Issues of forced ligations, women empowerment addressed in RH symposium

TAYTAY,
August 1, 2011–Floods and a heavy downpour brought on by typhoon
“Kabayan” were unable to dissuade some 500 residents from attending a
symposium on the Reproductive Health (RH) bill organized by Fr. Ronnie
Lapara, PSDP, and the Family and Life Apostolate (FLA) ministry of San
Lorenzo Ruiz Parish in Taytay, Rizal.

It was an informative and fruitful encounter, as questions such as “Matitigil po ba ‘yung tulad ng nangyari sa aking anak na sapilitang pinatali ng hindi ipinaalam sa amin maging sa aking anak?” and “Ano po ba masasabi ninyo na para daw po sa empowerment ng kababaihan ang RH bill?” were raised and addressed during the July 31 event.

One of the speakers, Buhay Party List pro-life advocacy staff Jose
Descallar, explained to the 78-year-old lady who raised the first
question that rather than such occurrences becoming less frequent or
unheard of altogether, these will become more rampant should RH be
legislated.

As to the notion that the legislative measure aims to empower women,
Descallar pointed out that existing laws already address the concerns of
women in different aspects of life. Laws such as the Magna Carta of
Women (R.A. 9710) and the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children
Act of 2004 (R.A. 9262) were among the measures enacted for the sake of
women, he said.

The RH bill is not about women empowerment; in fact, it leads to the abuse of women in ways that many are unaware of, he said.

The other speakers in the afternoon’s event, all members of Filipinos
for Life–an organization committed to informing the public on the
issues surrounding the threats to life and family values–were introduced
by Mr. and Mrs. Ismael Tan of the parish Family and Life Apostolate
after Fr. Reynaldo B. Olan, PSDP, gave the welcome remarks.

The 500 residents of “Pabahay ni Erap” San Juan Resettlement in Brgy.
Napindan, Taytay, who flocked to the venue amid the pouring rain, first
listened to Prof. Aliza Racelis of the University of the Philippines,
who read portions of the “Ang Katotohanan Tungkol sa RH Bill” flyer,
over 100,000 of which were distributed by Filipinos for Life all over
Metro Manila in the first half of the year.

Racelis followed up with the demographic and economic arguments against the RH bill now pending in Congress.

After Descallar’s witty but informative take on the legal and
legislative aspects of House Bill 4244, nurse trainer Anna Cosio
delivered a brief presentation on medical concerns pertaining to the
bill, keeping the participants visibly riveted as they learned the truth
about the side effects of contraceptives.

Carlos
Palad, a staff apologist of Defensores Fidei Foundation, delved on the
moral issues and explained why the Church rejects the measure, in the
process shedding more light on the concept of “separation of Church and
State.”

The event was concluded with closing remarks and prayers by members
of the FLA ministry, and with the suggestion that  another symposium be
presented to the residents–this time on Natural Family Planning (NFP),
the method of planning one’s family which is in keeping with the
precepts of the Catholic Church and respects the natural workings of the
body as well. (Raymond Bandril)