Micamaldita supports the Reproductive Health Bill

Click here for a copy of House Bill No. 5043 or the Reproductive Health Bill.

More than 10 Filipino women die every day due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. The big majority of those who die are poor women at the prime of their lives.

29 out of 1,000 infants die due to various sickness and illnesses that are preventable and curable.

4.9 million Filipino youth, aged 15-27 are sexually active but programs that would ensure their safety and help them become more responsible in dealing with their sexuality and relationships are severely lacking.  1 out of 5 female teenagers get pregnant before they reach their 20th birthday.

These are just a few of the problems in the midst of the ongoing economic crisis, escalating poverty, and the ever-increasing prices of basic commodities and services. Moreover, the Philippine population grows unabated with almost 2 million individuals added every year. Researches consistently show that poverty is more prevalent among big families compared to smaller ones.

The acute lack of services and information regarding reproductive health:

• results in the untimely death of women and children;
• is the reason why our youth are largely unprepared to deal with matters pertaining to their sexuality and relationships; and
• exacerbates the effects of economic crisis and poverty on millions of ordinary Filipinos, especially those with big families.

Filipinos, particularly the poor, urgently need access to information and services that will address their reproductive health needs.

A rights-based, comprehensive, and responsive reproductive health law will help empower Filipinos to achieve a better quality of life.

The passage of the Reproductive Health Bill into law will help actualize people’s, especially women’s rights to make informed decisions.

To sign the online petition declaring support for the immediate passage of the Reproductive Health Bill into law, click on this link.

The world’s shortest fairy tale

ONCE UPON A TIME a guy asked a girl “Will you marry me?”

The girl said, “NO!”

And the girl lived happily ever after and went shopping, dancing, camping, drank martinis, always had a clean house, never had to cook, had sex with whomever she pleased … She did whatever the hell she wanted, never argued, didn’t get fat, travelled more, had many boyfriends, saved more money, had all the hot water to herself, and never had pubic hairs under the toilet seat lid. She watched chick flicks, never had football on, never wore lacy lingerie that went up her butt, had high self esteem, never cried or yelled, felt and looked good in sweat pants and shirts, and burped, swore, and farted whenever the hell she felt the need.

THE END

There’s the rub

If you had
Psyche’s face
Cleopatra’s nose
Bette Davis’ eyes
Mona Lisa’s smile

If you had
Dorothy Parker’s wit
Rosa Parks’ conviction
Prinsesa Urduja’s courage
Mother Teresa’s compassion

If you could
write as sharply as Edith Wharton
think as intricately as Marie Curie
dance as fluidly as Isadora Duncan
teach as effectively as Anne Sullivan

Would you finally
be able to
sit still
stand tall
walk proud
thank God?

Twice blessed

Ninotchka Rosca blogs and I find out about it on Women’s Day. Ain’t that a cute coincidence?

From Wikipedia:
Ninotchka Rosca is a Filipina feminist, author, and human rights activist. She is also co-founder of the Gabriela Network and was a political prisoner under the dictatorial government of Ferdinand Marcos.

Here’s the link to Lily Pad, where she writes about women, justice, and everything in between.

If you’re lucky enough to come by her books, you better grab them at once and not let go. And then contact me ASAP and have me borrow them, as I am never lucky and the only Ninotchka book I’ve ever come across is the satirical Twice Blessed, reading which is how Ms. Rosca got to be one of my favorite writers. I tried looking for her other novels but they’re just so hard to come by. I think now maybe it’s because they were banned by the Marcoses.

Go on, go on. Click, read, and learn.

Maligayang araw ng kababaihan

Because a Woman’s Work is Never Done Manifesto*

Because a woman’s work is never done
and is underpaid, or unpaid, or boring, or repetitious
and we’re the first to get fired
and what we look like is more important than what we do
and if we get raped it’s our fault
and if we get beaten we must have provoked it
and if we raise our voices we’re nagging bitches
and if we enjoy sex we’re nymphos
and if we don’t we’re frigid
and if we love women it’s because we can’t get a real man
and if we ask our doctor too many questions we’re neurotic or pushy
and if we expect childcare we’re selfish
and if we stand up for our rights we’re aggressive and un-feminine
and if we don’t we’re typical weak females
and if we want to get married we’re out to trap a man
and if we don’t we’re unnatural
and because we still can’t get an adequate, safe contraceptive, but men can walk on the moon
and if we can’t cope or don’t want a pregnancy we’re made to feel guilty about abortion
and for lots and lots of other reasons
we are part of the women’s liberation movement…

* Joyce Stevens, written for Women’s Liberation Broadsheet, International Women’s Day, 1975.

Eto rin pala yung pinost ko sa blog ko nung isang taon, tinatamad ako mag-isip ng iba eh. :D