From a Disappointed Citizen

I have been resting for a while and totally missed my blog. Pissed off by Senator Tito Sotto's claim of this and that. Irritated by lies when in fact we know the truth.

Sen. Sotto on DZMM: There was no plagiarism. There was no intention. And I have no intentions of claiming anything.

With these said, I stopped defending Senator Tito Sotto to my co-bloggers. Having issues like his son died because of some "whatchamacallit pills" that existed 3 years after his wife gave birth, his quotes from a blogger who in fact is if you read her background, she's a supporter of what we call RH bill nowadays and his denial to his speeches being "copy-cats"... Totally, sad to say but sorry, I lose respect. 

All the while I though our dear senator will give it a second thought. I thought he maybe clouded by his emotions and end up being humble by admitting one's mistake and straighten things up. I thought wrong.  

When Sotto says population growth is also needed for economic development, I'm not sure if he's talking about population as a business or human welfare.
Sometimes dear senator, what we want is not what we see on TV. There are instances, like your speeches, that needs research. Thorough research. The people you are leading are not stupid. The people under these government are people with brains, with choices..

Now, New York Times didn't even miss to feature our dear Senator entitled A Plagiarist’s Rant Against Birth Control. Locally, same author wrote Walang Sugat, da sequel! Starring Tito Sotto.

I guess I'm loving Miguel Syjuco with these articles.

Well, guess I'm glad I didn't come from Iskul Bukol. 

Isang open letter para kay Sen. Sotto

(*this letter is blogged with Ms. Risa Hontiveros' permission*)


Dear Sen. Sotto,

Bilang magulang, naiintindihan ko na mahirap mawalan ng isang anak. As you said in your speech, every child is a gift of life, and I agree, Sen. Sotto. That's precisely why I know that losing a child must have been very difficult for you and your family.

You'd probably be surprised to learn that it is precisely that value -that deep respect for life - that motivates us, RH advocates, in being persistent in pushing for this bill, even though we face fierce resistance from men like you. Ang panganganak ng RH bill na yata angpinakamahirap at pinakamahaba na paglalabor, Sen. Sotto; pero magpapapatuloy kami. Alam namin na konting ire na lang at mailuluwaldin namin ng matagumpay ang isang programa at policy na kailangan ng mga nanay.

In your speech, you attributed the push for the RH bill to foreign corporate interests. You couldn't be more wrong. The bill may be informed by evidence we gathered from all over the world, but the RHbill is 100% Filipino. All you have to do to realize this, Sen. Sotto,is to fulfill your duty as a representative of Filipinos, an overwhelming majority of which supports the bill. Even the majority of Catholic Filipinos, the faith of whom has been wrongly used to justify opposition to the bill, are in favor of the Bill's passage. Ang tunay na backers ng RH bill ay ang mamamayang Pilipino.

Sinabi mo rin na health hazard ang mga contraceptives. Mawalang galang na, Sen. Sotto, pero hindi na po 1970s ngayon. We are now in possession of a vast array of evidence on both natural and artificial family planning methods. We know that condoms are effective as a contraceptive and as a tool to stop the spread of HIV between sexual partners. We know what pills do - they're not abortifacients as you allege, and yes, they have side-effects - just like aspirin - and that's precisely why programs are needed to ensure that users have the correct information about them.

Pinagpilitan nyo din ang inyong pananaw tungkol sa kung kelan nagsisimula ang buhay. Baka magandang magsimula tayo sa ebidensya. I think it is beyond reason to assert that each ovum, each sperm has life, and while I respect traditional views on this, this is mythical, and more than anything else, it defies common sense. On whether life begins at fertilization or implantation, again, your views are sectarian, thus it will always be debatable, a subject of conversation we should continue to engage in. Pero hindi yata tama na hanggang debate na lang habang may mga namamatay. Right now, can we agree to protect the lives and dignity of the living - the Filipino mothers, whose lives are in danger because of the lack of maternal health programs; our babies and our children, whose health needs must be provided by the state; and our youth, whose lack of awareness on sexual health issues makes them at risk to various sexual health andreproductive health concerns?

Sen. Sotto, please take time to understand what this issue is about. As a legislator, you have to step back from this climate of misunderstanding that has shrouded the issue of RH, and realize what this is all about: the public health needs of Filipinos. As a father, as a Catholic, please find in your heart compassion and empathy -hundreds of Filipino parents like you lose their loved ones, too, precisely because our political leaders refuse to approve the RH bill.

Sincerely,

Risa Hontiveros

Defend Life and Sustain It...

This so far is the DUMBEST tarp I've ever seen. When all along we thought the offering you give to the church are meant for the church, it goes beyond that. It is use to pay for tarps like these..

My question now to CBCP is " Why didn't you print something like 

"YES TO AIDS and YES TO STD"

since they are similar. 

The misunderstood concept of RHBILL are driving people confused. RHBILL is never about religion. RHBILL is about health. It is supporting a family not to go hungry, giving the right to proper education, the right of children to play instead of working and the right of parents to provide a good home. 

It is pro-life. It is sustaining a child that was born from birth until future holds. It is giving the kid a right to freedom and not to be a burden.

An indie movie "And babae sa septik tank" talks about poverty, child trafficking, inhumane living conditions of the marginalized sectors in the Philippines and where RHBILL plays a really good picture.

 To CBCP: 
If you say No to RHBILL is defending life, will you be able to sustain it? 
Easy for you to say since you never experienced buying cans of infant milk and tons diapers, right?