2010 Philippine Census of Population – a case for passing the RH bill

The National Statistics Office released earlier this month the results of the 2010 Census of Population and Housing. The figures were made official by President Benigno Aquino III through Proclamation 362, which he signed last March 30. The census, conducted from May 14 to June 17, 2010 with May 1, 2010 as reference date, show that there were 92,337,852 Filipinos during the study period.

NSO noted in a press statement that the Philippine population increased by 15.83 million from its 2000 total of 76.51 million. The agency added that this translates to a population growth rate (PGR) of 1.9 percent from 2000 to 2010. This figure is nominally lower than the 2.34 percent population growth rate recorded from 1990 to 2000.

For the twenty year period between 1990 and 2010, the population grew by 2.12 percent. Prior to 2010, the last census was done in 2007. It placed the national population at 88,566,732 with a growth rate of 2.04 percent from 2000.

The conduct of a national census is governed by Batas Pambansa Blg. 72 and Commonwealth Act 591. The Philippine Star’s Iris Gonzales reported two years ago that “about 58,000 enumerators, 11,500 team supervisors, 3,300 census area supervisors, and 2,800 assistant census area supervisors” will be involved in the 2010 census. A total budget of P2.16 billion had been allotted for the entire project.

Does the lower PGR mean that the long-pending reproductive health bill isn’t needed anymore? In her 2008 State of the Nation Address (SONA), then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo noted that the 2.04 percent growth rate recorded in the 2007 census was achieved by her administration “by promoting natural family planning and female education.”

In 2008, then-President Arroyo said: “Informed choice should mean letting more couples, who are mostly Catholics, know about natural family planning."

And in a statement that must have slighted former President Fidel Ramos who is present during that SONA, Arroyo added that the said PGR is lower than “the 2.36 (PGR recorded) in the 1990s, when artificial birth control was pushed.” Arroyo lamented that “long years of pushing contraceptives made it synonymous to family planning.” She (wrongly) declared: “Informed choice should mean letting more couples, who are mostly Catholics, know about natural family planning.”

It will be presumptuous for groups and individuals opposed to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill to cite the lower PGR (as of 2010) as a sign that the said measure is no longer needed. Although the 1.9 percent PGR recorded in 2010 is lower relative to previous censuses, it is still the second highest in the whole Southeast Asia. Timor Leste’s PGR of 1.96% may be higher than the Philippines, but that country has a population of just a little over a million, according to the US Central Intelligence Agency’s 2012 World Fact Book.

There are several factors that may have contributed to the continuing nominal decline of the national population growth. In response to Arroyo’s 2008 SONA, Dr. Grace Cruz from the University of the Philippines Population Institute clarified that population growth has slowed down “not through natural family planning but due to lower fertility and higher use of contraceptives.”

It is safe to assume that more and more women are taking it upon themselves to use birth control methods despite strong pressure from the Catholic Church against contraceptives because they are aware of the economic hardships they will have endure because of an unplanned pregnancy. Some may even be inclined to practice abstinence or delay marriage plans altogether.

Ramon San Pascual is the outgoing director of Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD)

Ramon San Pascual, outgoing director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), stressed in a statement that the Philippines can achieve a lower birth rate if not for the absence of a comprehensive national RH policy. San Pascual, who will soon lead the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians for Population and Development in Bangkok, Thailand, also reiterated that 33 percent of total pregnancies among Filipino women are either mistimed or unplanned.

Further aggravating the situation, according to him, is the lack of access to family planning education and services by the poor. In declaring the need to improve maternal health as one of its eight-point Millennium Development Goals, the United Nations noted: “Giving birth is especially risky in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where most women deliver without skilled care.”

For his part, Benjamin de Leon, president of the Forum for Family Planning and Development (The Forum), echoed San Pascual’s appeal for Filipinos not to regard the census figures as plain statistics. “We should look beyond the numbers and think about what this means in terms of provision of services.  Each year, 1.7 million more Filipinos will demand and deserve basic services of food, shelter, health and education to name a few,” De Leon expounded.

