Budget cut… a threat to the future
“The youth is the hope of the motherland”, our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal once said. For this to become a reality it is imperative for the adults of today to guide and support the youth who are the future leaders of this country. They must be given the appropriate services, rights and privileges in order for them to be fully prepared for the responsibilities that they are set to face in the near future. But how could this be attained if the Government itself is depriving the youth of education through the form of budget cuts? Education which is one of the most needed aspect of their life. There is clearly a need for the Government to be more concerned and sensitive with the educational scene of the country.
As we could all remember, President Noynoy allocated a budget of P 23.4 billion to 112 State Universities and Colleges (SUC) here in the Philippines for the year 2011. This is 1.7 percent lower than the allocated budget for the SUC’s for the year 2010. The immediate result of this was the increase in the fees that students have to pay in order for them to continue their studies or for them to enter college according to the findings of the Kabataan Party-list. Because of meager budgets, state colleges and universities were forced to raise tuition and other fees making it less accessible to poor students. With this scenario, more students whose families don’t have the capacity to send them to college would definitely increase. Actually, at present, the Commission on Higher Education showed that 80 percent of high school graduates do not make it to college. This percentage is sure to increase if the administration would continue to shut its eyes and disregard the painful reality prevailing in the education sector of our country.
“P-Noy is slowly abandoning the youth” a bold statement given by Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino during a rally in Manila. And who could disagree with him? With the way our educational system is being run, one could really say that the administration is abandoning the youth. The budget cut on the education sector is clearly a misprioritization. Why can’t the government see the obvious? Their plan to abandon the SUC’s will push more students to drop out of schools and more families into poverty. The budget cut on education, specifically on tertiary education would oblige the state universities and colleges to increase their tuition and other fees. This would make public college education more inaccessible to the poor.
The bottom-line is that not every single Filipino could afford to go to school or to go to college mainly because of poverty. The very reason why state universities and colleges were instituted and supported by the government was to address this problem in education. Now, with the budget cuts brought about by the administration of P-Noy, not only will a lot of students be forced to stop schooling but also a lot of families will stay the way they are and would never be able to break out from the chains of poverty which they hoped would be resolved by their sons and daughters through education.
Although, it is true that education is not only the concern of a government but it could be argued that it’s one of the most important matters which should be prioritized. Education, after all, is one of the weapons an individual could posses in order to fight poverty.
We must remember that the education sector is one which should always be treated with great importance and seriousness. The youth may be the hope of the motherland but with improper guidance, miseducation and lack of support, all hope will end in vain.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
RaNdoM ThouGhts ... "EmOtioNs"
Stuck in a Predicament
“Why am I so hard to love? “, this question has often crossed my mind and has lingered in the bowels of my reason for quite a time. A question I’ve been trying to reconcile for as long as I can remember. A question which may have embodied my feelings for some time and which may have caused several of my actions in the past. A question to which I have yet to find an answer.
If you’re wondering how I ended up with this dilemma, then you must know that it was not caused by a fortuitous circumstance or an event of great proportions. It was caused by the most mundane of all reasons.
Love…
Love; it all started with my first concept of love, romantic that is. High school is a time when children are molded and baked into individuals who are battle-ready to face the rigors of college and the world. There are harder tasks, harder situations, harder subjects and sometimes, harder teachers to deal with; at least that’s how I found it at first. It is also a time when students start to feel for the first time that warm, cozy feeling inside. They start to look for individuals who could fill that empty space inside themselves, so to speak. Sadly, I was not exempted from this romantic movement. I too, succumbed to the dictates of high school society and to the urges of the feelings I felt for a certain someone.
She…
She was like a sensation I couldn’t get over with, a song I just wouldn’t stop singing and a book I just couldn’t stop reading. The feelings I had for her were overwhelming the very nature of my existence. Her mere visage sent a chill down my spine and always pumped-up the adrenaline in my body. When you watch a movie or read a book about individuals who are able to overcome impossible odds because of love you start to wonder and ask yourself, “are those even possible?”. I realized then that inspiration could really make people do things they wouldn’t or even couldn’t normally do. That people would perform deeds and act or speak in such a way they never did before because of such feelings. That was her effect on me, and as a perfectly normal human being, I knew what I had to do next.
I made a move…
I eventually started to make a move and courted her. Those were days of agony, strategy and at times, deviousness for I had a fierce rival who was also making a move on her. During those days of battle, I learned that most wars were won by the amount of effort you exert for that cause. Sometimes, it’s not only about the weapons you possess but its how you use them, Gen. George Patton once wrote. That’s exactly the battle-plan I adopted. He gave her a rose; I gave her two, even three. He texted her, I called her. He wrote her a letter, I wrote her a poem. I tried to exhaust all available efforts just to let her know that I was more worthy of her than that guy who only just happens to have a National Mr. Lakandula Award in his arsenal, so what! As the months went by, I tried to become consistent with my efforts and sincere with my feelings. I began to find out that my rival had weakened and had already raised the white flag. I was triumphant! I was now the sole person courting her. I had eliminated the competition. I thought that it was only a matter of time before she officially chooses me. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Nothing could have prepared me for what was to happen next.
