The Reproductive Health Bill

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Last and Final Entry (July 15, 2011)

Now that this is over, I would like to make a summary of what I have written for my blog posts regarding the Reproductive Health Bill. As I have probably mentioned countless of times already, I am for RH Bill. I support it and all its aims and objectives and I really hope it gets enacted into a law because I believe it will definitely help solve one of the problems of the Philippines, which is overpopulation.

In the first part of my entries, I stated a long explanation of why I support the Reproductive Health Bill. I mentioned my “anger” on the people who are against it too. I know everyone’s entitled to his or her own opinion, but that is my opinion and I am entitled too to say it. I also wrote about how this RH Bill, the one penned by Hon. Edcel Lagman, is different from that of the RH Bill penned by Senator Miriam Defensor - Santiago. In the next few blog entries I posted, I wrote about some of the more known news articles about the RH Bill and the issues surrounding it.

For the following blog entries, I also wrote about some of the prominent supporters of the RH Bill. Those who are really vocal about their views and are not shy voicing out their opinions regarding the RH Bill. These prominent supporters came from different sectors, some of them into politics, some into news and current affairs, and some even into show business. I topped this off with an entry about the Purple Ribbon Campaign, a campaign the supporters of the RH Bill came up with to better inform the public of what the RH Bill is really all about.

Since we are doing blog entries on the RH Bill, I decided to dedicate a week to bloggers who write about the RH Bill in their own respective blogs. These bloggers blogged about their opinions and views on the different issues surrounding the RH Bill. I made these entries because I admire all these bloggers who reach out to people by writing their opinions in their blogs, which can be accessed by many Filipinos.

The latter part of my blog entries were all about the Senators who signed an approval on the Reproductive Health Bill. There were twenty senators who signed the said approval but I was only able to do fifteen of them for I cannot anymore write beyond thirty five blog entries due to time constraints. I decided to do this for I posted before an entry regarding how they signed the said approval. These senators will be the people responsible for enacting the RH Bill into a law because of their positions in the government. I did this because it was also research for me to figure out how they came about supporting the RH Bill in the first place. It also made me think of what the possibilities are of them actually approving the RH Bill into a law or if they will still back out of it.

For thirty five blog entries, I hope I was able to voice out my opinions and views on the RH Bill. I also hope more people would be able to read this and be enlightened of what the RH Bill can do to make out country better in terms of population.

Senators Support the RH Bill: Senator Serge Osmeña (July 14, 2011)

In recent news about the development of the state of the Reproductive Health Bill in the country, twenty Philippine senators signed an approval of the said bill. This signing of an approval means a great development for the RH Bill for it means that the bill is actually going somewhere and not neglected totally. In a previous blog entry, I listed down the name of the Senators who signed the said approval. In the next few blog entries, I will be discussing the profiles of these Senators and probably state why they signed the approval. For today, we will be looking at Senator Sergio R. Osmeña III.

Born on December 13, 1943, Sergio de la Rama Osmeña III, better known as Serge Osmeña, is a senator of the Philippines. He was born in Manila to Sergio Osmeña, Jr. from Cebu, and Lourdes de la Rama from Negros Occidental. He completed his elemntary education at De La Salle College. For his high school education, he went to different schools such as the St. Clement’s College in Iloilo, the Ateneo de Manila, and the Beaumont College in Berkshire, England. He also studied in several universities for his college education such as the University of San Carlos, the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Harvard University, and Georgetown University. He went to all these universities but he never earned a college degree. Before becoming a politician, Serge Osmeña has held several business positions in top companies in the Philippines.

Because he is a son of a Marcos rival, Serge Osmeña was imprisoned during the Martial Law. He became part of many strikes against then President Ferdinand Marcos and became a prominent figure of that time. After Marcos was ousted and all his prisoners returned to the country, Serge Osmeña was one of the many who gained back top positions in top companies. In 1995, Serge Osmeña ran and won in the senatorial race. This started his career as a senator and he is still currently serving his term since 2007.

Serge Osmeña is married to Isabel Lopez, with whom he has six children with. He came from a family of senators with his grandfather being one during the American colonization, and his father during the 1960s. His cousin also served in the senate for four terms. His other grandfather, was also a senator. Serge Osmeña’s other relatives, though not senators themselves, are also politicians. His nephew used to be a Vice Governor for Cebu, and his younger brother is the current Congressman of Cebu City.

Serge Osmeña has been serving the country for a long time now and has seen what our country was and how it has become now. From everything he saw, he knows how our country now suffers from all its problem. I hope he sees that the Reproductive Health Bill can be a solution to one of our problems, which is overpopulation, and helps to enact it into a law so that our country can be in a better state.