He cited as an example the lingering shortage of classrooms and other school essentials in public education institutions around the country. “Education and access to health are connected,” De Leon pointed out. The results obtained from censuses is said to be important because it will be used by the government in policy making. If that is truly the case, then lwmakers should take due notice and pass the RH bill.

Student leaders to solons: Decide on the RH bill before 2013 polls

With just thirteen months left before next year’s midterm elections, newly-elected student leaders from universities around Metro Manila have once again reiterated their call for lawmakers to vote on the long-stalled Reproductive Health (RH) bill, saying that it is important in the promotion of the youth’s interests.

JC Tejano, national spokesperson of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, said that students have a huge stake in the said measure since adolescent reproductive health is important. He noted that only 6 % of those who engage in premarital sex use contraceptives and that one out of three Filipino women will get pregnant by age 20.

Me and JC Tejano, SCAP national spokesperson

He also said that since the youth are not properly educated on the subject, many among them turn to pornography to know more about sex. “We know that porn usually shows unsafe sexual practices,” he said. “We want to warn solons that are anti-RH bill that they being anti-youth. If you are denying reproductive health to us, you are denying us our future,” Tejano said. Their group, he said, is ready to ‘unleash the full force of the youth’ to vouch for the bill and this includes campaigning against anti-RH lawmakers.

Tejano’s stand was seconded by Hanz Ocampo, president-elect of the University of the East student council. He explained that sex education must be started before a child reaches puberty. “Children are curious about sex. They should know what is going on inside their bodies,” Ocampo said. He, however, pointed out that parents themselves were not properly educated about the subject because of the “stigma” associated with sex.

The news conference was organized by The Forum for Family Planning and Development

The SCAP spokesperson added that more and more young Filipinos are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. According to figures from the National Epidemiology Center, 704 or 30% of the 2,349 new cases of HIV reported in 2011 came from the 15-24 age group. This is an increase from the 489 cases recorded for the said age bracket for 2010. International news agency Agence France-Presse earlier reported that the Philippines is one of only seven countries in the world to have rising infection rates in 2010.

For Heart Diño, incoming chair of the UP Diliman USC, passage of the RH bill is a means for Philippines to achieve social development, right to information, and youth empowerment. Aside from the absence of a comprehensive sex education for the youth, Diño stated that there are also no discussions in school as regards gender orientation and sexual identity. Diño is the first transgender to be elected as head of a student government in the country.

With Heart Diño, UP Diliman University Student Council chair

Diño stressed that the RH bill would be the top agenda of the youth in next year’s polls. She asked lawmakers to be “progressive enough” and not oppose the bill “to get the support of certain voting blocks.”  She brushed aside suggestions for the bill to be decided through a plebiscite by 2013, saying that the legislative process must be followed.

Gibby Gorres, SCAP’s national secretary general, for his part lambasted Filipino politicians for being “inutile” in representing their constituents’ views on the RH bill. A survey conducted by Social Weather Stations last August 2011 shows that almost three-fourths of Filipinos agree that the government should disseminate information on all legal family planning methods. Only 29% of respondents in the said survey regarded using contraceptives like condoms, pills, and IUDs as abortion.

With Gibby Gorres, SCAP national secretary general

“Being anti-RH is essentially a crime. They (anti-RH solons) are letting mothers dies indiscriminately. This is as big a deal as extrajudicial killings and budget cuts in education,” Gorres said. He added that there is no scientific study which indicates that the promotion of reproductive health leads to an increase in premarital sexual activities.

Asked about the argument that implementing the RH bill would be too costly for the government, Leona Arcellana of the UP Manila USC stressed that pending on the RH bill is “nothing compared to spending on health issues.” Arcellana added: “Trying to save a mother’s life is costlier than buying a condom. It will prevent the government from spending more, especially on the urban poor.”

The news conference was organized by The Forum for Family Planning and Development (The Forum) last March 22. The Forum is a non-government organization that advocates for the passage of the RH bill.