She rejected me…
She rejected me. I was busted, in the purest meaning of the word in the Filipino Lovers Context. Nothing could have crushed my heart more than the words, “I’m just not ready” and “I have my studies to prioritize” which came out from her mouth. I failed to realize that she was an honor student who couldn’t afford any distraction in her life.
I stopped courting her for a month or so and then I resumed my cause. I was firm in my resolve and was sure of my feelings for her. What am I if not persistent, right? I courted her again, and then I got busted again. I stopped, and then I courted her again, and I again got busted. After that, I knew that everything was lost. I started to raise my own white flag just like my rival who did so before me. We both lost. It is indeed true what a philosopher once said, ”that there is no victor in war, there is just pain and suffering”.
What did I do wrong? What mistakes did I commit? I contemplated upon such questions in the months that followed. The trauma that the previous events left me was profound. It’s funny to note that in times of confusion, sorrow and pain, realizations are innumerable and abundant. I particularly realized in those moments that love is something that you have to merit and work for. That it’s not something that you can easily get. It’s the direct opposite of the notion “love is unconditional and that you don’t have to have something or be someone in order to be loved” as what a lot of people say. Was that my case? Was that my reality? Was that my truth? Was there something lacking in me that made all the difference? I pondered upon those questions. For once in my life, as days grew into weeks and weeks turned into months, I knew what loneliness meant.
“The sky is darkest just before the dawn” one person said. As a perfectly sane individual, I knew that I had to move on and get on with my life. After everything that has happened, I stopped investing too much emotion on other people. Ironically, when I did so, I started to have a relationship with another person and then another person after that. It may sound unfair and it is but that’s life. After all that has happened, I never really found an answer to my main question. I never really understood. What I do know is that I moved on. I have already gotten into terms with her. She, the song I tried to sing but a note I just couldn’t hit.
Or have I…
“Why am I so hard to love? “, this question has often crossed my mind and has lingered in the bowels of my reason for quite a time. A question I’ve been trying to reconcile for as long as I can remember. A question which may have embodied my feelings for some time and which may have caused several of my actions in the past. A question to which I have yet to find an answer.
If you’re wondering how I ended up with this dilemma, then you must know that it was not caused by a fortuitous circumstance or an event of great proportions. It was caused by the most mundane of all reasons.
Love…
Love; it all started with my first concept of love, romantic that is. High school is a time when children are molded and baked into individuals who are battle-ready to face the rigors of college and the world. There are harder tasks, harder situations, harder subjects and sometimes, harder teachers to deal with; at least that’s how I found it at first. It is also a time when students start to feel for the first time that warm, cozy feeling inside. They start to look for individuals who could fill that empty space inside themselves, so to speak. Sadly, I was not exempted from this romantic movement. I too, succumbed to the dictates of high school society and to the urges of the feelings I felt for a certain someone.
She…
She was like a sensation I couldn’t get over with, a song I just wouldn’t stop singing and a book I just couldn’t stop reading. The feelings I had for her were overwhelming the very nature of my existence. Her mere visage sent a chill down my spine and always pumped-up the adrenaline in my body. When you watch a movie or read a book about individuals who are able to overcome impossible odds because of love you start to wonder and ask yourself, “are those even possible?”. I realized then that inspiration could really make people do things they wouldn’t or even couldn’t normally do. That people would perform deeds and act or speak in such a way they never did before because of such feelings. That was her effect on me, and as a perfectly normal human being, I knew what I had to do next.
I made a move…
I eventually started to make a move and courted her. Those were days of agony, strategy and at times, deviousness for I had a fierce rival who was also making a move on her. During those days of battle, I learned that most wars were won by the amount of effort you exert for that cause. Sometimes, it’s not only about the weapons you possess but its how you use them, Gen. George Patton once wrote. That’s exactly the battle-plan I adopted. He gave her a rose; I gave her two, even three. He texted her, I called her. He wrote her a letter, I wrote her a poem. I tried to exhaust all available efforts just to let her know that I was more worthy of her than that guy who only just happens to have a National Mr. Lakandula Award in his arsenal, so what! As the months went by, I tried to become consistent with my efforts and sincere with my feelings. I began to find out that my rival had weakened and had already raised the white flag. I was triumphant! I was now the sole person courting her. I had eliminated the competition. I thought that it was only a matter of time before she officially chooses me. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Nothing could have prepared me for what was to happen next.
She rejected me…
She rejected me. I was busted, in the purest meaning of the word in the Filipino Lovers Context. Nothing could have crushed my heart more than the words, “I’m just not ready” and “I have my studies to prioritize” which came out from her mouth. I failed to realize that she was an honor student who couldn’t afford any distraction in her life.
