: GR V OLI E L
The Supreme Court ruling on the 5H law touches on the sensitive, unresolved subject of when life begins. The Court definition of human life beginning with “conception,” not with “implantation,” is considered, by Bishop (meritus Jose C. Sorra of Legazpi, in his email to my colleague Federico D. Pascual Jr. as “a WINdfall for the cause of LIF(.”
Indeed, the decision penned by Associate Justice Jose Castral 0endoza, and concurred in by the other members of the High Tribunal, defines life as beginning at conception.
The decision, graciously downloaded for me by Atty. 5ita Padilla of (ngendered 5ights as my Internet was not working at the time I thought of writing this column), defines the beginning of human life at conception. This is opposite former 5ep. (dcel Lagman’s view that life begins at implantation. According to the SC decision, page , “This theory of implantation as the beginning of life is devoid of any legal or scientific mooring. It does not pertain to the beginning of life but to the viability of the fetus. The fertilized ovum zygote is not an inanimate object — it is a living human being complete with DNA and chromosomes.”
The 5H Law proponents do not agree with that definition. Associate Justice 0arvic Leonen dissented with his colleagues in this area, saying, “This court is not the venue to continue the brooding and vociferous political debate that has already happened and has resulted in legislation.”
The topic had me searching for a position paper submitted by Dr. Florence 0acagba Tadiar, 0D, 0PH, 0A, executive director of the Institute for Social Studies and Action, based on two papers authored by Atty. Fred Tadiar, past chairman of the Institute, as a reaction to House Bill entitled “The Protection of the 5ights of the 8nborn Child Act of 20 0” authored by former 5ep. 5oilo Golez, but which did not get the concurrence of the House of 5epresentatives.
Dr. Tadiar posits that “Conception is a process and that precise moment’ of the union of one of the millions of sperms wanting to penetrate one ovum cannot yet be determined scientifically in vivo, or in reality and because of practical reasons, at this stage of our knowledge and considering our ethical values, unless perhaps if done for research purposes.”
Both the 5oman Catholic Church and 2rthodox Judaism believe that human life starts from the moment of conception, writes Tadiar. “That is a religious doctrine.”
However, she continues, even among 5oman Catholics, that belief has not always been so. “In the earlier days of this religious institution, ensoulment was eTuated with Tuickening,’ when the pregnant woman notices or becomes aware of a fetal movement in her abdomen. And it was then believed that male fetuses had this ensoulment’ earlier on the 0th day) than the females. 2ther religions do not subscribe to this theological concept or dogma of ensoulment. What they do believe in is Sersonhood. They would pose the issue of when does a collection of tissues develop to that stage that it can then be recognized as a separate person, a human being ”
“The freedom of religion that is guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution states very clearly that no law shall be passed establishing any religion,” writes Tadiar. “Included in that freedom is the prohibition against imposing a religious dogma or doctrine upon those who do not subscribe to that belief.”
“It is 5oman Catholic doctrine that life begins at conception, and that all artificial contraceptives are immoral. It is the total prohibition against socalled artificial contraceptives’ and deprivation of choice in family planning methods, that is plainly the purpose of this House Bill . By imposing its religious doctrine, one religious sector wants to impose its beliefs on others, and therefore wishes to turn the Philippines again, just like when we were a colony of Spain from where this specific religious institution was imported, into a Sectarian State. A sectarian state is one which is devoted to, peculiar to, pertaining to, or promotive of, the interest of one particular sect.”
“When this happens, the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law’ that we sought to secure for ourselves and our posterity’ in promulgating our Philippine Constitution, and the duty of government to promote the general welfare for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy’ will have perished. As under the Spanish colonial era, the Philippines will have retrogressed and turned back the hands of time to be governed by medieval laws of that sectarian era.”
For a long time, I made a list of signs pasted in the “comfort” rooms of government and private agencies, schools, restaurants and movie houses pertaining to the proper use of toilets. It surprised me that even in offices employing supposed well- educated professional personnel, the signs asked the toilet bowl users not to sTuat, not to throw sanitary napkins into the bowl, and to please, flush the toilet after use. I don’t know if similar pleas are made in men’s toilets. I know one doesn’t flush Antipolo-type conveniences or the behind-the-bushes session.
At a Bulong Pulungan sa Sofitel session, the subject of proper toilet use was brought up at the proper time — after lunch. It was said that a joint monitoring report by the 8nited Nations International Children’s (mergency Fund 8nicef) and World Health 2rganization revealed that 2 percent of Filipino households do not have toilets. 8nicef WASH specialist Dr. 0ike Gnilo said it s time to address the country’s lack of clean toilets. “0ore than 8 percent of these households practice open defecation which threatens water resources. In some communities, toilets are also shared by more than a dozen families which make them harder to maintain.”
In fact, Philippine Public Health Association Director 0aluh 2rezca said at the forum that a number of the country’s toilets need cleaning and maintenance. These include restrooms in parks, museums, commercial centers and tourist destinations.
It’s not surprising that 0 percent of households do not practice proper toilet hygiene and sanitation. 0any users clean toilets using only detergents and thin bleaches which do not kill diseasespreading germs.
Fortunately, Domex, the leading household cleaning brand in the country, has partnered with 8nicef and PPHA to advance the 0illion Clean Toilets 0ovement which educates the public on the health impact of germ-free toilets and secures one million pledges from households, government agencies and private corporations to maintain clean, safe and hygienic bathrooms.
Jay Go, marketing director for 8nilever Home Care, said more than 2,000 children under five die annually from diarrhea as a result of germ-infected toilets that contaminate water resources. To raise awareness on diarrheal diseases and their prevention, Domex will conduct activities throughout the year to educate and train households on proper toilet sanitation.
8nilever’s million clean toilets movement kicks off during the Lenten season with restroom cleanup activities at Shell NL(; SL(; stations, and Jose 5odriguez 0emorial Hospital for information and other activities, and partnerships with dining establishments.
The activities will culminate with World Toilet Day celebrations in November. 8nilever Philippines targets billion better lives by 2020.
(mail dominitorrevillas gmail. om