PORRIDGE, CONDOMS AND PIZZA

   February 10, 2011, A special day, some 300 kids are waiting for the planned feeding program at one barangay in Laguna. "Do It Right" advocacy is having another feeding program, at the same date for the second time. Barangay Mabacan inside the third class municipality of Calauan, Laguna is one from the 17 baranggays of this municipality. Mostly farming is the means of living there due to its wide cuts of land, ricefields, sweet pineapples with distinguishly smaller crown, lansones trees and rambutan trees which are the common view wherever one go in that area. The place is  rising above the surrounding land and from the highest point , one could view the Laguna de bay and Los Banos.

   The rice porridge is still hot and at eleven o clock in the morning together with the Mabacan Health workers, brgy. councilors and teachers from that elementary school helped each other for the distribution. The kids are lined up, waiting fo their turns and happy. The principal was happy too and looking forward for the next one. The little ones from Grade 1 to Grade 4

   The School where the feeding held is just beside the barangay hall, the next planned event for that same day is the Responsible Parenthood Bill Forum. The Barangay Health workers together with the councilors are ready and comfty seated while waiting for the introduction. Information is effective by means of any awareness program through forums and seminars. While the issue between the government and CBCP are still hot specially after the approval of the six bills related to Reproductive Health have been consolidated and enamed it to Responsible Parenthood bill.

The issues from the forum are these:

• Do It Right advocacy
• RP Events
• Catholic views; contraception and abortion
• Pills as cancerous
• Quality of life

Do It Right advocacy

   Explanation about why some advocates are doing the forum is easy to elaborate especially if that is the objective and currently doing it in action. Not to mention that the advocates dont have any government positions. The view of DIR (Do It Right advocacy) are these; In order for one to be concerned, one need to be educated first and be aware. The group aims to show all the methods, concepts and different approach to do this. United for doing what's right and right alone.


How to do it:
Through forums and seminars with interaction, discussions and exchanging of different ideas.
.Objective:
 To be aware about the environment, government and own local community.
 Also about empowerement. Without any bias with religion, race and gender.

RP Events

   For December 11, 2010, the last event of DIR is the first Reproductive Health (now Responsible parenthood) forum was held at #1, Brgy. Imok, Calauan, Laguna. DIR went to all the 26 municipalitties and four cities in Laguna for invitation. The event was a success with speakers from the anti supprters and supporters of the bill.

   Start of 2011, February 20, DIR went to Brgy. New Washington, Kalibo, Aklan for the RH forum. Explained to everyone the benefits, misconceptions and the truth about the advantages of the bill. It was attended by the townfolks and brgy. councilor.

Catholic views; contraception and abortion

   The Philippines is the third largest Catholic nation in the world after Brazil and Mexico, with the last survey from Pulse Asia, more or less 68% of catholics are in favor of the bill. This is due from the fact that majority of the population is poor and one reason or point of the passage of the bill is to elleviate the poor from their current status that might give them God, better quality of life by means of educating about the good choices and as a responsible parents. The Catholic church which is represented by the CBCP are against about the passage of the bill due to the endorsement of contraception which from them are against from the will of God. They are taking contraception same as abortion as sins. The RP bill does not legalize abotion, It is stated clearly that it is to prevent abortion. using of contraception from the bill is not mandatory  but just a choice which the individual is still have to decide.

Pills as cancerous

   Different individuals have different needs specially about medication. Going to the specialist like a medical doctor is encourage first before buying any kinds of medication for what is due for each patient. From www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr03.htm by Dr. Frederick R. Jelovsek, "Most women are unaware that birth control pills are one of the few medicines that actually prevent cancer. In fact, 30-40% think that pills increase the risk of cancer. It is important to know the numbers." Also every woman responds differently to differen pills and sometimes the general principles just do not apply.

Quality of life

   Given an example about the whole pizza with eight slices while the parents have eight children and compare with the same whole pizza, same cuts but parents with four children, which parents could give the most slices to their kids? From the Responsible Parenthood bill, one point is to give quality of life for every individual if possible. Because poverty is everywhere and can be felt by many, who doesn't like to have change? Though for every change there is resistance but with some sacrifices and right decisions, it might lead to a better life not only for the parents but for the children.

   From the Cost of living in the Philippines by Jose Marc Castro, "The Philippines has a very low cost of living.The unemployment rate is not tremendously high but poverty may have been rampant due to overpopulation. The Philippines is the 12th most populous country globally with over 88 million people." This was a survey last 2009 but from the actual statistics for the year 2010, the Philippine population is more or less 93 million. With so many graduating college students every year, how many companies or organization are in need of new freshly graduated employees and how many are the vacancies? One cannot compare the population of China to the Philippines in terms of progress. China has many investors, communist country and with over 1.3 billion people (1,330,044,605 as of mid-2008), it is the world's most populous country. Difference? China's population growth has been somewhat slowed by the one child policy, in effect since 1979. Even the most populous country with billions of people, the investors are still coming in eventhough the report  last February 7, 2007 that Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao told the press the need for an equitable distribution of wealth as the government was facing serious challenges to generate greater employments for the youths.

Comparing the unemployment rate between Philippines and China:
 
From China Daily
China's Employment Situation and Policies
Updated: 2004-04-26
In recent years, as the employment pressure has been continuously increasing, the Chinese Government has adopted many measures to curb the sharp rise of urban unemployment. By the end of 2003, the registered unemployment rate in the urban areas was 4. 3 percent, and the number of registered jobless urbanites was eight million.
In 2004, the Chinese Government has plans to find employment or reemployment for nine million people, and reemployment for five million laid-off persons, of whom the number of those who have difficulties finding a new job is one million. The registered unemployment rate in the urban areas is planned to be controlled at around 4.7 percent.

Philippines
Source: CIA World Factbook - Unless otherwise noted, information in this page is accurate as of December 30, 2010

2003  10.2%    population is more or less 84 million
2004  11.4%    population is more or less 88 million


   From the simple explanations about the Responsible Parenthood to the Brgy. health workers and Councilors and with the Donation of more than a hundred pieces of condoms to their Health center, looks like everyone realized the advantage and benefits of RP Bill. It is about a matter of choice. Pro poor explaining ric and can afford individuals will not go to barangay health center to get the contraceptives but directly to the drug stores. Choice about own body whether one can give quality of life with lesser children in accordance with the salary or income they received. Everyone in attendance were all Catholics and as chatolics, everyone has a free will, can choose whatever is right and much better if there are choices.

                Condoms received by the president of the brgy. health center from Carlos Celdran