I stopped courting her for a month or so and then I resumed my cause. I was firm in my resolve and was sure of my feelings for her. What am I if not persistent, right? I courted her again, and then I got busted again. I stopped, and then I courted her again, and I again got busted. After that, I knew that everything was lost. I started to raise my own white flag just like my rival who did so before me. We both lost. It is indeed true what a philosopher once said, ”that there is no victor in war, there is just pain and suffering”.
What did I do wrong? What mistakes did I commit? I contemplated upon such questions in the months that followed. The trauma that the previous events left me was profound. It’s funny to note that in times of confusion, sorrow and pain, realizations are innumerable and abundant. I particularly realized in those moments that love is something that you have to merit and work for. That it’s not something that you can easily get. It’s the direct opposite of the notion “love is unconditional and that you don’t have to have something or be someone in order to be loved” as what a lot of people say. Was that my case? Was that my reality? Was that my truth? Was there something lacking in me that made all the difference? I pondered upon those questions. For once in my life, as days grew into weeks and weeks turned into months, I knew what loneliness meant.
“The sky is darkest just before the dawn” one person said. As a perfectly sane individual, I knew that I had to move on and get on with my life. After everything that has happened, I stopped investing too much emotion on other people. Ironically, when I did so, I started to have a relationship with another person and then another person after that. It may sound unfair and it is but that’s life. After all that has happened, I never really found an answer to my main question. I never really understood. What I do know is that I moved on. I have already gotten into terms with her. She, the song I tried to sing but a note I just couldn’t hit.
Or have I…
RaNdOm ThOughtS... "K to 12: tO Be imPleMented thIs YeAr"
Not Enough
It is said, according to the Human Capital Theory, that the economic triumph or development of a country rests largely on the quality of education it provides. Indeed, it is true that a nation has a better chance of experiencing a sustained economic development if it constantly produces quality graduates who will one day take over the country. It is probably the dream of every head of state to produce more and better educated individuals who will one day serve their nation. But how could this be realized if the Government itself is not implementing really logical programs to address the innumerable issues concerning the education in our country? How could there be a bright future for the youth if the Government is not solving the perennial problems that have plagued the education sector for many years now?
President Aquino has once been quoted to saying that he wants to add two more years to the basic education of our country and that he wants at least 12 years for the public school children in order to give them an even chance at succeeding. This led to the proposal of the Department of Education (DepEd) of the K+12 Basic Education Program several months after P-Noy assumed office. This program is considered to be the primary solution of the government to the deteriorating quality of education in the country and to the increasing number of individuals, particularly the youth, who don’t have a job. The K+12 program, as stated by the proponents, will require all incoming students to enroll into two more years of basic education. Thus, this system will basically include the Universal kindergarten, 6 years of elementary (grade 1 to 6), 4 years of junior high school (grade 7 to 10) and an additional 2 years in senior high school (grade 11 to 12). Moreover, the program aims to uplift the quality of education in the Philippines in order for the graduates of both tertiary and secondary education to be easily employed. It also aims to fully enhance and develop the students in order for them to be well-prepared especially in emotional and cognitive aspects. This was the great solution offered by DepEd after several months of researching and testing.
Is this really the answer? Yes, with just one look a person could argue that the K+12 program may really solve the educational woes of the country. It is true that the Philippines is the only Asian country with a 10-year basic education curriculum and one of the few remaining in the world. It is true that a lot of foreign Universities don’t accept applicants who only have a 4-year high school diploma which may pose a problem for those Filipinos who want to study college abroad. It is true that a lot of students are not really familiar with their own skills and weaknesses which makes it hard for them to pick a course which best fits them. It is true that by adding two more years of high school education there is a great possibility that the students will be able to fully develop the competencies and skills needed to survive in the adult world. But the reality is that the “main” problems in Education are not answered by these proposed changes and solutions. These problems include grave unequal ratio of teachers to students in many public schools, grave insufficiency of teaching materials and equipment, schools and classrooms not conducive to learning and many more unanswered problems. It is time for the government to realize that the deteriorating quality of education in the country may have been caused not only by a fairly short basic education curriculum but by the enumerated problems above. For instance, how could a child properly absorb the teachings at school if he could not concentrate because of the ugly conditions inside the classroom? How could a child absorb the teachings at school if he doesn’t have the proper learning materials? Most importantly, how could a child absorb the teachings at school if he has an empty stomach early in the morning because he had nothing to eat? Even if the government adds 2 or 3 or even 5 years in basic education, if these simple but grave problems are still evident and left unanswered it would only yield nothing. It would not result to a better quality of education but worse, to a lower quality of education and most probably, a higher drop-out percentage because the parents could not anymore afford to send their children to school. The government will only be adding more years of torture and hell to students inside cramped-up classrooms.
