sexandsensibilities.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ms. Anna R. Oposa
Project Manager
ART-H Mandala Contest
+63917-851-0209
sexandsensibilities@gmail.com

SEX AND SPIRITUALITY:
USING ART AND CONTRACEPTIVES TO TEACH SEXUAL HEALTH

(Quezon City, Philippines—December 14, 2011) Sex and Sensibilities (SAS), in partnership with DKT Reproductive Health (Frenzy Condoms and Filipinay), held a mandala art making contest using contraceptives at the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Over fifty (50) students attended the ART-H Primer, a sexual health workshop and mandala making orientation, in Palma Hall. The participants then created mandalas using Frenzy condoms and birth control pills provided by DKT-Reproductive Health.

UP students at work

Utilizing the power of social media, the students’ designs and messages on key topics such as reproductive health and informed choice went viral on Facebook and Twitter. The project stimulated a lively discussion among the social networks. The use of contraceptives as art to communicate pressing issues also received a positive response from the public.

The UP Samahan sa Agham Pampulitika landed in 3rd place and received P10,000 in cash prize for their work entitled, “Beyond pills and condoms: EQUALITY and UNDERSTANDING.” The UP Artists’ Circle Sorority placed second and received P12,000 for their mandala called, “Give life without losing yours.” The grand prize was awarded to the UP Visual Communication students from the College of Fine Arts. Their artwork received P15,000, and an additional P2,000 from the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines for the best tagline, “Safety in Diversity.”

“Safety in Diversity” by the UP Visual Communication Students

The word “mandala” is Sanskrit for both “circle” and “center.” Mandalas are reflections of the spiritual self because they offer a unique and powerful way to self-discovery and healing through the use of imagery, symbolism, color and balance.

This project was supported by the UP-Diliman based network, RH AGENDA (Reproductive Health and Gender Advocates Movement) and sponsored by DKT Reproductive Health, manufacturer of Frenzy condoms and Filipinay line of contraceptive pills.

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Sex and Sensibilities.com (SAS) is a non-profit website committed to improving the level of understanding of sexual reproductive health rights among Filipinos through the dissemination of accurate, practical and factual information on STI/HIV prevention and population and development in governance. SAS open to all, and is represented in other online media outlets, including popular social media networks Facebook and Twitter.

        

By ANA SANTOS

After affluent Alabang, local politicians shut down access of women in poor communities to contraceptives

Balanga, Bataan — Maricel Sakdalan, 27, is nervous. Soft-spoken and shy, she shuffles uncomfortably in her seat, visibly anxious. She doesn’t know if she’s pregnant or not.

She and her husband already have three children and with his measly earnings, they cannot afford another one.

“My husband is a fisherman and does not have a steady income. Sometimes he can earn as much as P500 a day. On a bad day, [he earns] only P100, and on a really bad day, nothing. And me, I am just a housewife.”

Download (PDF, 1.48 MB)

For her contraception needs, Maricel would go to the local health clinic in Balanga, Bataan for a hormonal injection that would prevent her from getting pregnant for at least three months.

But Maricel has not been able to get a shot since August. She was told that the local health clinic could no longer administer injectables since an ordinance was passed banning all forms of modern contraception in seven barangays in Bataan, including her own.

Desperate, Maricel went to the local drugstore to buy birth control pills or condoms, but found none for sale. Commercial drug stores have also been banned from selling them.

Banning contraceptives

In March of this year, Barangay Ordinance No. 3, which banned the sale of modern forms of contraception, was passed in seven barangays in Bataan: Puerto Rivas Itaas, Puerto Rivas Ibaba, Puerto Rivas Lote, Tortugas, Cupang Proper, Cupang West and Tanato.

The ordinance which was written in Filipino is entitled “Protection of the Life and Safety of the Unborn”.

Newsbreak was able to secure a copy of the Tortugas ordinance, which explicitly defines abortifacients as any device, medication or substance that harms, puts in harm’s way or causes the death of an unborn child. The ordinance further lists IUDs and hormonal contraception like birth control pills as abortifacients.

It also states that condoms promote promiscuity among the youth and infidelity among married couples.

Persons engaged in the promotion, sale, prescription, advertisement of these forms of contraception are going to be fined between P200-P400 for a first offense and a maximum of P1,000 for their third offense.

If a commercial establishment violates any of the provisions, the president or chief executive officer will be made to pay the fine. In addition, their barangay permit to operate will be revoked.

Furthermore, it states that barangay budgets will be spent only on promoting natural family planning methods among those who are married or those who are planning to get married.

‘Nothing to give’

Dominga Manalang, a health worker who has worked in Balanga since the 1970s, says that because of the ban, they have had to curtail their services.