Must read:

Will Philippine lawmakers show courage and vote on the RH bill? (Notes from the Philippines)

Maternal deaths rising in Metro Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Winning 2nd place in Go Negosyo essay writing tilt

Let me share to all readers of my blog this piece of good news. I recently won 2^nd place in the recently concluded 2012 Babae Kapuso Ka ng Bayan essay writing competition. It was organized by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE), a group best known for their Go Negosyo initiative.

The contest aims to “promote and encourage conscious awareness of the contributions of Filipino women in the different levels of society, in the different social strata, and in all fields imaginable.” Read their official contest announcement here.

My article "Empowering Pinay entrepreneurs as key players in achieving national progress" has been published in the Go Negosyo website

My winning entry is titled Empowering Pinay entrepreneurs as key players in achieving national progress, where I wrote that “limited access to capital and business know-show should never be allowed to be a glass ceiling for Filipina entrepreneurs.” The essay is now published in the PCE Go Negosyo website.

Deofelyn Ocayo and Angelica Jazmin Cabrera won first and third place, respectively. Winning participants received a certificate of recognition, a set of Go Negosyo books, among other items.

The contest was open to all Filipinos, even to those based overseas. Entries were judged based on the following criteria: relevance to the theme, 50 percent; style and grammar, 20 percent; and appeal to intellect and emotion, 30 percent.

Receiving the certificate for winning in the Go Negosyo essay writing tilt (photo taken at the Go Negosyo headquarters in Mandaluyong City)*

An awarding ceremony was originally scheduled last March 2 as part of PCE’s 4^th Women Entrepreneurship summit held at the World Trade Center, but the organizers failed to announce the list of winners in time for the event. Nevertheless, I am still very thankful for this award.  :-)

(Photo credits: Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship)

Will Philippine lawmakers show courage and vote on the RH bill?

International Women’s Day special

Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey (NJ) in the United States, last month vetoed a bill that would have legalized same-sex marriages in the said state. According to him, the issue should be up to the people of NJ to decide through a referendum. He described the set-up as a “bargain” for gay marriage advocates. Christie’s indecisiveness on the matter is understandable.

Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey

Supporting the initiative means alienating himself toward his party’s base – something he certainly wouldn’t want to happen since he is considered a Republican star. Many Republicans had earlier urged him to run in this year’s presidential elections against Barack Obama (he ultimately decided not to). On the other hand, coming out against the measure would mean being out-of-step with the majority of his constituents. A January 2012 poll by Quinnipiac revealed that 52% of NJ voters are supportive of gay marriages. Faced with such a dilemma, Christie chose the side of political caution.

Philippine lawmakers are also confronted by a similar predicament, particularly vis-à-vis the long-pending Reproductive Health (RH) bill. The proposed RH bill has been around since the 1990s but has gotten no clear traction toward passage for many years. The dillydallying of lawmakers on the subject is quite understandable.

The Catholic hierarchy remains steadfast in their opposition to the bill. One of their allies, ex Senator Francisco Tatad, even claimed that “no true Catholic can support the RH bill.” However, a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations last August 2011 found out that almost three-fourths of Filipinos agree that the government should disseminate information on all legal family planning methods, which is a key goal of the bill. Notably, only 29% of the respondents agreed with the proposition that using birth control means like condoms, pills, and IUDs is tantamount to abortion.

Occupy for RH bill banner (credits: www.rhbill.org)

Not willing to lose the mythical “Catholic vote” come election time, many solons must have believed that it will be better for them not to remain noncommittal about the bill altogether. This evident lack of political will pushed the bill’s advocates to launch “Occupy for RH” late last year, with the goal of urging solons to put the bill to a vote before 2011 ends. The impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Renato Corona as well as other legislative roadblocks further delayed a possible plenary vote on the bill.

Two days ago, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales Jr. outlined a possible path toward approval for the RH bill by mid-2012. Gonzales has already proposed to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to terminate the debates on the measure before the Congress goes on a five-week break come March 23. “At some point, we have to put an end to the interminable discussions. This bill cannot continue to be in a state of suspended animation,” Gonzales told The Philippine Star.

