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For most of February 24, 2011, the Pinoy twitterverse was all abuzz about -- of all things -- condoms, thanks to Bgy. Ayala Alabang's version of an RH strategy (Bgy. Ayala Alabang Ordinance No. 1 for 2011). The condom talk generated a variety of reactions from the confused to the hysterical. I still can't stop rolling my eyes at it.
While a lot has been said about condom use now needing a prescription in Ayala Alabang (take note: ONLY in Ayala Alabang *wink wink*), it seems that only a few have been reacting to Section 2-F:
F. The BARANGAY lastly deduces from pertinent Constitutional tenets that since life begins at conception there is no place for the so-called “free choice” argument to justify compulsory sex education in the schools within its territorial jurisdiction that, among other things, disregards “the right of families or family associations to participate in the planning and implementation of policies and programs that affect them” [(Article XV, Section 3 (2)] or that insidiously allows the State to take over “the natural and primary right and duty of parents” to rear their children [boldface mine] “for civic efficiency and the development of (their) moral character” (Article II, Section 12 last sentence).I'm a parent. I have two young boys, turning 7 and 10 this year. My husband and I do not put them in gilded cages of censorship from the realities of this world. We do the responsible thing: we educate our children. At the same time, we don't insist on our kids' school that they not talk about sex or bring it up in any way. We're very well aware of what our kids study in their school. Also, having been students ourselves decades ago, we know where else they could hear about this supposedly "taboo" topic.
In fact, the reproduction system has just been introduced to our 9-year old last year. Guess what, CBCP? He and his classmates have still remained as kids! They haven't gone around doing sexual experiments, just as you believed they would. Surprise, surprise. How did that happen? Simple -- our school's administration used carefully prepared materials to introduce the topic appropriately and truthfully to students. When they're outside the school again, we parents continue responsible guidance as necessary. See what I'm getting at? There's supposed to be a partnership within the community, because neither parents nor teachers are omnipresent beings. It's not our job to be. It is our job, however, to teach kids responsibility and accountability.
Let's not fool ourselves about this: kids will eventually know -- they probably already know -- about sex. Exposure doesn't automatically equate to interest, much less likely curiosity. But if you keep something under wraps in such a dubious and distrustful manner, they'll be more likely to keep probing about for answers when our backs are turned.
I don't get why the geniuses who drafted Ordinance No. 1 in Ayala Alabang thought that sex education in schools will make parents powerless or prevent parents from doing their responsibility to guide their children. Also, how does sex education get in the way of people being able to make responsible choices? Isn't that idea contradictory to what education actually does? Someone please tell me: what is making these anti-RH control freaks tremendously scared of giving people an informed choice?
It seems to me that although condom use is now a crime in Ayala Alabang, a condom of another sort was actually pulled over the town. And it's not really protecting anyone at all.
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