“It was our standard practice to reach out to the women in the community with four or more children and proactively educate them about family planning options,” explains Manalang.

“There are many women asking us for contraceptives, but we have nothing to give them. We have always taught all forms of family planning and left it up to the women to decide what method is right for them,” she adds.

But many women would chose modern forms of contraception because “periodic abstinence is not advisable for some women who don’t see their husbands regularly or whose husbands will not take no for an answer when it comes to sex.”

Manalang says that even without the ban, contraceptive supplies have been erratic. The ban has only further exacerbated the problem.

And it is women like Maricel who pay the price.

According to Maricel, she and her husband had originally wanted to have only two children. “But I would sometimes go to the clinic when it’s time for my injection only to be told there is no supply. I think that’s why I got pregnant with the youngest who is three years old.”

Now, there are no supplies at all, and as Maricel found out, no supplies even to be bought.

Unmet need

According to the National Statistical Coordination Board, poor families are larger than non-poor families by more than one member. On the average, 21 out of every 100 poor families had at least 7 members in 2003 compared to only 6 among the non-poor.

Poor women end up having more children than they want or afford. In contrast, their wealthier counterparts are able to achieve their fertility goals.

A study entitled, “Unmet Need for Contraception in the Philippines” done by US-based reproductive health think tank, Guttmacher Institute found that Filipino women are having more children than they want, especially among poor women.

Guttmacher works to advance sexual and reproductive health through research and policy analysis. In the case of the Philippines, Guttmacher states that in 2008, an estimated 1.3 million pregnancies were unintended and these occurred among women who were not using any contraceptive method at all.

The most commonly used methods of contraception were the pill and female sterilization, accounting for more than two-thirds of all contraceptive use in the Philippines. Natural family planning methods were least used.

Aggressive misinformation

Adoracion dela Pena is a Bataan-based field officer of Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), a national federation of grassroots community women’s organizations working towards the passage of the RH Bill and the advancement of women’s rights.

Dela Pena shared with Newsbreak the results of a series of interviews with barangay officers (kagawad). Dela Pena found that barangay officers from the seven barangays were asked by the city government to attend a seminar about reproductive health. During the seminar, they were shown videos of babies being aborted, and were told that this is a result of contraception like hormonal birth control pills and IUDs.

They were made to understand that if they are against abortion, they should sign the ordinance. Then they were told about the barangay’s plans to pass an ordinance to prevent this from happening.

DSWP Field Officer Dory dela Pena conducts (2nd from left) during an outreach talk in Bataan

Barangay Puerto Rivas official Angol Diaz was one of the barangay officials interviewed by dela Pena. Diaz said that he just signed the ordinance without really understanding what it was about because he was told that it was an urgent bill that needed to be passed.

In an interview withNewsbreak, barangay official Wilfredo Reyes admitted that he had not even read the entire ordinance but still signed it, not being fully aware of its implications.

Balanga Mayor Joet Garcia was not available for comment on the issue, but Mayor Joel Payumo of Dinalupihan of a neighboring municipality who supported the passage of the barangay ordinance, told Newsbreak in a telephone interview: “Our religious beliefs were factored in drafting this ordinance. That was more important. It is the responsibility of parents to plan for their families. Local government funds are best spent and kept elsewhere [rather than family planning]. Anyway, they are free to buy their choice of contraceptives from other places, and can easily do so. Just not in our part of Bataan.”

The Alabang experience

The ordinance is very similar to one that was passed in the affluent community of Ayala Alabang at the beginning of the year.

In that case, condoms could not be purchased without a prescription. Residents led by former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Lea Salonga and Senator Pia Cayetano mobilized protests, calling it an infraction of their right to choice and a clear invasion of their privacy.

The ordinance was eventually overturned. But it may not be as simple for Bataan.

Elizabeth Angsioco, chair of the DSWP, explains: “The communities in Bataan are small fishing communities. These are simple people who are scared to question this. Plus, it is the city government itself pushing for its implementation, which has far reaching consequences. They can, for example, impose such things withdrawing your business license if you sell condoms.”

“This really highlights the importance of the Reproductive Health Bill. Without national legislation, RH policies will remain to be based on the personal beliefs and whims of those in power rather than the good of their constituents.”

And unlike Alabang, there has been no such uproar in Bataan simply because the residents are scared. “In the absence of a critical mass who are willing to stand up to this ordinance, the issue has not been getting enough attention,” says Angsioco.

And women like Maricel will continue to anxiously wait, their fear about an feeding and raising another child not getting the attention it deserves.

Editor’s Note: The author is founder of sexandsensibilities.com. This is part of a research project with Newsbreak.