At least, the good solon from Mandaluyong has acknowledged that the ball is in their hands and that they must do something about it. The 1987 Constitution bestows upon the House of Representatives and the Senate the power to legislate. Will our legislators pass the RH bill once and for all, or will they do a Chris Christie and make the people decide on the issue through a referendum come 2013, as Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone proposed last year? Will they display political courage and not cowardice? Abangan.

“(President Benigno Aquino III) should show the same zeal in pushing for (the RH bill) as in getting impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona convicted,” – unnamed lawmaker

Philippine LGBT rights activists to Catholic prelates: Be compassionate

The Progressive Organization of Gays in the Philippines (ProGay) called on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to stop issuing what it describes as “poisoned” and “misguided” information regarding anti-discrimination proposals pending in Congress.

The CBCP announced its opposition to Senate Bill (SB) 2814 or the Anti-Ethnic, Racial or Religious Discrimination and Profiling Act of 2011, saying the possible enactment of the bill into law “would open the door for the legalization of same sex marriages” in the country.

For his part, Senator Gringo Honasan, said in an interview with Sun.Star said that it is “too premature to make an intelligent conclusion” if the passage of the aforementioned bill would indeed lead to same sex marriages in the Philippines. Honasan, who is eligible to seek reelection in the 2013 senatorial polls, is part of the bi-cameral conference committee working on the bill.

ProGay Philippines to CBCP: Be compassionate!

ProGay spokesperson Goya Candelario, for his part, maintained that his group support bills that would protect human rights based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. “(We support the bill) because it protects all Filipino citizens, especially the oppressed Filipino women who suffer from workplace and family-based discrimination,” he said.

In a news conference, Jo Imbong, CBCP lawyer and defeated 2010 senatorial candidate pointed out that Filipino lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders (LGBTs) “should not be protected from discrimination” because they had the power to choose their sexual orientation.

“It really pains to hear those words coming from a supposed Christian. Imbong is so blind and unfeeling that she does not know that discrimination forces LGBTs in the slums to take on dirty, low-paid dangerous work like prostitution,” Candelario said. Candelario said sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) are not a personal choice that can be turned on and off at a whim.

“SOGI is an integral part of who we are from birth, even for heterosexuals who did not choose to be heterosexuals at birth. However, Christians can choose from hundreds of religions they want to be baptized in later in life, and they demand legal protections of religious freedom,” he said. The ProGay leader also pleaded for progressive priests, bishops, and nuns to come out in defense of LGBT rights and to not let their rabid factions dominate the Church.

LGBT rights activists during a pride march last week (credits: Mr. Goya Candelario)

In a statement, ProGay Philippines reiterated said that no provision in SB 2814 would force priests to bless same sex marriages on the pain of jail terms and fines. ProGay human rights officer Oscar Atadero said that the House version HB 1483 filed by Rep. Teddy Casino is a preferred version by the gay community, but he said the group hopes that a compromise version would protect LGBTs with sufficient protections to guard against violence, homophobia, and discrimination that Filipino gays suffer in schools, workplace, and government services.

RH bill advocates fight on despite legislative roadblocks

Around 400 students from leading universities and colleges in Metro Manila held last November 14 a demonstration dubbed “Busina Para sa RH” (“Blow Your Horn for RH”) in support of the reproductive health bill. The pro-RH activists converged in Katipunan Ave., along the gates of Ateneo de Manila University, at 6 PM – to coincide with the opening of the legislative sessions in both Houses of Congress for that day.

After the short program, the protesters marched toward the House of Representatives. The participants dyed their hairs purple to show their “solidarity and commitment” in campaigning to push Congress to vote on the RH Bill. Last week, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales, Jr. (Lone district, Mandaluyong) announced that the solons would vote on the measure by June next year, instead of December this year, since “at least 20 congressmen are still lined up for interpellations.”

RH bill advocates organized the "Busina Para sa RH" last November 15 (photo courtesy of Ms Chi Laigo Vallido)

Gibby Gorres, national secretary general of the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, stressed that the support of the youth for the RH bill is important since the sector “comprise 30% of the country’s population,” a fact that has made them a “driving force in elections and campaigns.” He also warned lawmakers who are against the said bill: “Young people are a force to reckon with in the 2013 elections.”

