banning condom ads and educating the youth

last week, a news story not-so-generally-interesting caught the attention of our company--- banning of the Frenzy Condom TV Ad. this motion was suggested by the Family Media Advocacy Foundation:

"Nakakatuwa marahil ang commercial ng dalawang teenager na bumibili ng flavored condom sa isang drug store.
Pero para sa ilang magulang at konserbatibo, kabastusan ito sa telebisyon.
Dahil dito, nais nang ipatanggal ng grupong Family Media Advocacy Foundation ang lahat ng mga advertisement tungkol sa condom at pills sa radyo at telebisyon."
(full story here.)

It actually concerns our principal, DKT Philippines but unfortunately at the time the issue went out, DKT Philippines personnel were on a conference in Thailand and no one will be able to answer the concern for their side until they come back to office on January 23, Wednesday. Unexpectedly that day, January 22, i have answered an office phone call from GMA reporter Julius Segovia. He was inquiring on who can be interviewed regarding the issue but i politely informed him that it should be our principal who must tackle the issue. and that they were on a conference outside the country and will be able to answer only upon their return to Manila. with this situation ABS CBN sensationally gave its news readers the impression that DKT is escaping the responsibility of airing their side against the topic:

"Sinubukang kunan ng ABS-CBN News ng panayam ang DKT na siyang nagbebenta ng Frenzy at Trust at sinabi nilang sa Miyerkules na lang daw sila magpapainterbyu. (link given above)"

call it unbiased journalism. (pun intended.)

The next day, the CBCP was encouraging the senate & congress to pass a bill on banning the use of artificial contraceptives, and even IDS-Free Philippines, Inc., Human Life International (HLI), and Family Media Advocacy Foundation (FAMAF) president Butch Canoy earlier complained to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas that the TV ad of DKT was irresponsible. (full story here.)

My personal take on the issue, while the Philippines is culturally conservative, it's high time that we educate the people, especially the young ones, about responsible sexual intercourse. sex education must not be restrained from informing the young students of how the sperm cell and the egg cell meet and create a new life, but it must extend to the responsibilities that the sexual intercourse bring. i often complained and believe that overpopulation is one of the major reasons of poverty in the country. too many mouths to feed, too limited basic needs: food, home, shelter, and we can add employment in the list. we maintain morality by condemning abortion but for as long as the means of contraception doesn't induce or suggest it, let the government find ways to help its people practice effective family planning. condom doesn't abort babies. as for the morality issue, here comes the role of the family and the church to educate the young ones according to their beliefs. we can not dictate anyone on what to do with their lives. it's always the individuals choice. what the family and church can do is to suggest to them the pros and present the cons of things then encourage them according to their moral beliefs. but that's it. even how big time a parent rants he/she can only do so much for their kids. thats why education is very important at a young age. and removing these TV Ads will not help reduce teenage pregnancy, irresponsible sex, and might even contribute to the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases in the country for the lack of information, guidance and choice among the people, especially the young ones.

- - - - - - - - - - - -
EDIT: This entry has been submitted to The Filipino Voices - Philippine Issues Writing Project