        

By Ana Santos

This article was published in Playboy Philippines’ August edition.

Photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer

When life-sized billboards of Jinkee Pacquiao were put up along major highways showing off her smokin’ body–even after giving birth to four children—she admitted two things in an interview with Dr. Vicki Belo (whom she thanked for her smokin’ body). Number one, her husband’s alleged affair with a young starlet was indeed true and not just the stuff of rumors and number two, she had been taking birth control pills after their fourth child.

“After Queenie, I told Manny, four is enough. I have not undergone ligation, but I am taking pills,” Jinkee was quoted as saying in Filipino.

Jinkee did not tell Manny that she was taking birth control pills.

The issue may have remained in the Pacquaio chambers, but it went out into the chambers of Senate and Congress because her first-time Congressman husband was already very vocal about his opposition to the RH Bill, insisting that every Filipino should not prevent himself or herself from having as many children as they want. “Go forth and multiply,” urged Manny, quoting the Bible. He even went on to say that if his mother, Mama Dionisia had used condom, then the champion Manny Pacquiao would not have been born and the Philippines would have been deprived of its best export apart from OFWs  – the national pride, the pambansang kamao.

Other female legislators followed up on the interview saying “You should listen to Jinkee.”

Well, not long after, Jinkee said she stopped taking the pill immediately after Manny found out and “well, the RH Bill wasn’t a big issue yet then,” she explained.

If she had not recanted her statement saying that her use of the pills were long before Manny’s support for free flowing family planning and that she was against artificial use of contraception as much as he was, Jinkee Pacquiao might have become the poster girl for the plight of the other Filipinas who are the de facto stewards of family planning; the women who are left with the responsibilities of family planning simply because she’s the only one who gets pregnant, and subject to the influence—and sometimes even require the consent of their husbands before using a certain birth control method.

Imposing Misery

Photo from Perfecting Your Connections

In a conversation with Dr. Pauline Chan, an OB GYN in Cardinal Santos, she revealed that even in this day and age of the “empowered Filipina” she is surprised by how many women come into her clinic, admit they are sexually active but are not using any form of contraception because their partners do not want to use condoms and they are afraid of possible side effects of pills.

“When I ask them what she’s going to do if she gets pregnant, they [the patients] tell me, ‘[I’ve been having sex this long], I don’t get pregnant’. I don’t understand why women still leave these things to chance,” said Chan.

In a more extreme case, a study done by various women’s groups Likhaan, ReproCen, and the Center for Reproductive Rights entitled, Imposing Misery, studied the effect of the contraception ban in the city of Manila on women and their families.

Many women were quoted as being helpless because they did not have access to free contraception (in the government run hospitals in Manila), continued to have sex to please their husbands and just kept getting pregnant—often having as many as 8 to 10 children, when financially and realistically, they could only afford to have one or two.

“My husband and I would quarrel when I refused to have sex for fear of getting pregnant. He suspected me of having an extramarital affair. He would hit me on the thighs. He left us for the province and didn’t communicate. I worked as a laundry woman to support myself and my 6 children. We were separated for one year,” one respondent was quoted as saying in the study.

“We used to fight, shout at each other when I refused to have sex. I feel embarrassed if people learn that we fight because of sex so now I just give in to my husband’s sexual needs, all the time. Ako na lang maghahanapng paraan para di mabuntis. [I take it upon myself to look for ways not to get pregnant.],” said another respondent.

Family Planning Issues Know No Social Class

OF (Overseas Filipino) wives don’t want to use pills because they are afraid their husbands might think they need to control their fertility while he is away and she is supposed to not be having sex with anyone else. Other doctors say that when it comes to pills, men are afraid it will make their wives crave for sex, look for it outside of their marriages and generally make their wives more promiscuous.

These related incidents show that regardless of social class, women and men have different views on birth control and contraception. And women are often left alone to carry the burden or majority other issues related to child birthing and rearing.

Cristabel Rose F. Parcon, a professor of Sociology in the University of the Philippines, Visayas probed further on the attitudes of Filipino men towards contraception and their prejudice towards women as being main users of contraception.

The 2010 study entitled “Men, Family Planning and Contraceptive Use in Western Visayas” revealed that:

• Only one in five men believes that contraception is  a women’s business and not a concern of men. Also, the  same proportion of men actually thinks that women who use contraception may become promiscuous. This perception significantly differs by the marital status of men, with more single men believing that contracepting women are promiscuous.
• Many men (27.4%) believe that contraception is a woman’s responsibility since she is the one who gets pregnant. Such attitude significantly varies by the marital status of men, with married men more likely to believe that women should be responsible.