Ha also urged the youth to get involved in the campaign, saying: “Young people should demand that information and services that allow them to practice their sexuality responsibly, such as the comprehensive sexuality education, be made available to them.” An article in the Jakarta Globe published last November 7 noted that “ignorance and poverty, which cause large numbers of children to drop out of school, are the main drivers of persistently high rates of teenage pregnancies in the Philippines.”

In response to this pronouncement, RH advocates launched an “Occupy Wall Street”-inspired protest right in the South Gate of the Batasan Complex beginning last November 21. Dr. Junice Melgar, the movement’s chief coordinator, told GMA News in an interview: “The lawmakers can’t keep interpellating ‘til kingdom come. ‘Wag nilang patayin ang RH bill dahil sa delay.” (They should not kill the RH bill through delays.)

Degrading gays and women through “Nagmahal Ng Bakla”

I originally submitted this as a requirement for my Gender Sensitivity in the Mass Media class (J196) under now-retired Dr. Georgina Encanto early last year. Originally posted here: http://marksphere.blogspot.com/2010/01/degrading-both-gays-and-women-through.html

 
The song “Nagmahal ng Bakla” by rap group Dagtang Lason received frequent airplay the past few months. Radio stations played it repeatedly while its video has been uploaded in YouTube. It has witty lyrics and a catchy tune, making the song inflicted in people’s heads. In fact, even young children can sing-along to it. The group, meanwhile, has performed the song live in “Sharon” and “Wowowee.” Given the message of this song, such publicity isn’t only unwarranted – it is also dangerous.

What does the song really say? Here are the lyrics of its chorus:

Mga tambay lang kami sawa sa babae
May mga babaeng manloloko
Pineperahan lang kami
Kaya ngayon bakla na lang ang aming iibigin
Masarap magmahal ang bakla
Ohh kay sarap… damhin

Basically, it tells us that since most girls are merely looking for sugar daddies or boys they can use as cash cows, these tambays (street bystanders) now prefer gays as their lovers. They now want homosexual males because they are already “sawa sa babae.” It’s as if females are muffin meals that males can just toss away once they get so used to its taste. What about the gays? They are being treated as an alternative giver of pleasure for men. “Kaya ngayon, bakla na lamang ang aming iibigin,” the song goes.

There is no mention here about the need of gays to be loved in their own right – and not as an alternative to women. Upon close examination, the song’s chorus also lacks logic. How can a plain tambay serve as a cash cow? How can he be a financial provider? Scattered throughout the song are other lines that condescend both women and gays.

The view that homosexuals are just being used as plain sex objects (or a way by which a man can release his urges) is supported by the line: “Hinanakit sa babae ang dahilan / Kung bakit nagmahal ako ng tulad niya / Kahit siya ay pangit.” The song says that though the thought of being in a relationship with a gay man is still repulsive (because of the latter’s supposed ugliness) for these tambays, they would still tolerate it because women only break their hearts.

The lines “Kaya nagdesisyon tuloy ang puso na laging bigo / Na bakla na lang ang iibigin ko” and “Kahit karumal-dumal pa ang kanyang (the gay) pagmumukha / Basta wag niya lang akong gawing kaawa-awa” gives a negative generalization of women as domineering beings. It also characterizes gays as “ugly” receivers (taga-salo) of distraught men.

The song gives macho males the privilege of choosing who between females and gays can best satisfy their needs, both emotional and sexual. Though the song says that straight males can fall for gays, the meanness toward gays remains obvious. “Kaya sa bigo, sa mga babae diyan / Umibig ng bakla, nakakalat lang yan diyan,” a line states. What does these mean? It subtly suggests that gays are always lurking around, searching desperately for a man. Unsurprisingly, the rap single also mentioned the typical gay-gives-the-guy-money stereotype: “Bakla na lang ang iibigin ko / Di na ko masasaktan, nagkapera pa ako.”