The bottom line here is that the government has still not succeeded in solving the perennial problems in the education sector. It should be that before they move on to something bigger or higher, they must first address the simple problems below. The K+12 program is a great educational program but it has to be implemented only after the age-old problems have been dealt with and only after great and meticulous preparation. If our leaders would continue to be self-righteous and would just ignore these problems, it is certain that a not-so-bright future is in store for the country. If they continue to shut their eyes and ignore the obvious, then we will only be again wasting precious time, money and most importantly, lives.
It is said, according to the Human Capital Theory, that the economic triumph or development of a country rests largely on the quality of education it provides. Indeed, it is true that a nation has a better chance of experiencing a sustained economic development if it constantly produces quality graduates who will one day take over the country. It is probably the dream of every head of state to produce more and better educated individuals who will one day serve their nation. But how could this be realized if the Government itself is not implementing really logical programs to address the innumerable issues concerning the education in our country? How could there be a bright future for the youth if the Government is not solving the perennial problems that have plagued the education sector for many years now?
President Aquino has once been quoted to saying that he wants to add two more years to the basic education of our country and that he wants at least 12 years for the public school children in order to give them an even chance at succeeding. This led to the proposal of the Department of Education (DepEd) of the K+12 Basic Education Program several months after P-Noy assumed office. This program is considered to be the primary solution of the government to the deteriorating quality of education in the country and to the increasing number of individuals, particularly the youth, who don’t have a job. The K+12 program, as stated by the proponents, will require all incoming students to enroll into two more years of basic education. Thus, this system will basically include the Universal kindergarten, 6 years of elementary (grade 1 to 6), 4 years of junior high school (grade 7 to 10) and an additional 2 years in senior high school (grade 11 to 12). Moreover, the program aims to uplift the quality of education in the Philippines in order for the graduates of both tertiary and secondary education to be easily employed. It also aims to fully enhance and develop the students in order for them to be well-prepared especially in emotional and cognitive aspects. This was the great solution offered by DepEd after several months of researching and testing.
Is this really the answer? Yes, with just one look a person could argue that the K+12 program may really solve the educational woes of the country. It is true that the Philippines is the only Asian country with a 10-year basic education curriculum and one of the few remaining in the world. It is true that a lot of foreign Universities don’t accept applicants who only have a 4-year high school diploma which may pose a problem for those Filipinos who want to study college abroad. It is true that a lot of students are not really familiar with their own skills and weaknesses which makes it hard for them to pick a course which best fits them. It is true that by adding two more years of high school education there is a great possibility that the students will be able to fully develop the competencies and skills needed to survive in the adult world. But the reality is that the “main” problems in Education are not answered by these proposed changes and solutions. These problems include grave unequal ratio of teachers to students in many public schools, grave insufficiency of teaching materials and equipment, schools and classrooms not conducive to learning and many more unanswered problems. It is time for the government to realize that the deteriorating quality of education in the country may have been caused not only by a fairly short basic education curriculum but by the enumerated problems above. For instance, how could a child properly absorb the teachings at school if he could not concentrate because of the ugly conditions inside the classroom? How could a child absorb the teachings at school if he doesn’t have the proper learning materials? Most importantly, how could a child absorb the teachings at school if he has an empty stomach early in the morning because he had nothing to eat? Even if the government adds 2 or 3 or even 5 years in basic education, if these simple but grave problems are still evident and left unanswered it would only yield nothing. It would not result to a better quality of education but worse, to a lower quality of education and most probably, a higher drop-out percentage because the parents could not anymore afford to send their children to school. The government will only be adding more years of torture and hell to students inside cramped-up classrooms.
The bottom line here is that the government has still not succeeded in solving the perennial problems in the education sector. It should be that before they move on to something bigger or higher, they must first address the simple problems below. The K+12 program is a great educational program but it has to be implemented only after the age-old problems have been dealt with and only after great and meticulous preparation. If our leaders would continue to be self-righteous and would just ignore these problems, it is certain that a not-so-bright future is in store for the country. If they continue to shut their eyes and ignore the obvious, then we will only be again wasting precious time, money and most importantly, lives.
RaNdOm ThoughTs... "Rainy WeaTher: ClimaTe Change"
An Ominous Shower: Wet Feet and Runny Nose
It is rainy season again here in the province of Albay, and perhaps in the whole of the region, and once again the people are bracing themselves for the inevitable; the unavoidable horror of wet feet and runny nose. Well, that would actually be the least of their problems in this Ungodly weather for Albay is popular, and dare I say world famous, not only for its perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano and of course, its beautiful women but also for the innumerable storms and typhoons that hit or graze it’s islands. To aggravate the situation, here we don’t have to have a storm signal or a storm at all inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility to experience continuous downpour of heavy rain. Even a little southwest monsoon detection could do the trick of flooding the entirety of the province. So if you’d like to experience a wild and sudden-changing weather, if you have an inclination to water then I suggest you visit and stay in Albay for at least a month.
