November 5-8, 2011 LA WEEKEND ASIAN JOURNAL

LAST Wednesday, this column talked about a population milestone: seven billion people in the world and counting!


While the more progressive countries have taken their population management seriously, poor and developing countries continue to sire more children than they can afford to raise. And it seems the richer and more educated countries benefit more from modern medicine as the poor families, especially kids, suffer from malnutrition, poverty, high infant mortality.

And as the world population grows exponentially, until when can planet earth provide food, water and take all the toxins, waste, pollution that has begun to threaten our ecosystem?

Isn’t it time for every nation to examine how to better manage its population and resources in the most responsible, equitable and conscientious way? Tama pa ba ang kasabihang “humayo at magpakarami” sa panahong ito?

Our kababayans from different parts of the world shared their opinion and here are some of them:

“Siguro kailangan ng mahihirap ang edukasyon tungkol sa pagpapamilya, na hinaharang naman ng Katolikong pari sa Pilipinas.” – Ellah Thomason

“Anak ng anak, hindi naman pala kayang sustentuhan. Maganda ang populasyon natin kasi maraming bata. Maraming makakasali sa labor force. Pero kung hindi naman sila nakakapag-aral at walang trabahong ibibigay ang gobyerno, dagdag pa sila sa problema ng bansa. Sana lahat ng makakita nito, matuto na. Tayo lang din naman ang makakasalba sa mundo. Tayo lang ang magbibigay ng solusyon sa problemang tayo rin ang gumawa.” – John Jake Crsostomo

“The problem why we are poor is not because of the population, but because of corruption, that makes the money go into one’s pocket, instead of food, clothing, social services etc. that should be extended to everyone. We are blaming the church for all our miseries, but we are not doing the right action that is being taught by the church and that is “to love your neighbor as you love yourself” -- because we are Filipinos and we only love ourselves. That’s us! 100% Pinoy.” – Harrison John Dayandante

“Don’t blame God. That’s why He gave us knowledge and wisdom to be able to think what is right. Kaya nga HE allows us to think a better solution for this kind of situation. Kung wala tayong isip, hindi natin maiisip na kailangan ng RH Bill. Praise God for that. Sa akin lang naman.” – Jeza U. Vergara

“Kung sarap lang naman ang gusto puwede naman. Maraming alternatibong paraan para makaiwas sa pagbubuntis. Pero sabi kasi, a big family is a happy family. Oo, para sa mga mayayaman na kayang tustusan ang pangangailangan ng pamilya nila. Hindi sa mahihirap na walang laman ang bulsa. Ngunit tila baligtad – kung sino pa yung mayaman, siya pa yung nakakapagkontrol sa pag-aanak, at kung sino pa yung mahirap at wala namang [ipapakain] sa kanilang pamilya, siya pa yung padami ng padami ang anak!” – Lhanz Fernandez Oraa

“Na-misinterpret ng karamihan sa atin ang ibig sabihin sa Bible na humayo kayo at magpakarami – it is not for the desire of the flesh, it is for the spiritual growth [of] all mankind. Ang ibig sabihin ni Lord na humayo kayo is, if you know the Word of God you share it to others so they may know that Jesus is alive, even if we can’t see Him. People from other countries, they can control themselves not to have more babies. 1 or 2 is enough. Mayaman na sila pero alam pa rin nila gaano kahirap ang maraming anak. Puwede naman natin gawing example ang iba, we can learn from them.” – Ley Patalinhog-Pilapil

“There are so many people, especially in the provinces who continue their growth. Keep populating, engaging in 8, 10, 12, 14 children per family. They do not understand that at the end, the children are the ones suffering from the parents’ decision to continue having children. The children end up suffering from hunger, illness and no education. And when one of the children or family member is able to get away from all the sufferings and better herself, then she’d be the one carrying the burden of the entire family. That is because of [a] wrong decision. I am sure there are so many out there suffering so that he/she can help the family.”


“Humayo kayo at magpakarami na may takot at pagsunod sa mga salita ng ating Panginoon. Ang problema, ang tao mismo ang gumagawa ng paglabag sa mga alituntunin ng ating Panginoon. Responsible parenthood po ang dapat pairalin, di lang po gawa ng gawa ng bata. Always remember bago ka gumawa ng bata ay dapat handa ka sa mga responsibilidad at pangangailangan ng magiging anak mo.” – Kristine James Buenavista

“ANG HUMAYO KAYO AT MAGPAKARAMI ay utos ng Diyos Ama kay Adan at Eva, sapagkat nung mga panahon na inutos sa kanila ito ay wala pang laman ang mundo. Kaya nga sinabi din ng Diyos na kalatan nyo ang mundo at maging mapalaanakin kayo. Yun ay kay Eva At Adan. Di na sa panahon nating ito.” – Melvin Villanueva Delas Alas

“Maybe if we educate people regarding birth control, we would not have to blame the church. And just common sense, if you can’t afford to raise children, don’t go forth and multiply.” – McLean Seirra de Gador

“Go forth and multiply is a biblical verse as old as time which, when applied in this age of OVERPOPULATION, is ILLOGICAL, NAIVE, and LAME!” – Rhynce Derek

“PATAY NA ANG RH BILL. Huwag na kayong mangarap buhayin pa yan, lalo na kayong mga Anti-Catholic. Say what [you want to] say against the Church but admit your defeat” – Gilbert Ilagan

“I’m sure marami sa mga mag-asawa na maraming anak ang gusto ay maliit na pamilya. Hindi nila gustong mag-anak ng sampu. Ang problema, hindi nila alam kung ano ang dapat gawin. Kulang sila sa kaalaman tungkol sa reproductive system, hindi naman kasi ganun kalawak ang itinuturo tungkol sa sex and health education sa high school, kaya kulang sa awareness. Kung magpapakasal, nire-require na kumuha ng family planning orientation, sinasabi lang naman ang paggamit ng condom, pills, etc. at mga natural methods, pero, hindi naman ipinapaliwanag kung ano ang mga ito at kung ang ano ginagawa nito sa katawan. At masyado pa ring pinaniniwalaan ang mga myth. Lastly, IMO, malaki ang influence ng simbahan sa isip ng mga tao kaya kailangan ng simbahan na maging responsible at conscientious o careful sa kanilang sinasabi. Im pro-RH Bill.” – Nieva Adviento Scott

“Isisisi na naman sa mga pari? Hay! Ang katigasan ng ulo ng tao at kawalan ng disiplina ang problema ng bansa natin. Puwede ba? I don’t think na overpopulated tayo, dahil ang totoo, overcrowded lang especially ang urban areas. But anyway, di magtatagumpay ang RH Bill na yan. Dahil sa RH Bill, patay kang bata ka! Ituturo ng condoms at pills ang pagiging RESPONSIBLE PARENTS aber? Mahiya kayo kung

Readers’ feedback to ‘Humayo at Magpakarami?’

Gel Santos-Relos

The Fil-Am

Perspective

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