Parcon says in her study, “The aforementioned observation on men’s attitude towards contraception indicates that, although the proportion is small, there are still men who maintain a negative attitude towards contraception and women’s role in contraception. In a male dominated society, men are not supposed to take an active part in fertility regulation.”

On awareness of various contraceptive methods, Parcon notes that most of the male respondents know or have heard of various forms of contraception—both natural and artificial. “It is observed that high knowledge of contraceptive methods is not translated into use. Only 56 percent of the men ever used contraception and among the methods which were ever used by the men, withdrawal is the most common with 68 percent of them having experienced it,” Parcon states.

Family Planning: Where Do the Men Fit In?

In male-dominated Philippines, it cannot be denied that men are major influencers on the contraceptive choices of their partners. But are the female-dominated family planning field of mid-wives, nurses and Barangay Women’s Health Teams, inadvertently alienating men?  Are these all sending a message that family planning services are “women-oriented”.

Even development and family planning agencies admit that in terms of messaging and outreach, they have been targeting mostly women and that little has been done to sensitize men to the needs and desires of their partners.

In addition, there are inherent limitations that exclude men from family planning methods. There are only two contraception options targeted to men: condoms and vasectomy–too very different methods, which are often seen as applicable when one is either young (and starts becoming sexually active) or when one is old (enough to stop having children).

Advancements in modern contraception advancements in birth control pills, IUDS and the like are all targeted to women.

The family planning / contraception equation is still an unbalanced one. Available methods, options and services are targeted to females, but influence and tacit approval is still left with the males.

There’s a long way to go in terms of making the two meet.

But as long as women and men need each other to have sex and or pre-create, we have come to terms with the fact that as Mother Nature had intended, birth control is a joint responsibility.

Photo links:  Philippine Daily Inquirer, Perfecting Your Connections, chinaSMACK

        

We are pleased to announce the winners of the SAS ART-H Mandala Making Contest! The scores were based on the judges’ evaluation, Likes on the SAS Facebook page and attendance during the ART-H Primer. The respective taglines and statements were also taken into consideration.

And now, the works and statements of the winners:

3rd Place – UP Samahan sa Agham Pampulitika

Beyond pills and condoms: EQUALITY and UNDERSTANDING”

Understanding, awareness and women empowerment: these are the three essential factors needed to realize the passing of the Reproductive Health Bill, which this mandala promotes.

The lotus at the core, made from the male and female insignia, signifies the need for UNDERSTANDING, which is essential to the success of the RH Bill.

The outward pointing motif calls to mind the need to spread AWARENESS in the issue of RH.

And finally, the numerous faces of women in the mandala calls us to recognize WOMEN EMPOWERMENT.

These 3 elements combine to create a powerful visual message that calls us to pass the RH Bill and address the RH issue now

2nd Place – UP Artists’ Circle Sorority

“Give life without losing yours.”

This mandala as a whole represents significance fo women in their responsibility and capability to give continuation to the circle of life, in which they behold their beauty as a provider and nurturer.

The inverted triangle symbolizes the female genitalia and the three spirals symbolize women’s omnipotent power. These are surrounded by blossoming flowers that represent the blossoming of women and their potentials.

The maple leaves connote the sweetness that new life brings and at the same time, the openness to sexual pleasure through responsible and safe actions.

The condoms used to beautify the mandalas signify that men and women complement each other in order to create beauty in life.

1st Place – UP Visual Communication students, College of Fine Arts

“Safety in diversity.”

At the very center of our mandala is a triskel. These three circles connected to each other is a common element of the traditional mandala. For this specific piece, it symbolizes the three kinds of gender preferences. Straight males are symbolized by a ♂, straight females are symbolized by a ♀ and other sexual preferences combine the two symbols.

Around the triskel are “feathers.” Feathers constitute wings and wings are symbols of freedom. The central and supporting elements combined deliver the advocacy for freedom of choice in sexual preference.

At the middle of the triskel are random dots, with one red dot at the middle. This red dot symbolizes the chance of getting sexually transmitted diseases. Despite the freedom, there is still a risk. To prevent these risks from emerging, the red dot is surrounded with several contraceptives.

Our mandala recognizes the different sexual preferences of people but still reminds them of always being SAFE.

The prize for the best tagline also goes to the UP Vis Com group: “Safety in Diversity.”

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The groups will be awarded when classes resume on the second week of November.

We would like to thank our judges: Dr. Eloi Hernandez of the UP College of Arts and Letters, Ms. Beth Angsioco of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, Mr. Red Tani of the Filipino Freethinkers and Mr. Carlos Celdran of Celdran Tours.