There’s a general notion nationwide that the people of this province could effectively cope up with this crazy weather conditions since they have been battered by various storms in the previous years. Well, for me that’s just a preposterous idea. However prepared a person is, if he/she is always plagued by these weather anomalies then no hope of recovery, at least fast recovery, could really be ensured. Try experiencing heavy rainfall for three consecutive days and you’ll know what I mean.
I’ve been residing in Albay for almost three years now and only this year did I experience the worst weather patterns in the entirety of my existence. I mean, in the past years our boarding house experienced flooding at least once a year. Back then, a storm is lucky if it was able to flood our area twice. Now, that number has not only doubled, or tripled but it has quadrupled. Since May up to December of this year, we have experienced at least two floods PER MONTH! If that didn’t register in your mind then I’ll say it again, at least two floods PER MONTH. That’s got to be a world record right?
To add to my utter enragement, almost half of these floods were not caused by storms or typhoons but by mere low pressure areas and/or monsoons.
Why is this happening to me? I seldom ask myself the same question over and over again. Why am I so unlucky? Well, it should be noted that we live just beside the river so it shouldn’t be so trivial as to why we are always flooded. But the point here is that we have never experienced this kind of weather conditions before. I believe a lot of Filipinos could agree with me when I say that the world is really changing, weather-wise.
This must be what Al Gore predicted years ago when he made his lecture on Global Warming and Climate change in the movie The Inconvenient Truth. He predicted that in the near future several places in the world will be slowly submerged in water because of the melting of the polar ice caps; that stronger typhoons will be experienced especially by the people in the pacific. This is the result of Global Warming and Climate
change which was caused by the improper treatment of the environment by the people. Of course back then when I watched the movie, I paid little to no attention to the facts and warnings it was giving out because I was still too busy growing up.
It really is a horrifying experience. The previous flooding left in me a profound trauma. Whenever it rains, whether it’s daytime or nighttime, I somehow find it hard to settle comfortably or to sleep. I developed this habit of getting my flashlight when it rains at night and shining it towards the river to see if the water level has risen. I’ve been doing it for several months now. A lot of people may not understand my problem but if you have been a personal victim of flooding then you’ll understand.
Wake up people! The world is really changing. Our weather conditions are worsening. Stronger storms and typhoons are coming and if we don’t do something about it more and more people will suffer and will be left with the unavoidable horror of wet feet and runny nose.
It is rainy season again here in the province of Albay, and perhaps in the whole of the region, and once again the people are bracing themselves for the inevitable; the unavoidable horror of wet feet and runny nose. Well, that would actually be the least of their problems in this Ungodly weather for Albay is popular, and dare I say world famous, not only for its perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano and of course, its beautiful women but also for the innumerable storms and typhoons that hit or graze it’s islands. To aggravate the situation, here we don’t have to have a storm signal or a storm at all inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility to experience continuous downpour of heavy rain. Even a little southwest monsoon detection could do the trick of flooding the entirety of the province. So if you’d like to experience a wild and sudden-changing weather, if you have an inclination to water then I suggest you visit and stay in Albay for at least a month.
There’s a general notion nationwide that the people of this province could effectively cope up with this crazy weather conditions since they have been battered by various storms in the previous years. Well, for me that’s just a preposterous idea. However prepared a person is, if he/she is always plagued by these weather anomalies then no hope of recovery, at least fast recovery, could really be ensured. Try experiencing heavy rainfall for three consecutive days and you’ll know what I mean.
I’ve been residing in Albay for almost three years now and only this year did I experience the worst weather patterns in the entirety of my existence. I mean, in the past years our boarding house experienced flooding at least once a year. Back then, a storm is lucky if it was able to flood our area twice. Now, that number has not only doubled, or tripled but it has quadrupled. Since May up to December of this year, we have experienced at least two floods PER MONTH! If that didn’t register in your mind then I’ll say it again, at least two floods PER MONTH. That’s got to be a world record right?
To add to my utter enragement, almost half of these floods were not caused by storms or typhoons but by mere low pressure areas and/or monsoons.
Why is this happening to me? I seldom ask myself the same question over and over again. Why am I so unlucky? Well, it should be noted that we live just beside the river so it shouldn’t be so trivial as to why we are always flooded. But the point here is that we have never experienced this kind of weather conditions before. I believe a lot of Filipinos could agree with me when I say that the world is really changing, weather-wise.
This must be what Al Gore predicted years ago when he made his lecture on Global Warming and Climate change in the movie The Inconvenient Truth. He predicted that in the near future several places in the world will be slowly submerged in water because of the melting of the polar ice caps; that stronger typhoons will be experienced especially by the people in the pacific. This is the result of Global Warming and Climate
change which was caused by the improper treatment of the environment by the people. Of course back then when I watched the movie, I paid little to no attention to the facts and warnings it was giving out because I was still too busy growing up.
It really is a horrifying experience. The previous flooding left in me a profound trauma. Whenever it rains, whether it’s daytime or nighttime, I somehow find it hard to settle comfortably or to sleep. I developed this habit of getting my flashlight when it rains at night and shining it towards the river to see if the water level has risen. I’ve been doing it for several months now. A lot of people may not understand my problem but if you have been a personal victim of flooding then you’ll understand.
