Breathe

It is quite easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment. Particularly when it comes to matters that--well, matter to you. Take for example the Ordinance passed by one Ayala Alabang Village. It's been the talk of the online world since it broke out around a week ago. Apparently, one needs to have a prescription when one wishes to purchase condoms in the area.

While that in itself is rather ridiculous, it's merely a small part of a much bigger obnoxious zit on the face of AAV. It isn't the requiring of condoms that stirs the hornet's nest. It's the outright prohibiting of Sex Education. Ayala Alabang is a rich village. The residents there have been blessed with opportunities that most only dream about. Most of all, they've had the privilege of having the best education that money could buy. With that in mind, what is it that makes them bar educating those around them?

Times are no longer as simple as they were. Our country is suffering from a sudden burst of population and it is eating away at what little resources we have. One way to reign in all the madness is to educate the common folk. The ordinance, if passed, prohibits the teaching of sexual education and passing along pamphlets and other paraphernalia that promotes the use of contraceptives.

The Muntinlupa City Council has yet to pass judgement upon the ordinance, although it seems that there were reports that they would junk it. However, when you are backed by money, religion, and stubbornness--the tale doesn't end so simply. Yesterday, Ayala Alabang managed to grab the attention of the internet community once more.

During the homily at St. James the Great Parish, the parish priest firstly clarified that he was not relating his homily to the Ordinance whatsoever, then later on expresses that if you do not support the ordinance, you are cursed. What a rather flimsy attempt to cover their hypocrisy. If you use twitter like I do, you would be quite familiar with the tweets of Carlos Celdran and Lea Salonga. They never fail to express their thoughts about AAV's ordinance.

What does all this have to do with me? I've lived there. Technically--still live there. It seems that AAV has conveniently forgotten that they are not solely Catholics there. Different families, with different beliefs reside there. It is just so surprising that a place that has had the admiration and envy of people has now become the butt of every RH-Bill related joke. Some are even going as far as calling is Ayala Taliban Alabang.

At this point, you can either raise your voice and be assured that they will raise their own too. Or you could take a step away from the mess, let tempers cool, and look at the big picture. What is worth fighting for? I do not condone abortion. I'd rather children be born. I would just prefer that they be planned. That is where sex education would work wonders.