A Debate Between Quirky Catholic and A Population Control Fanatic

First of all, let me set the record straight: this is more of a discussion rather than an all-out slug fest, and I would not call this a proper debate. However, I think you would like to know one thing about population control pushers, like the one I had a discussion with. They claim to use science and reason to push their agenda, but when it comes down to it... I will let you decide.

Just a brief background. I was tagged in a thread in a certain page. Lo and behold, I see our old friend, Antiqueno Pinoy, peddling his wares again, so to speak. He and I, along with several of my companions, have been debating him since 2010 during the early days of the I Oppose the RH bill page. I sort of lost track of him after the bill passed late last year, and I was a bit surprised to see him on another page. He is a rabid population control believer, and he insists that unless our country goes down to a TFR (total fertility rate) of 1.0, then this country is doomed. In essence, he wants to copy China's one-child policy, even as China has already turned its back on it. The reversal may have come too late, as you guys can read here, but let's save that for another day. Without further ado, I present to you Mr. Population Control Fanatic.

Knowing Mr. Population Control Fanatic all too well, exchanging facts, numbers, statistics, and studies with him in an effort to prove his Malthusian ideas wrong is as futile as Sisyphus rolling up his fabled boulder up the hill. It's like dousing water to Greek Fire - he will not accept any logical or scientific proof that will debunk his population control philosophy. So I took a different route, as you can read above and below. 

Hah! He refuses to answer such an easy question: do you have kids of your own, Mr. Antiqueno? He might as well tie a millstone to his neck and drop to the bottom of the sea if he were to follow my line of arguing, and so he deflects it and refuses to answer my simple question.

See how he tried to duck and weave by saying that my question was 'personal and emotional'. Following his statement of "high fertility(too many babies) causes poverty, the logical conclusion would be that his kids caused poverty too. If he didn't have any, he might as well just have none, lest he and his siring of children exacerbate the poverty we have here in the country.

For the record: Yes, his statement - high fertility rate is the major cause of poverty in the Philippines - is wrong. Many countries have already felt the effects of having too few babies born that would have been the future manpower and labor force of their nation. They have mitigated this by asking for immigrants, like us, to work and live there in their country. Countries like Japan, Singapore, China, Russia, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, and Spain have TFRs below 2.1 - meaning that their ladies are having less than 2 kids. Demographically speaking, countries whose TFRs are below the so-called "replacement rate" of 2.1 are the countries having trouble with too many elderly people and too few young people. In Japan, for example, sales of adult diapers are way higher than that of baby diapers.

This kind of mentality - that too many people cause poverty - is a theory developed by Thomas Malthus in the 19th century, and has been long debunked by Simon Kuznets, a Russian-American economist, statistician, demographer, and economic historian who won the 1971 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences "for his empirically founded interpretation of economic growth which has led to new and deepened insight into the economic and social structure and process of development". Here in Asia, scientists Wong Hock Tsen and Fumitaka Furuoka made a study called: The Relationship between Population and Economic Growth in Asian Economies. Their studies concluded that overall, there was no relationship between economics and population growth - debunking what Antiqueno Pinoy said above that very high fertility causes poverty; however, they also concluded that for some countries, namely: Singapore, China, and The Philippines, population growth actually causes economic growth, debunking Antiqueno a second time. 

It is one thing to debunk Antiqueno's claims; however, too many people, many of them RH supporters, still believe in the antiquated and long-debunked Malthusian idea of too many people causing poverty. In fact, this is also the belief of so many ecologists - that too many people cause the destruction of nature, ergo we should diminish the population for the sake of the trees, the animals, the rivers, and the forests. Bullsh*t! That's why I don't adhere to animal groups like PETA either. They place animals' rights before human rights. You don't see too many of animal rights groups fighting abortion and contraception, right? 

In the end, the debate was not meant to be. I was tired of arguing stats and demography with him, and he wouldn't answer my question either. But, I learned something very valuable with my exchange with him. When it all comes down to it, when we're dealing with flesh and blood, science can only prove so much. Beyond the numbers, beyond the statistics, beyond the ideologies, there are people like you and me, happy and grateful to be alive. Who among us, then, have caused poverty in the country? We're working, we're paying taxes, we're contributing to a better nation, and so will our children. 

