August-7 Countdown: The RH Vote

[Ateo]

Finally, the House of Representatives has scheduled a vote on Second Reading of the pending RH Bill. This is a plenary vote but only of the House; thus, if passed, it still requires a corresponding Senate vote.

But this is a crucial vote. Already the RCC has scheduled a rally at the EDSA Shrine ahead of the vote. It also puts the vote in religious language by calling it The Judgment Day, to remind cheating and adulterous congressmen that the RCC holds the fate of their immortal soul.

On the pro side, there is no scheduled rally yet. But polls after polls after polls have already shown what is obvious to us -- that the Filipino nation is overwhelmingly in favor of the bill. We will see if the will of the people will prevail on this one.

Interesting developments are already happening. The House bill was originally authored by 145 congresspersons, which would have made it an automatic win because only 143 votes are needed to pass the bill. That explains the endless delay because the result would have been obvious. But the "hand of God" is moving across Congress and a bloc of seven congressmen withdrew support, thus putting the voting result in great uncertainty indeed.

Filipino style in ending any essay, I ask you to pray to whoever Gods you pray to. Make Reproductive Health a law.

[marcus_hunt]

Yes lord. Amen.

[Ateo]

The CBCP Rally is today, 4 August! Yung mga anti, sali na. Ang mga pro, sumali kayo sa aking magdasal na sana uulanin ang rally. "Lord, alam naming pro-RH po kayo; sana po buhusan ninyo ng ulan. We ask these in the name of your Son and our Lord."


p.s. Wala kasi ako sa Manila eh. Pls sabihin nyo naman kung umulan ba talaga, kasi taimtim talaga ang dasal ko.

[marcus_hunt]

No deterrent daw ang ulan, Ateo
http://cbcpforlife.com/?p=8257

Yung inconvenience ng ulan o init, ilang oras lang. Yung pagkakasakit isang araw lang ‘yun. Kung madumihan ang sapatos pwede namang linisin ang sapatos o bumili ng bago. Pero yung mga masasamang epekto ng RH bill, kung pumasa at maging batas, ilang siglo bago maitatama kung maitatama man,” Atty. Cristina Montes pointed out.

“Ilang henerasyon ang mawawala. Buong kultura, buong bansa masisira. Buhay ng tao, ng buong bansa, ating kalayaan ang nakataya. Maapektuhan ang ating mga anak, mga apo, at kanilang mga anak at apo,” the lawyer added.

Ang OA lang.

May rerouting tuloy dahil dito, pati ako apektado sa kabalbalan nyo! Asan ang mga suicide bombers kapag kailangan mo sila... asan...

[Ateo]

Using the tendency of religious and superstitious people to see divine hands in any incidents, especially negative ones, how would you interpret Gloria Arroyo's incident where she was hospitalized yesterday for choking on a melon.

Some naughty commentators remarked na baka nag-natural family planning lang si Gloria at melon ni Mike ang naka choke sa kanya

Seriously, my reading on this unfortunate incident is that God is pro-RH. Alam naman ni God (omniscient) na bilang na bilang ang mga boto kasi close ang botohan, bakit niya pinayagang ma-choke si Gloria at baka maka-absent pa nga yan sa Tuesday. Ibig lang sabihin, mas gusto ni God na manalo ang pro-RH.

[marcus_hunt]

Siguro nga...

Kaya din siguro panay ang padala ng bagyo [meron nga ulit LPA], isip isip siguro nya overpopulation pala ha.. eh di magbawas.

[sugargame]

I don't know if I'm a pro or anti. I want to trust the Catholic Church for their wisdom on these matters. But when I migrated to the provinces I realized how utterly stupid I was promoting compassion for the poor folk.

All that time I spent paying thousands of pesos in taxes. giving to charity, postponing marriage and family life for the sake of progress was all in vain. Because the poor folk squatting and foraging off my estate does nothing all day but sleep, drink, and make babies. And still they get free education and welfare.

[Ateo]

Hahaha! Marcus, parang uulanin nga! Naku, thank you, Lord. Naniwala na talaga akong present ka dahil sinagot mo ang aking dasal.

