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Teens getting wild

Why are our young involved in premarital sex? An example is “Rapbeh,” who became viral in social media this month because of her intimate video with her partner.

Can we blame this to modern technology? Or to the government on how it implements sex education? Or can we blame this to the parents who did not properly educate their children on bodily changes or puberty?

I think there’s no need for us to point fingers, instead we must work together to properly educate our teens on what’s the right thing to do when it comes to sex and how it can affect and destroy their existence.

We must let them understand that waiting for the right time and age is very important rather than doing it while still unprepared for life.

We adults, most especially parents, must make sure to teach the youth properly by educating them on how engaging in premarital sex might change their comfortable life to difficult one.

Government must also take part in this revolt and attempt to put an end to this tragedy by ensuring that the school curriculum has a strong foundation in sex education to prevent our youths from becoming parents early.

Being a parent is not easy. If married people have a hard time handling their own children, how much more for teens who suddenly become parents?

I know many people who got pregnant at an early age and they are obviously struggling to survive life’s daily challenges.

I also have this friend who is a single mom at the age of 15. She told me one time how hard life is from the day she got her own child. But she didn’t have a choice but to take full responsibility at a younger age because a child is a blessing from God.

If we check our population now, I can say that it is rapidly increasing because of our teens who are into unwanted pregnancy. As per Department of Health last July 8, 2016:

“The UN Population Fund says the Philippines is the only country in the Asia-Pacific region where the rate of teen pregnancies rose over the last two decades” (“Philippines teen pregnancy rate highest in Asia--study”).

This fact alone is really alarming and can be considered as national tragedy, and we as adults need to take action to stop this as soon as possible for the betterment of the country.

I would like to quote a verse from the Bible 1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God that you should be holy and abstain from sexual immorality”– from Maria Gelin Ongco of Marigondon Kadulang, Lapu- Lapu City

Teen woes

Here in the Philippines, there is a word that does not seem to exist: responsibility. To become a man, you must drink, smoke and father children. So these young men have a girlfriend, get her pregnant then dump her for a new one leaving this teenage mother stranded with no where to go.

Or where in the world are men made responsible for any offspring that they father because they will be jailed for being a dead beat Dad?

If we here in the Philippines can pass a law to this effect, we would save a lot of lives that have been lost through suicide. We would have less beggars and street children if we learn to be responsible for our actions.-- from Alfredo Acopan

Dictator’s burial

In the midst of the Friday rush, the burial of a tyrant dictator was schemed. Seeking to muffle a mounting call for justice, the devious and despicable accelerated their plan to bury a dishonorable man at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

This supposed death blow to our nation’s long yearning for justice elicits a deep groan from the Fiiipino people, most especially the victims of Martial Law. However, this is not the burial of the people’s collective spirit in the continuing struggle to obtain what is just and moral.

In the name of Fr. Rudy Romano, CSSR, Fr. Edgardo Kangleon, Fr. Jerry Aquino, Carlos Tayag, Filomena Asunción, Jessica Sales and the thousands of church people, peasants, workers, men, women and youth who fell victim to the hands of a fascist dictator, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the burial of Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

For his political accommodation in the highest degree, we denounce President Rodrigo Duterte’s orchestration of this farce as well as the AFP’s criminal connivance in executing such falsehoods.

We call on the faithful to act on the lessons of the past to assert the respect of life and dignity, amidst the long-prevailing climate of impunity that we have endured as a people.

Marcos is no hero. Assert the people’s aspiration for justice and national democracy.-- from Nardy Sabino, General Secretary, Promotion of Church People’s Response