We would also like to thank our sponsor, DKT-Reproductive Health (Frenzy Condoms and Filipinay birth control pills), and our UP-based partner, RH AGENDA.

        

Due to unfavorable weather conditions, we had to move the contest proper to Monday, October 3. The UP students were such troopers. They arrived armed with sketches, additional research, extra adhesives and lots of ideas. Their designs were inspired from what they learned at the ART-H Primer, where Sex and Sensibilities gave a sexual health workshop and Prof. John Paul “Lakan” Olivares delivered a mandala making workshop.

The UP students created their final designs using condoms and pills based on what they learned from the primer and explain the relationship between their designs and related issues on informed choice, reproductive health, gender equality, etc.

After three hours of cutting, gluing and working together, they came up with the following products:

UP Samahan sa Agham Pampulitika

UP Artists’ Circle Sorority

UP Circle of Industrial Engineering Majors

College of Fine Arts Visual Communication students

UP Association of Political Science Majors

UP Social Science and Philosophy Student Council

You may read the groups’ respective explanations AND vote for your favorite mandala by clicking “Like” in this album. Make sure you “Like” the Sex and Sensibilities page first! Behind the scenes pictures here.

Many thanks to our sponsor, DKT Reproductive Health and our UP-based partner RH AGENDA for making this possible!

        

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ms. Anna Oposa
Project Manager, ART-H Mandala Contest
+63917-851-0209
sas.art.h@gmail.com

USING ART AND CONTRACEPTIVES TO TEACH SEXUAL HEALTH

(Quezon City, Philippines—September 9, 2011) Sex and Sensibilities (SAS), in partnership with DKT Reproductive Health (Frenzy Condoms and Filipinay), will be holding a mandala art making contest using contraceptives on September 26-28 at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. A cash prize of up to P15,000 is at stake for groups with a winning mandala design.

The word “mandala” is Sanskrit for both “circle” and “center.” Mandalas are a good way to communicate sexual health, because mandalas are seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself. Mandalas are also reflections of the spiritual self because they offer a unique and powerful way to self-discovery and healing through the use of imagery, symbolism, color and balance.

About 100 UP students are expected to participate in the ART-H contest. On Monday, September 26, registered groups will attend the ART-H primer: a sexual health workshop and mandala art making orientation in Palma Hall.

During the contest on Tuesday and Wednesday, the participants will create mandalas using Frenzy condoms and birth control pills to be provided by DKT-Reproductive Health. They are expected to create designs linked to the related key issues: reproductive health, maternal health, women’s sexual health rights, and informed choice.

The mandalas will be evaluated based on a panel of judges and the number of most “Likes” on the Sex and Sensibilities Facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/SexandSensibilitiescom). All artworks will also be displayed in front of the office of the College of Social Science and Philosophy Student Council, located at the West Wing of Palma Hall, for a week.

“By using art, students will get to touch, feel, and interact with condoms and birth control pills. We want to create an environment that will allow young people to ask questions about their sexual health and openly discuss sexuality issues. We see this as a concrete step in fostering a healthy and responsible attitude towards sex among young adults,” says Ms. Ana Santos, founder of SAS. “We highly encourage the participants to attend the workshop as a primer to the contest because the story has to be complete–it is not enough that you’ve touched or felt condoms or know about birth control pills. You need to know how to use them properly and responsibly,” she adds.

DKT Reproductive Health, manufacturer of Frenzy condoms and Filipinay line of contraceptive pills, has always been a staunch supporter of SAS in actively promotion positive sexuality and informed choice.

This project is supported by the UP-Diliman based network, RH AGENDA (Reproductive Health and Gender Advocates Movement).

Students must join in groups of 4-10 members, and must indicate time slot for the ART-H primer: 10AM-12PM or 12-2PM. The participants will then be divided in two groups for the contest on Tuesday, September 27, and Wednesday, September 28 from 11:30AM-1PM at the Palma Hall lobby. The group that lands first place will win P15,000, 2nd P12,000, and 3rd P10,000 in cash.

To inquire and/or register, students may email sas.art.h@gmail.com, or contact +63917-851-0209 or +63917-836-0345 from September 1-22, 2011.

For the complete mechanics and details, please visit www.sexandsensibilities.com and follow @dash_of_sas on Twitter.

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Sex and Sensibilities.com (SAS) is a non-profit website committed to improving the level of understanding of sexual reproductive health rights among Filipinos through the dissemination of accurate, practical and factual information on STI/HIV prevention and population and development in governance. SAS open to all, and is represented in other online media outlets, including popular social media networks Facebook and Twitter.

        

DKT Reproductive Health and Filipinay in partnership with Sex and Sensibilities would like to invite all UP-Diliman students to join the contest and win up to PhP15,000 in cash!