Wake up people! The world is really changing. Our weather conditions are worsening. Stronger storms and typhoons are coming and if we don’t do something about it more and more people will suffer and will be left with the unavoidable horror of wet feet and runny nose.
rAndoM tHOUGHtS.... "UNwanted PrEGnaNcY"
INTRODUCTION
Unwanted Pregnancy, Pre-marital Sex, Teenage Parenthood; these are some of the issues that are rattling the country today. It is quite evident that the Philippines’ population is massively growing, with over 90 million inhabitants and still counting and with a government that is having difficulty absorbing and serving every single one, it is undoubtedly very unproductive. What’s worse is that this scenario is not only evident in the Philippines, a similar situation is happening in other countries all over the world. Nowadays, even though there is already a massive awareness campaign being conducted by countless government and non-government organizations about pre-marital sex or the importance of abstinence, the number of women getting unwanted pregnancy still continues to increase. Sadly, most of which are teenagers or young people (SWS, 2009).
Taking this into mind, I decided to make a review about a specific movie which would somehow address these specific problems about sex and responsibility. In this review I will not only try to explain the concepts and aspects depicted in the movie but I will also try to expound the topic in focus and expose the grave consequences of engaging in pre-marital sexual activities. I feel that by doing so, I could somehow illuminate if not, educate those people who have already performed such salacious acts and those who are still planning to do it. Through this review, I could indirectly inform them of the apparent error in their ways and point out as well as emphasize to them the responsibilities that go with it or rather that arises from doing such impulsive act.
Now, in order to effectively achieve these goals, I had to find a movie which would perfectly send out the right message or which is mainly about the consequences of performing impulsive sexual activities and the responsibility that goes with it. Fortunately, I was able to find such movie entitled “KNOCKED UP”. I chose the movie because the theme as well as the idea that it is trying to convey is synonymous to that which I am trying to explain. I also chose the movie because the topic or theme is very timely and because it addresses the problem of pre-marital sex as well as the topic about sex and responsibility. Another reason why I chose the movie was because it not only exposed the bad and tragic things that could happen to the life of a person or to the life of an individual when they engage in untimely sexual activities but because it also offered a solution as to how to deal with the aforementioned problems and consequences.
This movie review is not only a simple review aimed at trying to analyze a film but it is also, for me, a wake up call and a guide to those people who are willing to engage in pre-marital sex without attempting to evaluate the consequences of such actions. We must always remember to think about the consequences of the actions that we make. We must not be short-sighted and must always contemplate on the effects of the judgments and decisions we create. Because these decisions, no matter how big or little they are, will always have a profound effect to ourselves, our loved ones and to the community.
MOVIE SYNOPSIS
“KNOCKED UP”
(COMEDY AND ROMANCE)
Knocked Up is a hilarious, poignant and refreshing look at the rigors of courtship and child-rearing, with a sometimes raunchy, yet savvy script that is ably acted and directed.
Storyline
For fun loving party animal Ben Stone, the last thing he ever expected was for his one night stand to show up on his doorstep eight weeks later to tell him she's pregnant.
When Alison Scott is promoted in E! Television, she goes to a night-club to celebrate with her older married sister Debbie. Alison meets the pothead reckless Ben Stone and while having a small talk with Ben, Debbie's husband Pete calls her to tell that their daughter has chicken pox. Debbie leaves the place but Allison stays with Ben, drinking and dancing along all night; completely wasted, they end up having a one night stand. Ben does not use condom and eight weeks later, Allison discovers that she is pregnant. She calls Ben and they decide to try to stay together and have the baby. However, Ben needs to grow-up first to raise a family of his own.
A one night stand turns into the unexpected for Ben, when Alison announces to him that she is now pregnant with his child. Ben decides that the best thing to do is to get his life sorted so he can care for Alison and his new child, which isn't an easy job for him.