My life is a gift from God. We are all God's gifts to one another. This way we enrich the world with our lives. This is my belief. This is why I cannot accept Mr. Antiqueno's belief that people cause poverty and misery, precisely because people are also the way out of it. 

SHATTAP! TUMULONG KA NA LANG!

Imagine:

1. Sinisi ni Pnoy ang Tacloban dahil hindi daw sila prepared, eh expected niya zero casualties - realistic ba yun???

2. Nag-walk out si Pnoy sa isang Cabinet meeting sa Tacloban;

3. Pabalang niyang sinagot 'yung businessman na nag-sabing tinutukan siya ng baril. "But you did not die, right?" ang mala-pantas na sagot ng presidente.

4. Balita ng foreign media na halos walang presensya ng gobyerno sa Tacloban at iba pang nasalantang lugar. Kaya ang mga biktima, katulad ng gobyerno: nganga. 

So sa galit mo, nag-post ka ng kritisimo sa Facebook. Makikita mo na lang sa wall feed mo, o kung maswerte ka ay magko-comment sa status mo ay ganito: 

"Stop pointing fingers!"

"Stop being so negative!"

"Bakit, may ginawa ka ba?"

"Focus muna tayo sa pag-tulong!"

and my personal favorite -

 

 Hindi ko alam kung bakit allergic sila sa criticism, pero kung medyo nahu-hurt sila, sa akin lang: ang daming nagugutom at namamatay sa Samar at Leyte, pero ang gusto ng iba, puro positive thoughts at good vibes. Walang kokontra!

Criticism, if based on the truth, can help. Besides, the suffering people in Samar and Leyte have no voice except us. How can you expect us to be quiet if there are people dying in the Visayas and the government is nowhere to be found???

Journey of A Thousand Miles: We've Only Just Vigan

Back in August, Filipinos for Life Speakers and Trainers were invited by the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia in Vigan to do a series of talks for their youth. Last Saturday, F4L members Rommel Lopez, Anna Cosio, and Juan Carlo Vitasa, and I went on the long trip to Vigan to respond to the call of evangelizing the young through the Gospel of Life. This is an account of the work we did in several schools spanning three days.

Day 1: The Arrival

On our way to the Great Vigan Adventure. 10 PM, Maria de Leon Bus Terminal, November 2.

We arrived in Candon City, Ilocos Sur around 4 AM, way earlier than we were expected to arrive by our host, Fr. Willie Jones Ducusin. Fr. Ducusin is also the superintendent of the Nueva Segovia Association of Catholic Schools. It was a good thing that Candon has a 24-hour McDonald’s restaurant where we waited for Fr. Willie. He promptly arrived before 5 AM, and escorted us to the rectory of the St. John de Sahagun Parish Church where we freshened up, had breakfast, and heard mass.

Rommel and I posing in front of St. John de Sahagun parish

This was at the Sta. Maria Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on top of a hill

At Sta Maria Church

White-sand beach along the road going to Vigan, our destination. 

Mountains and hills everywhere you look! 

Another beach! But this time it's a rocky one, quite unsuitable for bathing.

This is the Arzobispado of Vigan where we were stationed for a couple of days. Looks really old, because it is! 

We spent the rest of the day enjoying the sights and heritage spots of Ilocos Sur. Highlights of the day were our visit to Sta. Maria Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a church built atop a hill much like forts of medieval times; the zoo owned by former governor Chavit Singson called “Balwarte”. We had an idea of how rich Chavit Singson was through Balwarte, as the money involved to procure the animals and maintain the zoo itself costs an unimaginable amount of money.

praying before the tomb of Bishop Verzosa, grand father of Sr. Pilar. 

The inside of the Arzobispado. I miss all that wood. 

At Chavit's Balwarte

Trying out Vigan's yummy Empanada! 

another view of the Arzobispado from the inside.

Me during the Animal Show at the Balwarte

I wonder how much money does it cost to maintain this place. 

This poor fellow must be terrified because he thinks I am going to ride his calesa! 

Look Ma! I made a new friend! What do you mean he's an ostrich?! 

Rommel was enjoying Balwarte until he realized Chavit had enough money for dinosaurs too. 

Fr. Willie saved the best for last and drove us to an eatery for a taste of the famous Vigan Empanada. It rained in the evening, which meant that we were not able to visit the renowned Crisologo street of Vigan. That had to wait until the next evening.

