may kabayaran. Kagaya ng cha-cha 2o million pesos para sa pork barrel. Naala-ala ko tuloy iyong lecture ni Dr. Elmer tungkol sa “The bargaining Society.” Ang lahat ng bagay ayon sa kanya ay may presyo, for every action ay may compensation. At kung ito’y nakasanayan na napakadaling manaig ang korapsiyon sa ating sistema.

This one is from ABS-CBN News Online.

Hall of Shame

NCCP secretary-general Fr. Rex Reyes described the congressmen who approved House Resolution 1109, which seeks to constitute Congress into a constituent assembly, as “pimps who traded our future,” and President Arroyo “as the greatest terrorist behind this move.”

AMRSP head Sister Mary John-Mananzan said photos of members of the House of Representatives who supported House Resolution (HR 1109) will be flashed on a wide screen in tomorrow’s protest action for induction in the “Hall of Shame.”

Dizon said the Constitution was “gang-raped in the middle of the night,” and the worst part is that “the one enjoying it happens to be a woman.”

Mananzan said political groups and politicians are welcome to participate in Wednesday’s rally to be held in Ayala Avenue in Makati, although they should limit their speeches on the charter change issue.

The Ayala rally will feature a 15-minute interfaith service, comedy skits by social satirists “Juana Change” and “Pacquito Yu,” the recitation of the Bagong Panatang Makabayan written by National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera, and a photo mosaic of the all congressmen who voted or supported House Resolution 1109.

Kita-kita na lang tayo bukas sa malaking rally sa Ayala. Kaunting sakripisyo lamang para sa demokrasya at kinabukasa ng ating inang bayan. Mabuhay ang mahal nating bansang Pilipinas.