This is supported by the UP RH AGENDA (Reproductive Health and Gender Advocates Movement).

MECHANICS:

1. All enrolled UP students will be eligible to join the contest. They
must form a group of 4-10 students to create a mandala using pills and
condoms. Materials will be provided. Please register by emailing
sas.art.h@gmail.com, or contacting +63917-851-0209 or +63917-836-0345
from September 1-22, 2011.

2. Groups must indicate which time slot they prefer for the ART-H
Primer on Monday, September 26, 2011 at PH 400: a) 10AM to 12PM or b)
12PM-2PM.

The ART-H Primer consists of a sexual health and mandala art workshop.
Registered groups MUST attend the ART-H Primer.

3. Groups will be divided into two for the contest proper: Batch 1
(Groups 1-5) will create mandalas on Tuesday, September 27, and Batch
2 (Groups 6-10) will decorate it on Wednesday, September 28 at the
Palma Hall Lobby from 11:30AM to 1:00PM).

Based on their learning from the ART-H Primer, student groups will
relate their mandala designs to issues on sexual health rights,
women’s health, and informed choice.

4. Mandalas will be displayed in front of the CSSP Student Council
Office for a week and will be evaluated by a panel of judges. An
online component will also be done where designs will be uploaded on
the Sex and Sensibilities Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/pages/SexandSensibilitiescom) and generate
the most number of “likes” by Wednesday, October 5.*

Criteria:

30%
Number of participants per group who attend the
ART-H Primer on Monday, September 26

35%
Number of “Likes” in the entry as posted on
Sex and Sensibilities FB page

35%
Judges’ Evaluation

PRIZES:

First Prize:
P15,000

Second Prize:
P12,000

Third Prize:
P10,000

*All artwork produced by contestants will remain the property of SexandSensibilities.com and DKT Reproductive Health.

        

There are news reports that have been published indicating that the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have reached an agreement that human life begins at fertilization. An agreement on such a definition would mean the the country’s organization of doctors agree that modern forms of contraception are abortifacients.

An excerpt from a report that came out in The Manila Times is below:

“What is clear now is that the PMA as an institution has that common agreement with the CBCP that, from their expertise as medical practitioners, human life begins at the stage of fertilization,” he added.

To read the entire article, click here.

Below is the full statement of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS). A statement expressing a  similar position was posted on  the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) website and may also be accessed here.

PHILIPPINE OBSTETRICAL AND GYNECOLOGICAL SOCIETY  (Foundation), INC.

POSITION STATEMENT ON THE PROPOSED 2010

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILLS

The PHILIPPINE OBSTETRICAL  AND GYNECOLOGICAL SOCIETY  (Foundation), INC. has stated in its Mission Statement that we are a society of God-fearing Obstetrician-Gynecologists committed to serve the Filipino people by advancing the art and science of reproductive health, enhancing professional growth and welfare of its members through training and research, fostering women’s advocacy programs and upholding the highest ethical standards of practice through excellent health care delivery.  The Society envisions itself as the leading organization in reproductive health, working towards significant reduction in maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, reproductive tract infections and cancer. It aims to promote  increased awareness of women’s health issues through expanded community service, continuing medical education, training of members, efficient networking, active linkages  and collaboration with GOs and NGOs, relevant research programs, effective public education and information dissemination, and sound health policy reforms and advocacy guided by our moral, socio-cultural and ethical values.

The POGS (Foundation), INC. is a national organization whose membership includes the whole spectrum of Philippine  society.  We are a heterogenous and pluralistic group of medical specialists of diverse cultural mores and persuasions with different religious affiliations and  beliefs. We are singularly bound by our commitment to the Society’s aforementioned mission and vision.  We stand united in our diversity, respecting each other’s right to his religious beliefs and not imposing our own standards on anyone.  Collateral to these, we uphold the high ethical and moral standards of medical practice expected of us by the Society.

We support the REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE BILL in the context of our mission-vision to uphold the equality of the rights to life for both mother and child, freedom of religious beliefs, a right to proper education on health and right to health services as may be necessary for patient’s need and also the rights of the physician to his beliefs on certain provisions on services that may be counter to his religion.  Two years ago, in a Senate Hearing on  the RH bills, these  statistical data were presented:

? “90.3 million population ranks the Philippines as No. 12 in the international list

? 10-11 mothers die daily from pregnancy and childbirth in the Philippines

? 162/100,000 Live births die annually.

? 24/1000 Live births newborns die annually (both highest in the region)

? 100,000 of these abortions are on women 15-24 years old

? 60% of married women do not welcome another pregnancy but do not know how to prevent one.

