Contraceptives: Our Last Resort

Philippines, as a predominantly Christian country with 80% of its population

that are mainly Catholics should be a non-liberate nation. However, reality today will
tell us that Philippines has indeed changed into a fatherland where conventionalism
is well-practiced, prostitution remains invisible, cybersex business dominates the
black market and worst, the alarming increase of unwanted pregnancies and HIV
cases within our teenagers. These sex-related problems that targets primarily the
youth pushed the Department of Health the plan to distribute condoms in schools
nationwide starting next year which is a part of the effort to stop the spread of
HIV/AIDS among the Filipino youth.

Distribution of condom is not a bad habit. We are not encouraging the youth
to use. It is for safekeeping and should be used only during emergency and for their
protection Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial clarified that even though this approach
may become controversial especially to the Catholic community, the government
must adopt bolder moves considering that the profile of Filipino HIV patients are
getting younger each year. More so, the distribution of these contraceptives does
not promote premarital sex among the youth; for sex education must be taught first
before they would hand out condoms.

Although the Catholic Church sees this anti-HIV campaign strategy differently,
it is undeniably a fact that young people today are much more curious about what
sex is really is considering the influence internet and society brings to them. With
the youngest recorded Filipino HIV patient (11 years old), the recent studies indeed
showed that more and more Filipinos are engaging sex at a very young age.

As our country continues to burst into uncontrollable population followed by

the skyrocketing HIV victims that are represented by the majority of youth, we
clearly need to resort into what we seemed dangerous counter-measures to keep
the equilibrium in the Philippines. If we leave things as they were, if we ignore the
circumstances of our youth, if let our own principles morality to rule us in our
decisions, then it is not only today, it is not only tomorrow nor next year the future
generations would suffer as well.

Yes, we cant treat all the 4000 street children who are suffering HIV; we cant
undo all the 4 million young Filipinos who already engaged in sex; and we cant stop
all the 64, 000 abortions that were made by teens with unwanted pregnancies.
However, by supporting our government to take the step as they fight these cases,
we could somehow be on the saving side. By letting go of our pro-life ideals and
unneeded criticisms to them, we could somehow change the worlds perception to
these victims. For maybe after all, taking risks is what we all need to start the
healing that weve all been searching for.