Gorospe, Maria Christine B. SociologyBSA 3-2Prof. Regina Flor O. Pea

REACTION PAPER ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, most commonly known as the Reproductive Health LaworRH Law, had undoubtingly been an object of issue, debate and controversy to the public eye of Filipinos for the last recent years it had been anticipated. And with all these issues, criticisms, news, and discussions whether the bill should be amended or implemented, I had been very conscious and aware of the standpoints of the two opposing sides- the Pro and the Anti RH Law. To present the perspective of those who take side on the implementation of this law particularly represented by Dr. Lordivino Mesina, PLM students and honourable senators like Pia Cayetano who was interviewed and whose speeches are shown in the documentary, it is provided that this law will mandate the government to promote, with no any predisposition, all effective, natural and modern methods of family planning that are medically safe and legal, which includes the publics universal access to methods ofcontraception, fertility control,sexual education, and maternal health care most especially, for the women who are the sole beneficiaries of this pronouncement. It is also stipulated in the law that trainings and seminars would also be provided for health care professionals and that age-appropriate sex education will be integrated in the curriculum of grade five to grade 12 students to provide awareness and preventative control to the growing population of the country. On the other hand, those who oppose the former side of this argument, this time represented by Dr. Ryan Capitulo and Senators Manny Villar, Jinggoy Estrada and Tito Sotto and others believe that overpopulation is not merely the problem in our society and that this law is not necessary and not actually the answer to the predicaments and shortcomings our country is facing and that the implementation of this law is just a bad expense for the government. They suppose that what the country needs as of the very moment is more work for the public, housing programs, more hospitals, health insurances and any other related programs that could address the poverty of the people. They conceded that morality and the upbringing of the family should be uprightly held and discourage the contraceptive-thinking that this law seem to promote in the young mind of the youth.Living in a Christian and conservative country, It is already expected that this kind of matter would be sensitive and would make such a great deal on the minds of Filipino individuals, needless to say, that the pronouncement of this law might dispute the morality and preservation of Filipino culture. Though I completely understand the concept and the desire to preserve the conservatism in our country, as a student and a child of modern generation of the century, I cannot say I am against with this course of action. As we are all aware, the time has immensely changed and we are not already living in a primitive world where people are just watching and wondering what the world would be in a distant future. We are now in fast-moving generation whereby everything is calculated, planned and measured. And with all the problems and nuisances that our country is facing, most especially poverty, which I think is the heaviest burden of all, I think it is just right to make some plan of action even if it is just a preventive measure of population, than to have and do nothing and just let the matter go out of hand. Through my continuous learnings and personal disposition on the way I see things, one of the main reasons why our country is poor and struggling is because individuals lack knowledge, be it on law, or even on simplest little things that should be resolved. And because of this downbeat, most of us are not aware of the consequences of the action we are engaging, which I think is the rationale behind one of the factors of poverty: Overpopulation the highlight and strongest point of RH law implementation. Through this bill, this problem could actually be resolved by providing the public, not just the reproductive health care, but also the knowledge they most need upon engaging with activities related with and what the provision is all about. Unwanted pregnancies, unprepared parents, abortion and broken families could actually be avoided and can further promote responsible parenthood which could also further stop child labor, family malnutrition and other health issues that are all linked together with poverty and are very evident in our society.Moreover, I firmly believe that all the values and lessons are first taught and best learned at home as what Sen. Estrada had said on the documentary. It is true that our family, especially the teachings of our parents are the most important foundation that one could ever have for a pursuit of a decent life. So if in any case, some are deeply bothered by the idea of contraceptives and other related products being within grasps of their children or immediate family, maybe it is not the rulings of the government that should be put in question but the upholding and values they are instilling to their children. Responsible Parenthood Act does not actually encourage the masses to engage with such activity but it prepares and opens the mind of the individuals on the entire closed path that our community had been reluctant to accept. Withal these thoughts running on my mind, I realize how unacceptable it is to just look, weigh and limit what RH Law can do just because of the yet unscathed morality and culture and how profound the underlying reasons there might be behind the peoples affirmation on this matter. Considering all our different perspective, maybe accepting this law wouldnt actually mean abandoning the old culture ways and forgetting the values and norms instilled by our forefathers about the importance and sacredness of human life, chastity and purity. On the bigger picture, maybe this liberal way of thinking is a collective manner of the Filipinos stepping outside the box for a more practical and better life. Bearing in mind the entire load that our country is trying to juggle at hand and as a responsible adult in the near future, I cannot help but see it as a hope that maybe, even in just simple little way in the mind of our fellow Filipinos, we are enriching new ideas and creating an improvement that could launch a milestone of our much-awaited progress.We all have our convictions and free will on how we will handle our life. At the end of the day, it is still on our hands how we will put in good use all that we are given. Whether you are in favour or against with this law, the government could not actually force you to do something that you are not willing to do. It is still at our very own discretion how we will control our lives, and at our personal estimation of what good life really is and which side are you really ought to be.