Atheista -

The UP Forum recently asked me to pitch in my two cents regarding the reproductive health bill and I was more that willing to oblige. Despite my staunch secularist stance on almost all issues, I’ve decided to keep mum on the Reproductive Health Bill because I thought it was a mere exercise in futility. Even if in principle the bill carried weight, the implementation would be a totally different thing. That is why I literally didn’t have the fire to fight tooth and nail for it unlike my buddies at Filipino Voices.

The format of the article was simple. It was simulated “round table” discussion with four students from the UP system – the current student regent, a fourth year law student, a sophomore from UPLB and a Medical Clerk!

Here’s how I answered the questions fielded by UP FORUM:

Q: Should a secular university take the initiative to inform its students about alternative forms of contraception?

As an entity that embraces the value of both practical and theoretical knowledge, a university should teach anything that can potentially benefit the population. Whether or not it is a secular university, an educational institution should be a credible source of information. It should not be beholden to any religious creed that, upon closer inspection, champions ignorance and quick judgment in the face of perceived social taboos. The campaign to make awareness on reproductive health and contraception more commonplace should be tailored to the population exposed to it.

It is very likely that the reasonably sophisticated UP student body is already attuned to such information, and an extensive and mandatory course on the matter would be something akin to overkill. The minority who are still not privy to the information may be addressed through information drives involving more informal and less confrontational media like reading materials and student support groups. Students also have access to references in the library and the internet for information on reproductive health.

There is a need to make the approach specific to its audience due to the relatively sensitive issue at hand. It is not a topic that most students would necessarily want to attend classes for; and forced attendance wouldn’t be that productive due to the potential apathy of the audience. The subject is also something not all people would readily discuss in the presence of a big group and in a classroom setting; thus, a more intimate setup may be needed to make the students more at ease and protect their privacy.

This strategy is by no means a concession to the archaic and myopic views of the Church. If the University goes for a shotgun approach through mandatory courses, it would be to the detriment of the vulnerable parties. A more private and informal setting may be more conducive to openness and effective communication.

Q: What are the possible benefits and/or pitfalls of such an initiative?

The benefit of such a move is an increased awareness among students of the issues surrounding contraception and reproductive health. This, of course, reduces the likelihood of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Best of all, this has a direct impact on the growing number of abortions. University students can use the knowledge to better handle the pressures of intimacy and to keep themselves safe from life-altering complications caused by ignorance and the ineffective “methods” of the church like abstinence.

As far as disadvantanges go, the only thing I can think of is contending with conservative and pretentiously morally upright individuals being up in arms. Their reactions, of course, should not be a determining factor in the implementation of the policy. The University should prioritize the well-being of its students and not be fazed by fundamentalists who continue to insist on solutions (prayers and abstinence) that are not nuanced to the needs and dilemmas faced by young people. And quite frankly, we should be willing to endure the opposition if we truly are serious about making a difference.

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I’m thrilled to have finally spoken about the issue. I think the debate regarding UP’s role is less futile since the university’s hands are not as tied-down by the church compared to those of elected officials.

If you want to read what the other people had to say, click read The U.P. FORUM ROUNDTABLE on Reproductive Health.

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