Sex Education: A boon or a bane?

A newly impinged DepEd memorandum on sex education has once again shaken the foot stool of Catholicism, plagued by criticisms and legal assaults in spite of the urge and goodwill to inform the Filipino youth about the sensitivity of sexuality.

The Department of Education has recently included the sex education campaign in elementary and high schools’ curricula, as the most probable solution towards curbing the country’s population rate to over two percent. This was blamed to be the reason of desperate poverty and the unstoppable rise of the Philippines’ growth rate.

Yet, the Catholic Church and powerful conservative crusaders have disagreed to the principles that sex education is promoting and filed an injunction, requesting a ban to DepEd’s program.

"Sex education in schools is not the answer to our population problem and poverty," Eric Manalang, head of the conservative political party Ang Kapatiran firmly conveyed.

If they say that this is not a potential cure to our growing number, then this must even be worthy to pursue concerning our youth’s sexuality. If the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines does not agree to what the government sees, maybe they’ll give way in order to provide our teenagers a broader knowledge in regards to handling their sexuality.

"It promotes promiscuity among children... it does not promote the proper values that we want our children to receive in schools and we believe sex education should strictly remain a family affair." Manalang added.

Well I don’t personally believe that sex education would ruin the moral standards of the Filipino youth. Instead, this would help them be aware of the changes that they undergo and will make them understand themselves. This would also give them a clearer perception of out-of-marriage sex.

On the other hand, fund's Philippine Director, Suneeta Mukherjee said that this program’s opponents have nothing to fear.

"We are not encouraging people, or children, to have sexual relationships, we are only helping students handle their sexuality as part of the process of growing up," Mukherjee explained. "Children at this age are very sensitive and must be taught by people in authority." She added.

I strongly believe to what Director Mukherjee stands for. The education department must be too precautionary on this.

However, I rigidly resist to opening up sex education to elementary students. Children below 13 years old must be exempted to this program because it is simply not suitable to their understanding and might serve as deadly poison to their young minds. I am personally against teaching them anything about sex because this would undoubtedly spoil the innocence that we should carefully restore and treasure inside of them.

Sex education is definitely a boon. I don’t find what’s wrong in being informative to students like I am. We are undergoing into the adolescence level. Sometimes, or most of the times rather, teenagers do not tend to understand themselves which at times, leads to early pregnancy, or accumulation of HIV and STDs. They need help. We do.

Moreover, we are undeniably curious and hungry for exploration. Adolescents need proper guidance. If not given the attention and supervision, another life might be turned into nothing. Due to observation and personal stories I have encountered, too many lives were wasted because of what? Ignorance? Curiosity? Lack of knowledge?

YES to adolescents, NO to children.

Teenagers, let us be matured and responsible enough in approaching this topic. Let us grow up and not laugh at “sex education.” Because in the end, we would never like to suffer.

"We just want the children to make responsible decisions.”- Suneeta Mukherjee

The Evolution of a Writer

Behind a twist of fate lies a purpose. Behind unpathed waters comes an undreamed shore.

I always knew what I wanted to do with my life. I only see myself doing nothing but battling in court, fighting for sound judgment. Except for that, my vision seems to be blurred and my mind in refusal to entertain any other possibilities. I thought my dreams would only fight on for a single reason. Not after I found my first love…………. writing.

My journ class opened that door of realization to me. I really considered it fate at first. In the first place, being a writer wasn’t totally a serious dream for me, not even a mere fantasy. But during that time, I had no better choice but to give it a try. It wasn’t easy, though.

My junior year was a roller coaster ride. I can still vividly remember how my journ class has given me a hell of a ride. NO Math quizzes, unexcused absences, awkward stares from my classmates when entering late in class, so on and so forth. The long list goes on. It was really a year packed with dramas when one of my classmates had to cry in order to get away from a visit at the Guidance Office. Actions when we rumble out of panic and suspense when we sneak inside the classroom, wishing that we don’t get caught. There maybe perks, but twice as much with the perils. Yet, I have managed to stand and move on.

Why? I didn’t know. Maybe to show off and impress. Too way back then...

For the endth time, I would admit how difficult it was for me to excel in journ. I think I have given my best. Not even my best but my ALL. All I really desired before was to top and be recognized in the smallest possible way just to quiet my ego. Yes it was selfish, I know how self-centered I became. But that wasn’t the end.

Losing slapped me straight in the face. Tumbling down on the ground made me incapable of grasping any glimpse of hope on hand. I tried to quit for several times. Raise my hands and shout “I give up!” just to escape my paranoia. All I waited was an answer from God. Another lose could have made me quit. But I surprisingly won. Weird wasn’t it?

However, the voice inside my head didn’t stop to bother. Yet, I still do not have the answer my ear expected to hear. I didn’t know what was holding me back and what was asking me to stay, where the boost was coming from.

How come? I couldn’t figure out. I didn’t understand.

Days, weeks, and months have passed us by. Finishing, polishing and funding for Ignite’s contest issue. Every Ignitero shared equal burden with each other. I saw and experienced the meaning of “teamwork” in the persona of my classmates. In that period of time, I have realized that no individual star has shined. No one was personally lifted up high and magnified for said contributions. We shined as one huge ball of fire.

Change has stricken me that moment. Unknowingly, I wasn’t doing things for myself any longer. I suddenly forgot serving my personal interests and thought of how the people around me desperately needed a hand. The immature bratinella suddenly vanished. No more spoiled brats. Only a firm writer ready to battle remained.

I grew up. I grew up in the true essence of writing. The selfishness of the girl who never dreamt of being drawn into the unseen world of creativity vented to be a native of the realm of imagination.

She has found her first love in the craft of writing. She has evolved to be a great writer in the making from an egotistical feminist. She has learned to mingle and to laugh. To jump out of her comfort zone and reach out. She has proudly tried and fell short. She has learned the value of friendship and fellowship. She has finally found a tunnel out of her tiny, peculiar world. To take the courage to explore the greatest material in the art of writing- the world.

Why are you here? Of all places, why here?

I am here because this is where I belong. I grew in love of the fascinating charms of writing and I can not imagine my life without it. I am here because this is where I linger to escape reality and find serenity in its beauty. I am here because I now, dream of becoming a writer who’ll influence thousands of lives. A person who seeks judgment not only in the power of argumentative reasonings but also through the clutch of a pen and a paper.

I guess I have no other reasons to stay here. My passion and love for writing, I believe, is more than enough to keep me going no matter how tough it may take. I have evolved into a writer willing to learn, fail, to try again and to succeed at the end of an exasperating day. A writer who has the heart to discover the earth’s mysteries and to probe the depths of the ocean.

It may not be an in-born desire. Cowardice was already excluded. Cause out of fate and guts, I was founded in what is called a true love, a rekindled passion.

Let us not fear to stroll and to explore, to leave no unpathed waters and undreamed shores.