Na-touch ako dahil ang layo ko at mainit dito. Pero nang nag-pray ako ay kumulimlim ang Manila. (misty eyed ako right now)

Sana naman di sipunin ang mga obispo. Matanda na po sila. Di po kasama sa prayer ko na ma-pneumonia si Monsignor. Sana doon na lang siya maghintay sa Pajero kasi po aircon doon.

[Ateo]

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle...ls-lagman-says

Arroyo admitted to using the pills when she was still in reproductive age and when Mike could still do it.

Most rich people use contraceptives but will claim that they are against it, leading one commentator to claim that today is the biggest gathering of hypocrites in Philippine history where fornicating & masturbating young people and pill-using matrons will join in a rally and act like a virgin.

[Ateo]

I don't know if I'm a pro or anti. I want to trust the Catholic Church for their wisdom on these matters. But when I migrated to the provinces I realized how utterly stupid I was promoting compassion for the poor folk.

All that time I spent paying thousands of pesos in taxes. giving to charity, postponing marriage and family life for the sake of progress was all in vain. Because the poor folk squatting and foraging off my estate does nothing all day but sleep, drink, and make babies. And still they get free education and welfare.

I am sorry for your estate, Sugar. I hope those squatters will not make more babies and squat some more in your land.

You postponed marriage? I hope you did not postpone sex. Safe sex, I hope.

[marcus_hunt]

Dapat siguro bigyan sila ng walis at garbage bags. Kasi kung mag-isip ang mga yan eh pag daw may namigay ng condom eh ma-eengganyo daw magsex ang tao. Malay mo baka mag-engganyo rin silang wag mag-iwan ng kalat at maglinis ng Edsa.

[Ateo]

Dapat siguro bigyan sila ng walis at garbage bags. Kasi kung mag-isip ang mga yan eh pag daw may namigay ng condom eh ma-eengganyo daw magsex ang tao. Malay mo baka mag-engganyo rin silang wag mag-iwan ng kalat at maglinis ng Edsa.

Oo nga. Kalat ang EDSA, sarado ang Ortigas, Traffic ang Makati. Galit ang mga tao.

[marcus_hunt]

Eto na ang pambawas ng population, hihilis kaya?



Ang lakas mo kay Lord ah.

[Ateo]

Eto na ang pambawas ng population, hihilis kaya?

http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/wb/sat_images/satpic.jpg

Ang lakas mo kay Lord ah.

Yung malaking clouds papasok pa lang sa Metro Manila. Thank you, Lord.

Actually, nagka-usap kami ni Lord. Medyo nagtampo kunyari ako kasi nga sabi-sabi mga atheist lang daw ang tatamaan nya sa mga disasters. Sabi ko naman na napaka-unfair naman yan (tinira ko siya sa weakness nya). Sagot ni Lord, "O sige, para fair ako, tuwing may disaster isama ko pati mga Christians." Kaya ayun, lagot ang mga Christians tuwing may disaster.

[Ateo]

Psst. Ibalita nyo naman sa akin kung anong mga kaganapan sa rally ng anti-RH. Excited lang ako. Thanks!

[Ateo]

Nakita ko na sa Tweets ang aerial and on-ground shots ng rally. Nilalangaw. Mga. 400 katao lang na nagpapayong o nagkukubli sa ilalim ng flyover.

Kung di nila kayang ipahinto ang ulan, paano nila masabing pabor sa kanila si Jesus?

[Ischaramoochie]

watch the livestream here

[noynay]

Si father bernas is Pro RH bill

My stand on the RH Bill
By: Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas S. J.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

I HAVE been following the debates on the RH Bill not just in the recent House sessions but practically since its start. In the process, because of what I have said and written (where I have not joined the attack dogs against the RH Bill), I have been called a Judas by a high-ranking cleric, I am considered a heretic in a wealthy barangay where some members have urged that I should leave the Church (which is insane), and one of those who regularly hears my Mass in the Ateneo Chapel in Rockwell came to me disturbed by my position. I feel therefore that I owe some explanation to those who listen to me or read my writings.

