ON POPULATION CONTROL, SPEAKING ENGLISH & ELECTIONS

The Philippine Star
01/11/10

The issue of population control continues to evoke passionate discourse among our readers, and while we have received some that border on irrationality, there are others worth reprinting. One of our readers, Nelly Dayon-Duckett from Bacolod City, is one.

She says: “Although some Catholic Church laymen deny it (even) when they have lost the argument on population control, there is no doubt, even without corruption ending, this country has a young population it cannot afford.

“Therefore all the problems a family faces in having too many children are the same but on scale perhaps more than 20 million to one.

“If the Catholic Church wins its battle against the RH (Reproductive Health) Bill, things will get worse. Abortions will rise even more so if Lito Atienza wins the mayorship of Manila.

“The Catholic Church especially through its laymen and laywomen has put out so much misinformation and ridiculous statements over the last few years it must have a drip-drip effect. One good example of this was Jose Sison writing the natural control method advocated by the Catholic Church was 99 percent effective.

“This method means (that) a woman cannot have sex when she most wants it. (The act of sex is) only allowed on the days in the monthly cycle (that many) call ‘ache or tired days’.

“A far better method is the one that (needs no birth) contraception (methods), which is of course free vasectomy. The truth (needs to be) told and all the … misinformation by (the) agents of the Catholic Church (needs to be) reversed.

“For a wife with too many children, (this will be) like changing a life of hell to (having a life in) heaven. For the husband, (one can expect) a remarkable change (by) having a loving, sometimes a bit demanding (wife), in which case the husbands will be the one with the aches and tiredness.

“(In using) oral contraceptives, in most cases no ovulation occurs so (there is) no possibility of an extremely early abortion. A ‘Morning After’ (pill) could ruin the future of a bright intelligent girl.

“Not having … so many school age kids should lead to smaller classes, better education, and more individual attention. However, if (population growth is) not controlled, (this) could lead to (a shortage in) schools, especially public (schools).”

On the English language

Duckett also shares with us her views on the English language. She says: “One important thing (that) is often sometimes deliberately overlooked, and this despite the Philippines having English as an official language for 75 years, is its underutilization.”

Duckett says that English is used almost everywhere in the Philippines, and yet “Filipinos tend to stick to speaking their original native language. That is to say, (what is spoken) here in Negros is Ilonggo and Cebuano, (and the) young learn enough Tagalog deemed Filipino (by) watching the soaps and Wowowee.

“All seem to know that the only language that can bring them real prosperity is English, even those in Tagalog regions. A poor Ilonggo will stay poor even if (he can speak) Tagalog; English (however) gives him chance of (finding) employment even if it means working abroad as (an) OFW (overseas Filipino worker).

“We must accept that having Tagalog as a national language is a complete failure outside the original Tagalog speaking regions.

“It does not help (that) when we need (to learn) English, (being) the world-wide language which our neighboring countries are eagerly learning to bring in jobs and inward development; we who have been blessed with it since 1935 repress it! Well not personally (since) I encourage it to young members of the family.

“For us living outside of Metro Manila, it would be (good) to repress Tagalog and have (a better aptitude of) English instead.

 “Those with (better) English (speaking) ability have been able to find employment (in) call centers, including here in Bacolod, the Filipino English accent being more welcome than some hard-to-understand accents like Indian and Scottish.

“With work in the sugar industry on decline, this is a welcome development. We hope Australia and New Zealand will look our way (for) something like a dairy industry.

“We do not lack the rain that Australia (has) in places where increasing climate change leaves them with huge dry areas that once were able to raise cattle.”

On elections

With the automated May elections just a heartbeat away, Duckett also has a suggestion that could be worthwhile considering. Here is what she says:

“There (are few things that) I would like the Philippines to emulate (from) the US. However, I think early voting in 2010 over a number of days should be allowed in certain areas. This was a big success in the US Presidential elections where huge numbers voted for a change. (And I refer to) both meanings (of change).

“It would help a lot (with) police control, and to check (if) the voting method works! Many are not sure what is involved (with automated elections) so TV coverage of (the) early voting would help. However, without media (coverage, the early elections may not be successful). We must remember that this is the Philippines where even at the highest levels, common sense is lacking.

“However we must not keep shooting ourselves in the foot the way so many nationalists want. Maybe nationalists just prefer an uneducated population.”

Champions League contest winners

Reminding all winners of the recent Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) contest that the deadline for claiming gift prizes is on January 18, 2010.

Visit www.CollegiateChampionsLeague.net for more details.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, SalcedoVillage, 1227 MakatiCity. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.