CRITICAL REVIEWS
I think what makes "Knocked Up" work so well is that many of the situations are familiar to people in the audience. As a parent myself, I've had to deal with reading all the pregnancy books, dealing with a hormonal wife, adjusting to parenthood, and all the other good stuff that is joked about in the movie. But "Knocked Up" goes well beyond that. There are jokes about kids on the internet, suspicious spouses, websites, fantasy baseball, and more. They even joke about "Star Wars," "Back to the Future," and "Spider-Man 3" which wins it serious geek points in my book. (David Edelstein)
Another interesting thing about "Knocked Up" is that it is not really pro-life or pro-choice. Abortion is discussed as an option, but the movie doesn't take a stand on it. Joanna Kerns pushes her daughter to have an abortion then have a 'real child' later. Simultaneously, Harold Ramis tells Ben having a kid was the best thing that ever happened to him. I think ultimately the film conveys a message that everything can work out in the end and it's ultimately worth keeping a baby. It's an interesting message from an otherwise raunchy comedy. (Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper show)
DISCUSSION
“Love, Sex and Responsibility”, I believe that these are the main topics being tackled and talked about in the movie (Knocked Up). In the film, these topics were addressed through the comical misadventures and happenings in the lives of the protagonists. Even though the scenes in the film were funny and very laughable, the true idea or theme being conveyed by the movie to its viewers remains to be one of the most serious problems faced not only by the United States, but by a lot more countries all over the world including the Philippines. But before we proceed to a deeper analysis of the subject matter, it is only prudent that we first clearly define the three key words involved in our review, love, sex and responsibility. Let’s start with love; according to the Webster’s Dictionary, Love is a warm, inconspicuous and primeval affection, benevolence or charity towards ourselves or for other people. Eddie Babor also stated that love can be irrational and therefore subjective and can be rational and therefore objective. While Sex, specifically sexual intercourse, is defined as an act of procreation by the Webster’s Dictionary. Responsibility, on the other hand, is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as the state of being answerable; duty; charge; obligation.
When it comes to romantic love, a lot of people nowadays are still confused about how they feel towards other people. Maybe that’s why many of them end up having unwanted pregnancy to ruin their lives because they always confuse love for lust. According to Prof. Glenton O. Guiriba, Head of the Sociology Department of BU CSSP, during a forum on “Human sexuality, Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning”, most women especially teenagers and immature adults give sex in order to have or obtain love while men give love in order to obtain or experience sex. Women have a big tendency to give in or to surrender themselves and their virginity in order to obtain the full trust and love of their partners as implied in the statement. Although this claim may not be true in all cases, I believe that this phenomenon is actually happening and is experienced by many teenagers and young adults today. I got to be honest; I don’t exactly know if there is a scientific study or survey to prove this particular claim but based from what I’ve seen and heard from the interviews and documentaries conducted by the media networks, most teenage mothers said that they engaged in sexual intercourse with their boyfriends so that the latter would not try to leave or hurt their feelings in the future (GMA news, I-Witness). For them, having sex with their partners sort of serves as an assurance that they will never be left behind. This kind of mentality or belief is just one of the reasons why our country is suffering from over-population right now. Yes, they might think that by doing so their love for each other will go all the way or will be preserved. But that’s only applicable at that point in time where they still don’t yet know or understand the gravity of the actions they are going to make. When the consequences and effects of their mistakes start to hit them in the future, they will start to understand that the world is not only about pleasure and love. Financial as well as moral matters will haunt them; they will start to realize that their previous dreams and ambitions will never again be realized and that their new purpose in life now is to properly rear a child. Well don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having a child because after all, they are the greatest things that could happen to the life of a person or individual. But when the parents or the individuals responsible for the child is not able or is not capable (financially and psychologically) to provide for the needs of the child, that’s when everything goes wrong. As I’ve already mentioned, their lives take a turn for the worse. Their dreams are shattered and their youthful goals in life just suddenly disappear before their eyes. And if that still is not enough to convince young people to refrain from giving in to sexual desires then I might just have to sight graver effects. We cannot ignore the fact that when people engage in pre-marital sexual activities, there is a fairly big chance that they might get deadly viruses like HIV or even AIDS. Another risk that individuals should also bear in mind (especially young women) when they engage in pre-marital sex is the risk of their bodies being unprepared for the rigors of giving birth (according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO)).Also, the family that these individuals create usually becomes a drag on the economy and on the country because at most times the parents are not capable of landing a decent job which makes them rely too much on the programs of the government (according to the Human sexuality, Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Forum/ City Health Officer, Legazpi City).
With all these being said, it is only prudent that the youth should always think twice before making decisions which would later on ruin their lives and their future. They must never confuse love with lust and should always weigh their options and think about the consequences of the actions they are going to make. The responsibility of rearing a child and raising a family is just too much for young people who probably still don’t even have a bank account in their name. The youth must be wise and must learn to control their feelings and emotions for other people. It is okay to love and care for other people as long as you respect each others limitations. The youth must also learn to fully understand the true meaning of love. A lot of people nowadays, especially young people, say that one reason why they engage in sexual activities is because they both love each other. Many people, especially teenagers and young adults, pair love with sex or sexual activities. They tend to think that when they engage in sexual intercourse with somebody which usually results to unwanted pregnancy, the fruit of their act immediately becomes a product of their love for one another. That’s where they are wrong. How could something as negative, pitiful and uncertain as unwanted pregnancy be a result of love which is said to always bring something that is positive? How could a feeling be called love when it results to the ruin and destruction of each others lives and reputations? Love is thinking about what’s best for each other. “Love is to wait for the right time even though it might take years” said Frederick Douglas. So if two individuals really do love each other, they would know that an impulsive act such as untimely sexual intercourse may bring about their downfall. They should understand that sex must only be done in the right time and that right time is only after marriage.