Day 2:  Vigan to Sto. Domingo, and Vigan to Narvacan

 We woke up at 5 to make it to the 6 AM mass presided by Fr. Willie. We had breakfast afterwards and went on a short drive to Sto.  Domingo, around 8 kms away, to Benigno Soliven Academy, where more than 300 students were waiting for us. Mr. Lopez talked about the sanctity of life, and how life is both a gift to be cherished and a treasure to be nurtured so that eventually we can share this gift to others through the talents we develop. These talents, in turn, will give us an indication of what career to pursue after college. One student revealed to the whole crowd that she wanted to pursue her studies in college in Baguio, but she was being pressured by her friends to stay behind so they can always be together. Mr. Lopez told her and the all the students that true friendship transcends distance, so you will always be friends where ever you go; and that true friendship means you and your friends are free to pursue whatever will make you happy and fulfilled, including pursuing your dreams – even if it meant that you might spend less time with one another.

Ms. Anna Cosio expounded on the idea that our lives are suppose to be selfless and self-giving, giving our young ones especially on the matter of chastity and purity. She also emphasized the importance of dressing appropriately, being a gentleman and a lady, and  the benefits of living a chaste life.

At Benigno Soliven Academy

Juan Carlo sharing his thoughts on a question posed by a student

Ate Anna bakit ang ganda-ganda mo? 

posing with the 3rd and 4th year students of BSA

We went back to Vigan after lunch, but promptly took the 31km trip to Narvacan Catholic School run by the Reparatrix Sisters. After the discussions, we were met by a most curious question from one of the students: Bakit masarap ang bawal? (why does it always feel good to do the bad thing, roughly translated )

Ms. Cosio’s answer was nothing short of brilliant: that it is a mistake to think that all the good things in this life can only be achieved though doing what is bad or evil. In fact, that was the original spiel of the devil during the temptation of Adam and Eve: that doing something against God is not only good, but also beneficial. Anna explained further that there are consequences in doing good and in doing evil, and that usually it is the consequences of doing evil that isn’t being advertised openly, e.g. if you eat too much, you get sick. Have sex with a lot of partners and you get STD.

At Narvacan Catholic School

"Bakit masarap ang bawal?" 

after our talk at Narvacan Catholic School

As we drove home to our base in the Arzobispado of Vigan that afternoon, we saw this great sign:

Where can I run from your love?
If I climb to the heavens you are there
If I fly to the sunrise, or sail beyond the sea
still I find you there...

Was it a sign of approval from God of what we were doing? I have personally been through a lot of problems, and after being so overwhelmed with what I saw I realized that God was telling me that no matter what I went through, He was always there for me. For all of us.

Back in Vigan, we enjoyed good weather, which allowed us to visit the famous Crisologo Street, the UNESCO World heritage site. It was a street straight out of the Spanish times where (almost) every house was preserved in its beautiful antiquity. Even the road made of stone is preserved. At night, the magic begins as you are transported back in time as the calesas transport people and the lamp posts illumine the streets with romance and melancholy. We strolled around, took pictures, went for a calesa ride, and had beer and pizza in a restaurant along Crisologo street as a nightcap.

The beautiful Anna and the beautiful Dancing Fountain

Seems like my kind of place. 

another shot of the dancing fountain

Juan Carlo @ Crisologo Street

Speak the Truth! Vigan Edition

Very captivating fountain.

The allure of Crisologo Street in Vigan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Beautiful people in a beautiful place

And they don't call it Heritage City for nothing! 

Day 3: Vigan to Sta. Lucia, Sta.Lucia to Sta. Cruz

We had to wake up even earlier in order to make it on time to our talks in Sta. Lucia, 68 kms away from Vigan, then from Sta. Lucia we went to Sta. Cruz, 12 kms away. The church in Sta. Cruz was almost filled with students, with an estimated 600 youngsters. Ilocano students tend to be more reserved and shy than their counterparts in the big cities of Manila; however, what struck us was that the schools were spick and span, way cleaner even with our standards here. Perhaps cleanliness is a common Ilocano trait. It is a trait that everyone should imbibe. We also realized that the Ilocano youth behave in a more dignified manner than the ones here in Manila. They laugh if there is something funny, they cheer on for their companion if necessary, but there is hardly any hooting or boisterous behavior on their part.