Other disturbing lines include: “Bago tayo magtabi sa kama, magpa-opera ka muna.” Apparently, the guy here is telling his gay lover that before they can have sex, the latter must first undergo a sex transplant (so the gay can have the body of a woman?). This is like saying that gays must try hard to look like a “real” woman. Another line goes like this: “Relasyon natin ay parang ginto / Mahal kita, wag lang sana akong magkatulo.” The tambay is now worried that he might contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI) from his gay partner. Really? Given that these tambays‘ desire for women has reached the saturation point (“sawa sa babae“), isn’t it that they are the more likely carrier of STIs?

We all know that the recording industry is taking serious blows from the global financial crisis, unabated piracy, and the rise of online music-sharing. The entertainment world, meanwhile, is becoming more crowded with almost everyone wanting to be famous. Coming up with a controversial single that gets tremendous airplay and good record sales may be good from a business perspective. But what if in the process, both gays and women are being maligned repeatedly?

Music is a major part of any culture, and it in return reflects us as a people. Music (and other media) can influence the way individuals think because of its ubiquity. When this power is used to perpetuate the hostility toward those wrongly regarded as belonging to the “second” and “third” sexes, it becomes bothersome. This is why the popularity of “Nagmahal ng Bakla” is dangerous.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS — TANDANG SORA @ 200 CONFERENCE

Announcement courtesy of Dr. Ma. Luisa de Leon-Bolinao, Chair of UP History Department. 

January 6, 2012 is the 200th birthdate of Melchora Aquino, popularly known as Tandang Sora and one of the many women who contributed to the Philippine revolution of 1896. She was already 84 years old when she stood against the oppression that Filipinos were suffering under the Spanish colonizers. She helped the Katipuneros who fought  the revolution against Spain in various ways. When the Spanish  learned about her support to the Katipuneros, she was arrested and interrogated, but never revealed secrets of the Katipunan. Despite her age, she bravely confronted her tormentors. As a punishment, she was deported to Guam where she stayed until the end of the war.

Melchora "Tandang Sora" Aquino (1812-1919)

To commemorate her 200th  birthdate and her 93rd death anniversary (she died on March 2, 1919), an academic conference is being sponsored by College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD), College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University Center for Women’s Studies (UCWS), UP Diliman Gender Office (DGO) and Office against Sexual Harassment (OASH) to be held March 1 – 2, 2012 at UP CSWCD with participants from the following sectors: academics and researchers in Philippine History, gender and women’s studies, social work and community development; high school teachers of history and social studies, primarily from Quezon City; members of historical associations; faculty and researchers of Philippines Studies Programs in universities based abroad; representatives from women’s organizations and older persons organizations; and college students.

There will be four sub themes for presentation and discussion during the two-day conference, as follows:

1. Tandang Sora Revisited: presentation of papers regarding the life of Tandang Sora and her continuing inspiration and relevance in the present times;
2. Feminist Historiography:  presentation of papers dealing with feminist critiques and reconstructions of historiography;
3. History of ‘small’ people: presentation of papers showing various heroic acts done by ordinary people, specially those inspired by the contributions of Tandang Sora, such as older persons, community health workers, community development workers, etc.; and,
4. Nationalism and Femininity: appropriations of Tandang Sora and other heroines over time.

Deadlines:

Submission of abstracts (300 words or less):    Sept. 30, 2011

Notification of acceptance of abstracts:           Oct. 30, 2011

Submission of full papers:                                  January 31, 2012

For other inquiries, please email the Conference Secretariat secretariat.tandangsoraat200@gmail.com.

Andi Eigenmann and the rising number of premarital pregnancies in the country

By Mark Pere Madrona

 

The interview with a crying Jaclyn Jose on ABS-CBN last June 29 sent shockwaves throughout this showbiz-crazed nation. Jose confirmed to the whole world that her 21-year-old daughter, young actress Andi Eigenmann, is indeed four months pregnant. Jose made the revelation amidst swirling tabloid blind items about the pregnancy.

