Sometimes I wonder -- is the news media really out there to present to us the truth, or are they only pushing their own agenda (at least the reporters/editors)? Do they really live up to their slogans "Walang Kinikilang, Serbisyong Totoo Lang" for GMA-7 and ABS-CBN 2's "Panig sa Katotohanan, Panig sa Bayan".
Just take for example, this current debate on the RH Bill...I bumped into an article from the CBCP that the World Health Organization (WHO) in its 2011 International Agency Research on Cancer (IARC) report retains oral contraceptives to be Group 1 carcinogen. But the thing is, I did not hear anything about this relevant news in the primetime news, nor in radio programs from these networks..and definitely, no extensive discussions were made about this news, no interviews made, no poll voting. Nothing! As if they'd want this news kept below the radar. I only saw ABS-CBN article about it on the their website..and that is only when I started searching on it over the Net to verify the news after seeing it by chance at the CBCP site. It is sad not much commentary nor discussion about this important news was made, not from any of the tv networks who claim to be presenting to the public what is FAIR and what is the TRUTH.
If these tv networks really present the complete TRUTH, then they should be mentioning this during discussions about this bill. This RH Bill issue is so hot so as to set aside this important information. And these same media outfit or personalities are the ones shouting their lungs off that we need to have an INFORMED CHOICE. So how come this news is treated with hush-hush? The only thing that we hear from our local media is their subtle, if not obvious, ridicule of the Catholic Church's stand on this issue, their quick judgement of people who are against this bill...Sana nga WALANG KINIKILINGAN, PANIG SA KATOTOHAN ang ating media.
If you want to read the articles on WHO's IARC study on oral contraceptives and its classification as Group 1 carcinogen, please do check out these links:
o From the CBCP news: WHO Agency 2011 Report Retains Pills as Carcinogens
o From the Times Herald in PA
o Complete Report from WHO's Intl. Agency for Research on Cancer Vol. 91, 2007
o From GreenFacts: Excerpts from the WHO Report
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Lea Salonga and RH Bill 4244
I just heard Ms. Lea Salonga in the news saying that she supports the RH Bill 4244. I heard her saying something to the effect of leaving the size of the family to the couple's decision.
You see, my husband and I are fans of Ms. Lea...We bought her CDs, went to her concerts, watched her stage plays...We love her...we believe in her talent...and we still do and will continue to do so.
On the RH Bill -- I may differ from where she stands...but I think we are the same on "leaving the size of the family to the couple's decision"...However, COUPLE's DECISION -- this is precisely what this RH bill is destroying. Check out RH Bill 4244's Section 28 - Prohibited Acts, Item a.2 "The following acts are prohibited...Any healthcare service provider, whether public or private, refuse to perform legal and medically safe reproductive health procedures on any person of legal age on the lack of third party consent or authorization. In the case of married persons, the mutual consent of the spouses will be preferred. However, in case of disagreement, the decision of the one undergoing the procedure shall prevail...."
Now, is there any consideration there to "COUPLE's DECISION"? This is only an INDIVIDUAL's decision. How would you feel if your spouse went straight ahead and had a ligation or vasectomy without you knowing about it? What about the essence of marriage which is suppose to be a PARTNERSHIP of two individuals to raise a family? If one partner can go right ahead and do whatever he/she likes with regard to his/her ability to procreate, where is the COUPLE's DECISION there? And note that procedures like ligation and vasectomy are IRREVERSIBLE...This bill is undermining the relationship of husbands and wives...
And this is just one of those "fine prints" that is in this RH Bill that really needs to be further discussed. There are more...the rights of practicing Catholic doctors who wouldn't want to perform such procedures, the rights of practicing Catholic employers who don't want to cover abortifacient contraceptive pills, irreversible procedures like ligation/vasectomy in their medical benefits, the rights of parents to educate their children according to their moral standards, the rights of practicing Catholic taxpayers who wouldn't want their tax monies used for something that is against their beliefs, the right to practice ones religion without fear for being imprisoned and/or fined...
Note that in Section 29 - Penalites, it is said there "Any violation of this Act or commission of the foregoing prohibited acts shall be penalized by imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to to six (6) months or a fine of ten thousand pesos(P10,000) to fify thousand pesos (P50,000)or both...." Are we going to prison because of our religious beliefs? What about our BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS to Freedom of Religion?
Akala ko ba PRO-CHOICE those who would want to pass the RH Bill? In reality, this bill is not leaving any choice for those who would want to choose otherwise.
We don't need this bill...Those who would like to use artificial contraceptives are already FREE TO DO SO...Why PENALIZE those who would rather not support artificial contraceptives?