? 4.9 million adolescents and young adults began sex lives early and has experienced childbirths.

? An estimated 400,000 induced abortions occur annually. 100,000 of which are hospitalized for complications.

? WHO recommended that Filipino families may have 2.5 babies for  comfortable population growth  however actual number of babies per family is 3.5.”

We agree with the dismal figures presented two years ago in the hearing of Senate Bill No. 3122. To us obstetricians, the introduction of reproductive health bills in Congress is long overdue.

As regards the current RH Bills proposed in Congress, a comparative review was done on the following bills by the Ethics and Medical Practice Committee with assistance from the Women’s Reproductive Health Advocacy Committee.

? H.B. No. 96   – Hon. Representative Lagman

? H.B. No. 101 – Hon. Representative Garin

? H.B  No. 513 – Hon. Representative Bag-ao and Bello

? H.B. No. 1160 – Hon. Representative Biazon

? H.B. No. 1520 – Hon. Representative Syjuco

? H.B. No. 3387 – Hon. Representative Ilagan and de Jesus Although expressed differently, all the proposed House Bills espouse the following:

1. Setting up more maternal healthcare facilities and services.

2. Building more modern and complete  Nursery Health Care Facilities and Services.

3. Setting up blood banks in hospitals and other health facilities.

4. Establishing centers for education and information on Reproductive Health.

5. Government to supply centers of family planning materials to help prevent unwanted pregnancies.

6. Providing mobile clinics in congressional districts that render education and information on reproductive health and sex education.

7. Humane and non-discriminating healthcare to post abortive complication cases.

8. Mandatory age-appropriate reproductive health and sexuality education in schools by adequately trained teachers.

9. Premarital counseling centers in churches and in government offices that conduct marriage licensure services.

10.Ensuring that reproductive health services are delivered with a full range of supplies, facilities and equipment and that service providers are    adequately trained for such reproductive health care delivery;

11.Expanding the coverage of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), especially among poor and marginalized women, to      include the full range of reproductive health services and supplies as health insurance benefits.

All the proposed aforementioned measures should be consolidated into one Reproductive Health Bill, with the inclusion of our recommendations.

We support also these provisions under Section on “Prohibited acts”:

a. “Refuse to perform legal and medically-safe reproductive health procedures on any person of legal age on the ground of lack of third party consent or authorization. In case of married persons the mutual consent of the spouses shall be  preferred. However in case of disagreement, the decision of the one undergoing the procedure shall prevail. In the case of abused  minors where parents and/or other family members are the perpetrators as certified to by the Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) and  Development, no prior parental consent shall be necessary.”

b. “Refuse to extend quality health  care services and information on account of the person’s marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, personal circumstances, or nature of work, provided that, the conscientious objection of a healthcare service provider based on his/her ethical or  religious  beliefs shall be respected; however, the conscientious objector shall immediately refer the person seeking such care and services to another healthcare service provider within the same facility or one which is  conveniently accessible; provided further that the person is not in  an emergency condition or serious case as defined in RA 8344 penalizing the refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency and serious cases.”

Recommendations:

1. We strongly recommend inclusion of the following:

a. Inclusion of fetal health care in the element of Maternal, Infant and Child health and Nutrition, including Breastfeeding.

b. Protection of physician’s right to give medical advice and intervention in the case of minors, in due consideration of the latter’s right to reproductive      health care.

c. We support patient autonomy in seeking reproductive health care.

2. Consolidate all proposed RH Bills into one.

3. To have a successful implementation  of a Reproductive Health Bill, an increase in the National Budget with a corresponding increase in the allotment for health be effected so that even though the government may not afford a health budget as high as 7% as in Scandinavian countries, the government may reach the WHO recommendation of 5%, a far cry from the present 1% of the 1.6 trillion pesos.

4. We recommend the retention of the Population Commission and representation of POGS as a member of the said Commission.

Clarifications:

There is much disinformation and misconception in media and other fora on the following issues. We would like to state that:

1. Contraceptive pills:

a. Do not cause abortion; in fact they prevent unwanted pregnancies hence nothing to abort.

b. Do not cause death and disease when used appropriately.  The hormones in the pills are synthetic hormones that are comparable to those produced by women’s ovaries.  They are modified in doses and composition to make them better,  safer and predictable in their medical effects.

c. Do not cause cancer; in fact they reduce cancer of endometrium and ovaries. The reported slight increase  in the risk for breast cancer is obviated by taking pills based on the national clinical guidelines

2. Availability of Family Planning information and materials will not cause promiscuity but will reduce unwanted  pregnancies, teenage pregnancies, criminal abortions and consequently reduce maternal and fetal mortality.