Speaking in a packed church. God bless us all! 

Funny how these kids are so bashful.

My talk to these young ones was about their lives as their journey. I myself made mistakes before, as I admitted to the kids, and it was during those times that I felt so lost, without any compass guiding me. I spent three years living in sin, not going to mass nor even praying during those times. In my journey back to God, however, I realized that it was God who made the first step to come back to me and look for me. Then I told the students about the rainbow we saw yesterday. That rainbow, I said, was God’s way of telling me – and telling the youth – that whatever comes our way in life, with God’s strength we will be able to weather any storm and endure any hardship.

It was an uncomfortable trip that afternoon going to Cervantes, a sleepy little town up there in the Cordilleras  (elevation around 1,500 feet) with a population of no more than 20,000 people. The drive was a long trip where the road kept twisting and winding, lasting for close to three hours. It was like a trip from Manila to Quezon Province, except that the road was steep at times and turned left, right, and sometimes turned U every 6 seconds.

We arrived that evening at St. Agnes School and were greeted by the community of nuns that run the school. During dinner, the nuns told us how excited the students and the teachers were when they learned that we were coming, but the grade 7 and 8 students were quite disappointed because the talk was only for the senior high school students. Mark 6:34 came to mind: “And Jesus going out saw a great multitude: and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.”

I decided for the group that we were going to have to go home a little bit later than usual to accommodate the lower grades. We hit the sack early due to exhaustion, and the cool Tagaytay-like weather was the perfect lullaby as we gave way to sleep.

Day 4: Cervantes

The students in St. Agnes may be more isolated than the other students in Nueva Segovia, but they sure are the most jovial students so far. We were met by warm smiles and greetings by the students we encountered, and the small ones must have mistaken me for a priest. They kept greeting me “good morning father!” and making mano.

A captivated audience hangs on to our every word! 

I have absolutely no idea what that sign said. 

One does not simply go to Ilocos Sur and not fall in love with the place! 

A student from St. Agnes asks Anna a question

Anna interrogating a student. 

One of the students from the senior batch asked if those who engaged in same-sex marriage did feel true love for their beloved. Since I opened the talks with the topic of our person-hood as a gift from God, and that we should all share this gift to the world – I told him that marriage is very much an exchange of gifts – the man gives his masculinity to the marriage, and the woman brings her feminine side. The complementary gifts allows God to give them another gift: a child that is supposed to be a gift to the whole world too, enriching all of us in the process. What happens in same-sex unions is that the person receives a gift he or she already has: a man receives masculinity, a woman receives femininity. Not only does the gift seem useless (ever received too many mugs for Christmas?) but the purpose of the giving of the gifts is lost too – as this union will never bring forth another gift, biologically speaking.

During lunch, the nuns told us that they found something peculiar – that we treated one another like brothers and sisters.I told them that we really treat each other as such in F4L.

The whole community was so profuse in their gratitude that they made us bring along a whole box of vegetables they had grown – Baguio Beans, potatoes, and cabbages. Enough to make me put up my own stall at the local market here and sell them in the morning and still have enough to cook for lunch and dinner. As we went down the mountain, we saw for ourselves the breath-taking view of the Cordillera mountains in Ilocos Sur, leaving me awestruck for the nth time in 4 days.

Fr. Willie, Anna, and I pose at Bessang Pass on the road going to Tagudin from Cervantes.

My God and my all, how I long to love you...

Posing at another spot. Believe it or not behind us was a drop of hundreds of feet. 

Jumping for joy! 

Juan Carlo poses for the record! 

See the long and winding road behind us??? That's almost 3 hours of twisting and turning! 

We had dinner at a local parish in Tagudin, south of Candon, and after that we caught a bus going to back to Manila. Before we left, I told Fr. Willie that it was a pleasure serving God and his people here in the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia. I also told him that we will definitely come back.

We arrived at the terminal in Pasay around 4 AM. I went straight to the Pro-Life office to work as I was worried that if I went home I couldn’t muster the strength to get up and go to work. I was tired, exhausted, but at the same time my spirit was refreshed. Building the Kingdom of God here on Earth seems to be an impossible task, but it’s worth the try.