There are a lot of good items in the bill...But there are contentious items there too that needs to be taken out as it violates basic constitutional rights...So please do read the WHOLE bill...from beginning to end...Check this link if you'd want to read more -- CFCFFL Position on RH Bill: http://cfcyfl.org/index.php/2011/03/cfcffl-position-re-the-consolidated-rh-bill-hb-4244/
You see, my husband and I are fans of Ms. Lea...We bought her CDs, went to her concerts, watched her stage plays...We love her...we believe in her talent...and we still do and will continue to do so.
On the RH Bill -- I may differ from where she stands...but I think we are the same on "leaving the size of the family to the couple's decision"...However, COUPLE's DECISION -- this is precisely what this RH bill is destroying. Check out RH Bill 4244's Section 28 - Prohibited Acts, Item a.2 "The following acts are prohibited...Any healthcare service provider, whether public or private, refuse to perform legal and medically safe reproductive health procedures on any person of legal age on the lack of third party consent or authorization. In the case of married persons, the mutual consent of the spouses will be preferred. However, in case of disagreement, the decision of the one undergoing the procedure shall prevail...."
Now, is there any consideration there to "COUPLE's DECISION"? This is only an INDIVIDUAL's decision. How would you feel if your spouse went straight ahead and had a ligation or vasectomy without you knowing about it? What about the essence of marriage which is suppose to be a PARTNERSHIP of two individuals to raise a family? If one partner can go right ahead and do whatever he/she likes with regard to his/her ability to procreate, where is the COUPLE's DECISION there? And note that procedures like ligation and vasectomy are IRREVERSIBLE...This bill is undermining the relationship of husbands and wives...
And this is just one of those "fine prints" that is in this RH Bill that really needs to be further discussed. There are more...the rights of practicing Catholic doctors who wouldn't want to perform such procedures, the rights of practicing Catholic employers who don't want to cover abortifacient contraceptive pills, irreversible procedures like ligation/vasectomy in their medical benefits, the rights of parents to educate their children according to their moral standards, the rights of practicing Catholic taxpayers who wouldn't want their tax monies used for something that is against their beliefs, the right to practice ones religion without fear for being imprisoned and/or fined...
Note that in Section 29 - Penalites, it is said there "Any violation of this Act or commission of the foregoing prohibited acts shall be penalized by imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to to six (6) months or a fine of ten thousand pesos(P10,000) to fify thousand pesos (P50,000)or both...." Are we going to prison because of our religious beliefs? What about our BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS to Freedom of Religion?
Akala ko ba PRO-CHOICE those who would want to pass the RH Bill? In reality, this bill is not leaving any choice for those who would want to choose otherwise.
We don't need this bill...Those who would like to use artificial contraceptives are already FREE TO DO SO...Why PENALIZE those who would rather not support artificial contraceptives?
There are a lot of good items in the bill...But there are contentious items there too that needs to be taken out as it violates basic constitutional rights...So please do read the WHOLE bill...from beginning to end...Check this link if you'd want to read more -- CFCFFL Position on RH Bill: http://cfcyfl.org/index.php/2011/03/cfcffl-position-re-the-consolidated-rh-bill-hb-4244/
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
My Personal Credo
Just attended a Retreat last week and we were asked to do a Personal Credo. May I share it here...
My Personal Credo
I am a daughter of God in the middle of the world.
The dignity of my being emanates from this truth.
I lovingly fulfill my vocation
as a caring wife to my husband,
as a nurturing mother to my children,
as a dutiful daughter to my parents,
as a loyal faithful of the Church,
as a patriotic citizen of my country,and,
as an effective professional in my chosen career.
I am an ordinary human being
living an ordinary life
who will do my ordinary work and duties
extra-ordinarily well
whether at the home,
at the workplace,
in the communities that I belong - ecclesiastical or juridical.
And in so doing,
I will be doing God's will for me,
I can be alte Christus, ipse Christus to others,
I can show my love and give greater glory
to my God, Father and Lord.
My Personal Credo
I am a daughter of God in the middle of the world.
The dignity of my being emanates from this truth.
I lovingly fulfill my vocation
as a caring wife to my husband,
as a nurturing mother to my children,
as a dutiful daughter to my parents,
as a loyal faithful of the Church,
as a patriotic citizen of my country,and,
as an effective professional in my chosen career.
I am an ordinary human being
living an ordinary life
who will do my ordinary work and duties
extra-ordinarily well
whether at the home,
at the workplace,
in the communities that I belong - ecclesiastical or juridical.
And in so doing,
I will be doing God's will for me,
I can be alte Christus, ipse Christus to others,
I can show my love and give greater glory
to my God, Father and Lord.
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