Remarks:

? Every pregnancy should be planned, cared for and supported.

? A consolidated Reproductive Health Bill should be enacted immediately to lessen the number of mothers, unborn and newborn lives wasted daily

        

When I was assigned the article, “Religion gets in the way of safe sex”, for IRIN News (the humanitarian news and analysis agency of the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), my editor reminded me to get the point of view of religious and pro-life groups to ensure a balanced report.

In the context of the unprecedented rise in HIV infections in the country, I was to get  the reaction of public health officials,  HIV/RH activists and religious groups on the pope’s statement on condoms and if its impact on the reproductive health debate, if any.

I called Pro-Life President Eric Manalang for a comment and he asked me to email my questions first before giving a reply. I obliged and received a reply from Mr. Manalang the next day.

The story, “Religion gets in the way of safe sex” did not make it to IRIN News, but apart from here on ProPinoy.net, it was published on SexAndSensibilities.com. I informed Mr. Manalang, that  his reply to my e-mail would be printed in full — as per his request —  on both websites.

Below is the email of Mr. Manalang, which has not been edited (save for formatting and punctuation) or cut.

Dear Ana,

Thanks for calling.This may or may not be the interview you may want,you will notice as you read on.

Nothing personal but it  seems awkward for you  and almost impossible for me to get a fair result from this interview (your boss has an agenda am sure), seeing  that IRIN a part of UN, already has made certain conclusions with regard to RH, population agenda and poverty and the HIV problem, as well as infers at the very least a certain media bias already as to the ”  focus only on   the Condom portion ” of the statement by the HOLY FATHER (with much of secular MEDIA misleading many Catholics and non Catholics).

HIV is a problem of promiscuity, abstinence and faithful family life is the key values needed. Look at Thailand vs Philippines on HIV vis condom promotion.Where is the HIV epidemic? In Thailand!

Kindly yourself, Catholic or not, consider that The POPE did not change any existing teaching nor commandment,it is the secular media that translates it to meet it’s liberal/left leaning agenda, PDI included, when it comes to fighting and destroying  objective morality and decency.

No population, no economy because no producers and no  consumers. Simple truth. Poor people are the source of growth in an economy, not the wealthy.

WE, THE  REAL CATHOLICS,  LOVE THE POPE!

There are TEN COMMANDMENTS, not less nor more. Bad morality brings bad policies, what else can we expect?

The UN, a supposedly unifying international body is now a “TUTA” ( pardon my taglish) of the USA and EU and many fabulously funded Foundations   (Packard,Ford,etc) whose agenda is to depopulate countries like the Philippines. WHAT!!?? Is the UN unifying for or against HUMANITY?  RH using health as a convenient smokescreen lie is  to mislead the poor that children are burdensome.

Wrong, wrong, wrong!

A war against our women’s wombs has been launched. Scary indeed. But we fight!

Stop corruption, not the population! Build schools, more teachers, more real health facilities for survival, not RH, abortion fronts. Empower the poor with education,education education.

If your needing an interview just ask the PLCPD, maybe they will be happy to oblige with lies and falsities from selected data and RH  biased experts for the MDG.

Funny how many of  the progressive blocs of Akbayan, Bayan Muna, feminists, environmentalists,etc have sided with the enemy, a.k.a imperialist USA, in pushing the over population myth agenda and so interview them as well. Hypocrisy betrays consistency.

I hope you kindly  understand the  point clearly.

Knowing that this short piece may not land on the IRIN news, I kindly require that if printed it be done in whole, or not at all. I reserve my right to it.

Of course STRICTLY,for LOVE and LIFE and FAMILY.

Merry Christmas to you  and your love ones Ana..MABUHAY!

God bless,

Eric

        

We were again overwhelmed by the results of our LICK condoms contest. Aside from the boatload of entries we got, we were thrilled to see that participants were so SASsed up about the promo that they came up with rhymes, acronyms and other creative ways to show how much they like to LICK it.

To get your prize, please email your complete name and mailing address to sexandsensibilities@gmail.com and expect delivery within 3-5 weeks.

Thank you to everyone who joined!! : )

1.  GRAND PRIZE WINNER: Valerie

You get a FREE LICK hoodie and a LICK condoms gift pack

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Congratulations to all  the other winners who will get a free LICK condoms gift pack:

2.  KM

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3.  astig316

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4.  Lenlen

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5.  Jomar T. Sadie

Rainy season is synonymous to bed weather. LICK condoms keeps me wet and also makes sure that an unplanned pregnancy or eewwy disease I don’t get because LICK condoms make it FUN despite Typhoon Juan!”

6.  Ruth

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7.  Apple

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10.  Elizabeth Megia

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