Senators Support the RH Bill: Senator Joker Arroyo (July 13, 2011)

Joker Paz Arroyo, a Filipino lawyer, politician, and current senator of the Philippines was born on January 05, 1927 in Naga, Camarines Sur. Joker, as many would think, is not his nickname. He was named as such because his father was very fond of playing card games. This also led to his brother being named Jack.

Joker Arroyo finished his elementary education at the Naga Elementary School, and his high school education at the Camarines Sur High School, both in Naga. He went on to study at the University of the Philippines under a scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. In 1952, he earned his Bachelor of Law from the University of the Philippines’ College of Law. He continued studying at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he earned his AAPL. He officially started his law career in 1953.

Joker Arroyo was very prominent during the Martial Law for he was one of the many who questioned then President Ferdinand Marcos’ authority. He fought alongside Corazon Aquino in this cause and so when she won the presidential elections, he was appointed as the Executive Secretary.

In 1992, he ran independently for Congressman in Makati. He continued serving in this position until he won again for the same position in 1998. In 2001, Joker Arroyo ran and won a senate seat. Ever since he won a seat in the senate, he has chaired such committees as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee, and the Senate Public Services Committee.

Joker Arroyo has been married twice his entire life. Odelia Gregorio was his first wife, and they have two daughters together: Ma. Antonia Odelia “Maoi” Greogorio Arroyo, an established entrepreneur; and Ma. Zef Francisca “Baba” Arroyo, also an entrepreneur. His second wife is lawyer Felicitas S. Aquino, and their daughter, also named Joker, is a champion equestrienne, and a law student herself.

Joker Arroyo has been in the Philippine politics for a really long time now which means he has seen the ups and downs our country had. He has seen all of these which makes me think that he knows how much the Reproductive Health Bill can help alleviate our country’s problem of overpopulation. I just hope he says something about this, how the Philippines can be back to normal, the way it was before, if only we give the RH Bill a chance to live up to its goal and change our country’s situation.

Senators Support the RH Bill: Senator Miguel Zubiri (July 12, 2011)

Born on April 13, 1968, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri is a Filipino politician who has served the government for more than 10 years now. He was born in Makati City, though his father is a Spanish - Illongo hailing from Bacolod City, and his mother is a Bicolana who was raised in Bukidnon. His father, Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, Jr. is the current Governor of Bukidnon. He speaks an amazing four dialects, namely Cebuano, Tagalog, English, and Illongo. He was a Congressman from the 3rd District of Bukidnon for three consecutive terms. He is currently the Majority Leader of the Senate of the Philippines.

Miguel Zubiri completed his elementary and high school education in Colegio San Agustin - Makati. He then attended the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, graduating with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness. He is currently completing his Masters in Environment and Natural Resources Management at the University of the Philippines.

Miguel Zubiri’s political career started when he ran for the position his father will be soon vacating. After serving as his chief of staff, he won the 1998 elections and became the Representative of the 3rd District of Bukidnon. He continued to work in this position from two more terms, from 2001 to 2007. During the 2007 elections, Miguel Zubiri ran for a senate position and won the 12th and last place. His win in the said elections went through numerous hoops because of this and that issues. But finally, he was proclaimed winner despite the many allegations that he cheated. During his terms, Miguel Zubiri has held several other positions in the government that proved how good he is in his line of work.

As a senator, Miguel Zubiri has enacted a number of laws already. These laws he enacted is for the different sectors of the society and will definitely benefit many Filipinos. One other bill that he can add to the list of laws he enacted is the Reproductive Health Bill. Miguel Zubiri should see the benefits the RH Bill can provide to many people and how it will help alleviate the country’s problem of overpopulation.If he does this, he can help enact the RH Bill into a law and if the bill lives up to its goal, Miguel Zubiri can definitely help many people around the country, like he did with the other laws he enacted before.

Senators Support the RH Bill: Senator Teofisto Guingona III (July 11, 2011)

Teofisto de Lara Guingona III, or better known as TG Guingona, was born on April 19, 1959. He is a Philippine senator currently serving the government. His grandfather, Teofisto Guingona, Sr. was a former assemblyman, senator, judge, and commissioner of Mindanao and Sulu during the American colonization of the Philippines. His father, Teofisto Guingona, Jr., used to be, like him, a senator from 1998 to 2001, and Vice President of the Philippines under former President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo from 2001 to 2004.

TG Guingona started his political career in 2004, when he was elected to the House of Representatives of the Philippines as the Representative of the 2nd District of Bukidnon. He served his hometown for two consecutive terms, and is a member of the Liberal Party. He ran for a senatorial position during the 2010 national elections and won the 12th place. He ran under the political party Liberal Party. He is currently married to Maria Victoria Guingona.

