Weighing Voices on Divorce

After the long prusisyon, the RH Bill was finally enacted as a law in the Philippines.

The smokes from the clashing explosion of opposing sides — pro and anti— are yet to subside but a new spectacle is once again brewing.

This time, it’s another bill that will challenge morality among Filipinos — Divorce.

Just like the then RH Bill, Divorce Bill or House Bill 1799 is facing stiff resistance from supposedly conservative and family-oriented sectors and personalities; the church being on the forefront. The main premise of their opposition leans on the assumption that legalising divorce would lead to more broken homes, destroy our moral values, juvenile delinquency and the list goes on.

On the affirmative side, proponents of the bill reason they want to give Filipino couples the choice to legally end a marriage when things don’t work out well between them. The Philippines has existing provisions for Legal Separation and Annulment, but proponents consider Divorce as more powerful protection for families where domestic violence persists, for instance.

All sides laid out. One thing should be clear–a moral dilemma slapped on the legislative body of the government.

It is a primordial fact that the Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia. That being said, should we remain the only country that does not allow Divorce? Should we hold on so firm to that doctrine Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder?

On the other hand, has it been too much of a delay for a Divorce bill in third-world Philippines, as supporters claim? And once and for all, is the Filipino family ready to welcome a radical change that will give each husband and wife the discretion to ‘undo’ a union made before the law and before God?

It could free so many battered wives and children from the cages of a matrimony that turned grey; but it could also tear worlds apart for children and spouses who once shared a one happy home.

And the panels will deliberate endlessly. At the end of very long speeches, feisty side commentaries and media appeals, sarcasm, mudslinging and all sorts of propaganda, there will be an answer.

Just like the old times, we shall wait for the prusisyon to reach base.

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On another news, activist Carlos Celdran has been found guilty for “offending religious feelings”. It can be remembered that Celdran, who is also a tour guide and artist, has irked the eyes of the Catholic Church when he broke into and disrupted a mass in September 2010 and held up a placard with a DAMASO sign in it. He did so in protest agents the church’s strong opposition of the RH Bill.

Now, even PNoy, who is an RH advocate himself, is asking the Church to graciously forgive Celdran, who has since apologised. All things aside, he would have to be behind bars for some time, just like Jose Rizal who is obviously his hero.

On Pink Balloons and Guns

Pink Balloons. Loved ones of Stephanie Nicole Ella, the 7-year old victim of stray bullet shooting on New Year's Eve have flown pink balloons as she was laid to her eternal rest. Pink does not only commemorate the young girl's favourite colour but is also a symbolic cry for justice. Her classmates, as innocent and carefree, now join this crusade— even at very early age. Sadly, they will now and forever remember the day they lost a playmate.

Gun Ban. Senator Ping Lacson is sponsoring a bill that will completely ban private individuals from owning firearms. This is as public awareness heats up following the death of Stephanie, among others, due to indiscriminate and undisciplined gun use.

But the President, who is a gun enthusiast himself, has pre-emptively disapproved of the proposition, saying that while the intent is good; the means is not a proportionate measure. Groups of registered gun owners keep the same sentiment, so do a growing number of lawamkers.

HALF WAY. There are always two sides to every issue and in this case, halfway is a safe zone. Gun use, per se, is not a crime- provided you have them registered and do not use them in such a way that it will harm people. That Simple. The point? Use and misuse are two different things. To illustrate, when you use a plastic bag, you are not necessarily killing nature. It is when you throw them anywhere that they will soon cause floods, that you become an abuser.

Hence, possession of firearms may not be the root of the problem at all. Perhaps, it is the fact that many people have access to guns, and that our authorities have very loose and loophole-filled regulations that give gun-abusers the leeway to possess and use guns whichever way they want.

The key is regulation. Besides, looking back into history, civilians have been permitted to own firearms because of major security issues. And clearly, in this society where violence is a habit, guns as a means of protection is deemed a necessity to some, admit it or not.

Nevertheless, the opposing sides must meet each other half way, as it is ideal, not to make a compromise for their own interests but to put, over and above all else, the good of the common people. After all, this is where an innocent Stephanie belongs until a reckless shot from a shadow took her life that easy.

When a Teacher's temper explodes

I was watching TV Patrol last night, waiting for follow-up stories on the death of Stephanie Nicole Ella - a victim of indiscriminate firing on New Year's Eve. But what really caught me was this video featured in the Bayan Mo, IPatrol Mo (BMPM) segment.

The video, which run 1:43, showed a professor at a college in Manila violently cursing at his students and hitting one. It is quite alarming that a professor, who some of us may look up to, will explode with this kind of behaviour at school and with students around. What's worse is this dispaly of physical violence towards the students, particularly a girl in the video.
We know not all teachers are like him. well, maybe he too was provoked. We owe the benefit of the doubt, but in any case, one's temper should never be a reason to harm and imperil any person, physically or not.
Teachers are our unsung heroes, and they remain to be- but not all of them, maybe. 

Gone so young

Welcome New Year with a bang— but some take it too literally.

And some seven-year old innocent girl’s life will be the price? Stephanie is the latest victim of stray bullet death on New Year’s Eve. She was just watching fireworks with his father outside their home in Manila, unsuspecting that this will be the last time they would be together.

But she is not alone: Another six-year old boy was casualty of gun firing while a 16-year is still in coma. What dreams lost.

Stephanie’s case is not a landmark in the local scene. It happens every year but we haven’t really learned anything, to think that the New Year is supposed to be time for positive change. How ironic.

The family is receiving an outpour of sympathy as the media has intensively covered the story. But cliché as it may sound; no amount of sympathy can bring a life back.

Now, some are recommending a total gun ban during holidays. But there are a million registered firearms in the country— count in more unregistered ones.

Nevertheless, it should make a good a start for better changes to come. May the loss of an innocent life, at least be a way to invoke change. Or else Stephanie’s demise will once again just be a forgotten memory.