Almost immediately, everyone (especially “netizens”) was speculating about who impregnated Eigenmann. Is it her ex boyfriend Albie Casino? Is it her current flame Jake Ejercito? Others, meanwhile, are talking about what effect this event would have in Eigenmann’s budding career.

According to reports, her mother network has lined up a number of future projects for her. Even while Eigenmann and her mother has remained tight-lipped on the pregnancy, her father, actor Mark Gil, has said nasty words about the father of her daughter’s baby. We all know that the media thrives on covering controversial personalities and intrigues, mainly because the public delights in watching that. Since the reportage has been centered on these individuals, we hear nothing about the deeper (and more relevant) story underneath the entire brouhaha.

Things would have turned differently had Albie Casino and Andi Eigenmann used condoms, right?

To say that premarital pregnancies are becoming common nowadays may be an understatement. Almost all of us probably have a relative, a one-time schoolmate, or a neighbor who became pregnant before marriage. In some instances, the ones involved here are still on their teenage years. Having lost contact with most of my elementary batch mates for years, I was so surprised to see that some of my female classmates are already mothers. I learned about it through their Facebook accounts, where they uploaded pictures of their babies. At first, I naively thought those kids were either their younger siblings or pamangkins!

I’ve also had more than two unwed close relatives who became pregnant. For example, my cousin Theresa (not her real name) was only 15 when she got pregnant almost four years ago. We were playmates during our childhood days, though I am two years older than her. The father of her child works as a car shop painter near their house in Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City. Other than his daily pay, he does not get any other benefits from his employer. I even doubt if that shop is formally registered to do business.

According to a 2004 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), “the number of young adults engaging in premarital sex (PMS) has steadily increased over the years.” They cited the findings of the Young Adult Fertility Survey III (published in 2002) which stated that 40% of Filipinos between ages 20-24 have experienced PMS at least once. It was concluded that “the percentage of sexually active young adults increases with age,” and that males and urban adolescents in general are more likely to engage in PMS.

Despite the high incidence of sexual activity among young people, the same WHO literature review noted that a mere 20% of women aged 15 to 49 did not know when they are fertile during their monthly cycle (as revealed by the 2000 Family Planning Survey). And though 94.4% of unmarried girls aged 15-19 are aware of at least one contraceptive method, only 0.1% of them had actually used it (as per the 1998 National Demographic Survey).

These figures will surely be disconcerting for many, but one has to keep in mind that the numbers stated here are already obsolete. Getting more recent (and hence more realistic) statistics about these matters are very tough. Doing such an extensive study will surely be costly. Who will shoulder the expenses?

It will also be hard to put it into place since some sectors will surely vehemently oppose the initiative from the start. Lastly, how can you be sure that you are getting honest answers when you ask someone about his/her sexual behavior? It may be hard to quantify the increasing prevalence of premarital pregnancies in our society right now, but as stated earlier, it is not hard to put a human face into it. One can only speculate as to the reason behind the rise in premarital pregnancies in the country. More often than not, such cases are unplanned by either of the parents. And while having a child is not bad per se, the problem comes when a couple is totally unprepared for the baby’s needs. So, the question now is, how do you reduce unintended premarital pregnancies? More on that in my next post.

 

 

* The figures cited above were obtained from Sexual and reproductive health of adolescents and youths in the Philippines: A review of literature and projects, 1995-2003, published by the World Health Organization – West Pacific region. This 153-page material can be downloaded for free at http://www.wpro.who.int/NR/rdonlyres/C39735C6-2817-4BC0-B527-3F22FBA7F2B9/0/ASRHphilippines.pdf.

Saudization means fewer overseas work opportunities for Filipinos

by Mark Pere Madrona

(This blog has been published in DefinitelyFilipino.com last August 11:  http://definitelyfilipino.com/blog/2011/08/11/saudization-means-fewer-overseas-work-opportunities-for-filipinos/)

Through the years, much has been written about the misfortunes that plagued overseas Filipino workers. Countless OFWs have been abused physically and sexually. Many were forced to work in extremely inhumane circumstances under cruel employers (who probably regard their workers as a material possession). For sure, maltreatment of OFWs happen anywhere in the world, but the stories of abuse coming from those who worked in Middle Eastern nations are more common – and more disturbing[1]. Nevertheless, nothing can stop Filipinos from seeking overseas employment.