TG Guingona came from a very prominent family of politicians. In his family alone, he is the third Teofisto Guingona to have served or is serving the Philippine government. His father and his grandfather who have preceded him in serving the government has both made their marks in the history of the Philippines in their own ways. TG Guingona is just new to the arena of Philippine politics and as early as now, he should already start making a name for himself, something that could be compared to the achievements of those who have preceded him, particularly his father and his grandfather. He must become a different Guingona for himself, to be known as someone who did something his father and his grandfather has never done for the country and its people.

In my opinion, TG Guingona should start with the Reproductive Health Bill, one of the current issues our country is facing right now. Since he signed an approval on the RH Bill, he, like the rest of his colleagues who also signed the said approval, also believes in the change the RH Bill can bring to our country. He should start doing something for the RH Bill so he can make a name for himself, and he can add to the list of Guingonas who made a difference for our country. The RH Bill is one of the many things our country needs right now and he should help in making that happen.

Senators Support the RH Bill: Senator Ralph Recto (July 08, 2011)

Born on January 11, 1964, Ralph Gonzalez Rectos is a politician from the Philippines. He has served the government for almost 20 years now in his many positions within the government. He is currently a Philippine Senator having won during the May 2010 national elections.

Ralph Recto is not really new in the world of politics. His grandfather was the late Claro M. Recto, who was himself a senator for a number of terms. His father, Attorney Rafael Recto used to be an assemblyman for the Batasang Pambansa. Ricky Recto, his older brother, was the former Vice Governor of Batangas. But his sister though, Plinky Recto, differs from the rest of them as she went in to the world of showbusiness.

Ralph Recto attended the De La Salle University - Manila where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He attended the famous Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA and took up a course in Leadership Scholarship at its John F. Kennedy School of Government. Healso has two Master’s Degrees, with one being in question by the people. He took up a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, but he never completed his thesis that is needed for the course so this one is in question. The other, he attended the University of Asia and the Pacific where he earned a Master’s Degree in Strategic Business Economics.

Ralph Recto began his political career in 1992 when he won as the Representative of the 4th District of Batangas. He served for the next three terms and by the time his term ended in 2001, he has enacted laws that will help alleviate the country’s problem of poverty. In 2001, he ran for a senatorial seat and won. During his term, he became the chairman of both the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Trade and Industry. In 2007, he ran for the senate again but unfortunately lost. Many believed his loss can be attribute to the fact that he fought for the EVAT to be approved. Despite this, he was still appointed the director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). During the 2010 elections, he ran for the senate again, and this time he finally won.

Ralph Recto is married to actress turned Batangas Governor Vilma Santos. They have a child together, Ryan Christian ,and he is the stepfather of television personality Luis Philippe Manzano, Vilma’s son from a previous relationship.

Senators Support the RH Bill: Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada (July 07, 2011)

Born Jose Pimentel Ejercito, Jr. on February 17, 1963 in Manila, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, as he is more known, is a former Philippine actor turned politician. His parents are former President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada, and Luisa Estrada. His half-brother, Joseph Victor Ejercito, is also a politician. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has been married to Presentacion Vitug since 1989.

His political career started in 1988 when he ran and won the position of Vice Mayor of then San Juan, Metro Manila (now San Juan City). After his term ended in 1992, he then ran for the position of mayor in the same city and also won. It was during the 2004 elections that Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada ran for a senatorial position and won. Since 2007, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada was voted by his colleagues to be the Senate President Pro-tempore. His most famous bill would have to be the Senate Bill 1556, in which he proposed that the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) would be mandatory for all college students, may they be male or female.

Before becoming an established politician, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada was also a known movie and television actor. This just goes to show how much he has followed his father’s footsteps. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has made more than two dozen movies, and several television series.

Jinggoy Estrada Ejercito, I would have to say, may have been following his father’s footsteps, but I hope he does not follow it to the very end when he commits plunder and corruption as grave as his father’s. He is a man of his own. He should do something extraordinary that would separate him, in a good way, from the actions his father had. I believe, he should start with the Reproductive Health Bill. He signed the approval for the RH Bill because he believes in the change it would bring about to the Filipino people. He, along with his other colleagues, should do something big for the RH Bill that would help it in its goal of finally becoming a law. If he believes in the RH Bill, he should prove it by showing to the people he is doing something to support the said RH Bill. I know it should not be the work of only one person, but he should be the start of this campaign, an inspiration to his colleagues that he is doing something for something he believes can help change the face of the Philippines.