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

The Sad Truth

It was August 5, 2012. I agreed to meet some of my high school friends over Gateway Cubao. Though the weather is not that good, I still, was able to go. For one, we haven't seen each other for a long time. Second, I might as well get away once in a while from the usual routine I have everyday. And thirdly, at least the people I'll be around this time were my friends for a long time.

I was late for about an hour. (same as last year hehehe). Anyway, I saw Lorna and Apple chatting while patiently waiting for others to come. All the while, with our calculation, there should be at least 6 or 7 of us however, others decline the last minute maybe due to the weather or some personal reasons. JP came latter despite the flood building in front of his boarding house.

We had late lunch. Or early dinner. Or whatever you call a meal eaten between 3:40 in the afternoon that lasted until 10 in the evening.

We chatted greeting each other and asking how our other colleagues has been after a long time. We had news for others, unfortunately none for some.

One of our saddest topic was the status of education we witnessed. JP, one our our schoolmate who didn't graduate along with us shared his funny experience with his drafting class in his high school. Apple on the other hand shared a story about what she witnessed while she was taking classes here in Manila.

We laugh while we remember our Home Economics teachers and our projects in Elementary. We were trained how to sew and cook, while the guys were taught how to do basic carpentry and electricity.

In high school, our classes has technical courses such as computer classes automotive, electricity, carpentry, sewing, knitting, cooking and the like. Though you're not going to have all the courses but you've got to choose one that you like.

Out of Philex Mining Corporation is a real "culture shock". There are sights that we never witnessed and experiences that we had never imagined.

In our school, our gates are close at 7:30 in the morning with the start of Pambansang Awit and recitation of Panatang Makabayan and classes end until 4 or 5 in the afternoon. Not only that, how can one forget the times you would need to sing the National Anthem 3 or 4 times on the school grounds while the sun is up when our Assistant Principal is not contented.

Elementary classes here in Manila lasted only for 3 hours :( . I can't imagine how 9 subjects in one day would be incorporated in 3 hours. Kids here does not even know how to sing the simple national anthem and how to recite the pledge. But they can recite teach me how to doughie without any ado. Ironic but true.

Whew. I'm still glad I was a part of Philex Mining Elementary School and Saint Louis High Philex. where classrooms are below basketball courts but we enjoyed the air of mother nature.