With over a million Filipinos currently employed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia[2], the recently implemented Nitaqat system (or “Saudization” of the work force) is certainly not good news for the Philippine economy. Our nation’s labor export policy has been in place for over three decades now, having been initiated by then President Ferdinand Marcos[3]. This scheme has mitigated the country’s perpetual unemployment problem. According to the latest labor figures, there are 11.3 million Filipinos who are unemployed[4]. OFWs had also kept the economy afloat through the billions of dollars in cash remittance they’ve sent back home annually[5].

The realities cannot be denied. Even those who have graduated with honors from the Philippines’ best universities are having a hard time finding a job. Many eventually settle for the first job offer that comes their way – never mind if the compensation package is not at all attractive (or if the work has nothing to do with what one has specialized in). As economists always point out, underemployment is preferable to unemployment. It is also a fact that salaries earned by those who opt to work locally pale in comparison to what one can possibly earn in other countries.

Contrary to insinuations that the Saudization policy was implemented merely as a revenge for the recent investigations conducted by the Philippine Congress regarding the abuse of OFWs in the Middle East, the scheme was actually put into place because the oil kingdom is also experiencing worsening unemployment. Arab News reported last month that as much as 10% of the entire population does not have jobs. Among females, unemployment could be as high as 30%, the paper added[6].

The recently implemented “Saudization” of the work force is certainly not good news for the Philippines.

The Saudi government appears all set to implement the said policy strictly, giving companies just a few months to increase the number of Saudis in their workforce, lest they be dealt with “punitive measures.” The government of KSA has set a fixed percentage of Saudi employees depending on the industry. “Red” companies, for instance, are also not allowed to renew work visas for their foreign employees. Thus, OFWs who initially planned to have a brief vacation to the Philippines will probably no longer be allowed to come back.

With the global financial crisis still lingering and with no end in sight, the job security of people who work overseas are in jeopardy. For example, since the unemployment in America remains high at 9.2% (or anout 14 million Americans)[7], the government has made it harder for immigrants (whether legitimate or undocumented) to find work. American politicians, meanwhile, never fail to demonize in their speeches companies who outsource their operations overseas. Americans, after all, always rail about people who “take” away their jobs.

Given these realities, it is totally understandable for affluent nations to prioritize their own people when it comes to giving jobs. Labor export-dependent countries like the Philippines have no other option but to start adapting to this unfavorable situation. Reliance on foreign countries to solve a nation’s unemployment woes is not sustainable. This cannot go on forever.

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[1] Robles, Raissa. Saudis consider maids as part of their furniture. (Personal blog). http://raissarobles.com/2011/07/03/saudis-consider-maids-as-part-of-their-furniture-a-labor-official-once-told-me/

[2] _____________. Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Stock Estimate of Overseas Filipinos. Philippine Overseas Employment Agency website (http://www.poea.gov.ph/stats/Stock%20Estmate%202009.pdf). Retrieved July 21, 2011.

[3] O’Neil, Kevin. Labor Export as Government Policy: The Case of the Philippines. Migration Policy Institute website. http://www.migrationinformation.org/feature/display.cfm?ID=191. Retrieved March 14, 2011.

[4] ________.  SWS: Unemployment up, now affects 11.3M Filipinos. GMA News Online. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/221384/nation/sws-unemployment-up-now-affects-113m-pinoys. Retrieved May 29, 2011. (Report published May 23, 2011)

[5] Olchondra, Riza. “Remittances to fuel economic growth.” Philippine Daily Inquirer website. http://archive.inquirer.net/view.php?db=1&story_id=314828. Retrieved March 14, 2011.

[6] _______. Labor Ministry outlines Saudization percentage. Arab News. http://www.arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article454198.ece. Accessed July 20, 2011.

[7] _______. Employment Situation Summary. United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm. Accessed July 21, 2011.