First, let me start by saying that I adhere to the teaching of the Church on artificial contraception even if I am aware that the teaching on the subject is not considered infallible doctrine by those who know more theology than I do. Moreover, I am still considered a Catholic and Jesuit in good standing by my superiors, critics notwithstanding!

Second (very important for me as a student of the Constitution and of church-state relations), I am very much aware of the fact that we live in a pluralist society where various religious groups have differing beliefs about the morality of artificial contraception. But freedom of religion means more than just the freedom to believe. It also means the freedom to act or not to act according to what one believes. Hence, the state should not prevent people from practicing responsible parenthood according to their religious belief nor may churchmen compel President Aquino, by whatever means, to prevent people from acting according to their religious belief. As the “Compendium on the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church” says, “Because of its historical and cultural ties to a nation, a religious community might be given special recognition on the part of the State. Such recognition must in no way create discrimination within the civil or social order for other religious groups” and “Those responsible for government are required to interpret the common good of their country not only according to the guidelines of the majority but also according to the effective good of all the members of the community, including the minority.”

Third, I am dismayed by preachers telling parishioners that support for the RH Bill ipso facto is a serious sin or merits excommunication! I find this to be irresponsible.

Fourth, I have never held that the RH Bill is perfect. But if we have to have an RH law, I intend to contribute to its improvement as much as I can. Because of this, I and a number of my colleagues have offered ways of improving it and specifying areas that can be the subject of intelligent discussion. (Yes, there are intelligent people in our country.) For that purpose we jointly prepared and I published in my column what we called “talking points” on the bill.

Fifth, specifically I advocate removal of the provision on mandatory sexual education in public schools without the consent of parents. (I assume that those who send their children to Catholic schools accept the program of Catholic schools on the subject.) My reason for requiring the consent of parents is, among others, the constitutional provision which recognizes the sanctity of the human family and “the natural and primary right of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character.” (Article II, Section 12)

Sixth, I am pleased that the bill reiterates the prohibition of abortion as an assault against the right to life. Abortifacient pills and devices, if there are any in the market, should be banned by the Food and Drug Administration. But whether or not there are such is a question of scientific fact of which I am no judge.

Seventh, I hold that there already is abortion any time a fertilized ovum is expelled. The Constitution commands that the life of the unborn be protected “from conception.” For me this means that sacred life begins at fertilization and not at implantation.

Eighth, it has already been pointed out that the obligation of employers with regard to the sexual and reproductive health of employees is already dealt with in the Labor Code. If the provision needs improvement or nuancing, let it be done through an examination of the Labor Code provision.

Ninth, there are many valuable points in the bill’s Declaration of Policy and Guiding Principles which can serve the welfare of the nation and especially of poor women who cannot afford the cost of medical service. There are specific provisions which give substance to these good points. They should be saved.

Tenth, I hold that public money may be spent for the promotion of reproductive health in ways that do not violate the Constitution. Public money is neither Catholic, nor Protestant, nor Muslim or what have you and may be appropriated by Congress for the public good without violating the Constitution.

Eleventh, I leave the debate on population control to sociologists.

Finally, I am happy that the CBCP has disowned the self-destructive views of some clerics.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/5340/my-...on-the-rh-bill

[noynay]

ABS-CBN News Channel ‏@ANCALERTS

RT @dexterganibe EPD: crowd estimate at edsa shrine as of 1:52 is already 7K and still counting http://pic.twitter.com/xctYHgQ6



ABS-CBN News Channel ‏@ANCALERTS

RT @pia_gutierrez Despite the rain, a big crowd gathers at Edsa Shrine for the Anti-RH Bill rally http://pic.twitter.com/sCxy8HrX



Yves Gonzalez ‏@doblezeta

EDSA Shrine as of 12:59pm. @MMDA http://twitpic.com/af839d

[IMG]https://api.plixi.com/api/tpapi.svc/imagefromurl?size=medium&url=http%3A%2F%2F************%2Fs%2F231027724[/IMG]

Kaecee Alvarez ‏@kaeceealvarez

Anti-RH bill supporters gather in front of the EDSA shrine @sunstaronline http://************/s/231027724

[manies_flip]

^^ meh, if the RH Bill do not get passed and their children end up in the streets and not receive proper education, at least they know who did it XD