Sexual intercourse is commonly considered a 'marital right' by many religions, permissible to married couples generally for the purpose of reproduction. Today, there is wide variation in the opinions and teachings about sexual intercourse relative to marriage by the world's religions. Some sections of Christianity, such as Catholicism, commonly view sex in marriage as holy and for the purpose of reproduction. Islam views sex within marriage as something pleasurable, a spiritual activity, and a duty. In the Baha’i Faith, sexual relationships are permitted only between a husband and wife (www.wikipedia.com). Although religions may have different perceptions about sexual intercourse, all of which agree on one thing. That sex should only be done in the context of marriage. Another reason why sex should only be performed after marriage is the legal assurance it provides to both partners. Let’s face it, even though a lot of couples get married, in the end some still end up unhappy and go for a divorce. We must accept the fact that not all marriages become successful. When this happens, especially when there is a child involved, the responsibilities are thrown at each other or are forgotten. It is best that a legal bond or security is in place in order to assure that the due responsibilities are not disregarded.
In contrast to the previous paragraph, some people argue that individuals don’t have to be married so that they could engage in sexual intercourse. According to Camille Paglia in her article, Sexual Personae, as long as both partners are financially and psychologically stable, they could engage in sex even though they are not bonded by marriage. She stated that aside from the religious aspect of marriage, the reason why people get married was in order to be financially stable and dependent on each other. So that they could each share the responsibilities that may arise. With this being said, as long as both individuals have financial stability and is willing to support each other, then there is no point in marriage anymore, she said. But on a personal note, I disagree with what she said. In the movie “Knocked Up” which was the film I reviewed, both the protagonists were adults with pretty decent jobs. It could be said that they had brilliant lives until they engaged in an impulsive one night stand. They both thought that nothing will change but unfortunately, they were wrong. Their lives suddenly turned upside down. After two months, they both nearly lost their jobs and what’s worse; they were getting overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising a child. What I’m trying to point out here is that marriage is the only right time when couples could engage in sexual intercourse. Even though both partners are financially okay, when sex and unwanted pregnancy comes knocking in their doors, their lives are sure to change. The worse scenario that could happen is when your partner decides to leave you and abandon the responsibility of helping you raise the fruit of both your actions. It would be harder to insist and acquire assistance because of the fact that both individuals are not bonded by a legal marriage. You know what I mean.
For me, sex should only be practiced or done when the partners are really genuinely in love with each other. When they acknowledge each others strengths, weaknesses and personalities and when they realize and accept the consequences and effects of the actions they are going to do then that is love. Without real and true love, sex should never be done or practiced.
FINDINGS
After a careful analysis of the movie “Knocked Up” as well as several accounts about the topics in focus, I have come to such findings:
• Individuals who engage in pre-marital sexual activities usually don’t really fully understand the consequences, effects and responsibilities which may arise from their salacious acts.
• Individuals, particularly women, surrender their bodies and their virginity to their partners because they think that by doing so, they could gain the full love and trust of their partners. (GMA,I-Witness documentary/2009, Prof. Glenton Quiriba)
• Individuals who were still teenagers when they engaged in pre-marital sex usually ended up dropping their studies and became unemployed.
• A lot of individuals still don’t fully understand the meaning of true love that is why they always end up surrendering their virginity to their partners whom they claim as their true love.
• Increasing numbers of young people are having unprotected sex and they have become the group with the highest risk of contracting the virus that causes HIV and Aids. It could be due to their lack of knowledge about safe sex or just plain ignorance due to a false sense of confidence that their partners are free from Aids or feeling that they are "not that unlucky" to contract the disease.( By The Nation
Published on August 30, 2009)
RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to address all of these problems, I have come up with several recommendations.
• First, if couples want to engage in sex that badly or they want to have a baby, then they should marry each other first. In that way, both individuals could share the responsibility of raising a child and a family.
• If couples on the other hand want to engage in sex without the sanctity and blessing of marriage then they must first evaluate the situation they are in. They should at least think of the consequences and responsibilities which may arise from their desire.
• As for the youth, there is only one solution that could help them with these issues of pre-marital sex and teenage pregnancy. That solution is called ABSTINENCE. The greatest remedy for teenage pregnancy and early parenthood is not some artificial method or some unsafe contraceptive, its abstinence. Abstaining to the urge of having sexual intercourse with other people is the key. The youth should acknowledge and accept the fact that they are not yet ready to engage in sexual activities and face the problems that go with it. If they love someone, they should wait for the right time and the right opportunity; and that right opportunity is after marriage. Sex after all is mans basic instinct and I believe that it is best enjoyed in the context of marriage where both are ready for the responsibilities embedded in it.
END NOTES
• SWS Survey on teenage pregnancy ( 2009),Philippines /www.wikipedia.com
• “Knocked Up” (2007) movie review / www.comingsoon.com
• Edelstein, David “random movie critique”/ 2007, www.comingsoon.com
• Roeper, Richard “Ebert and Roeper show” / 2007
• Webster’s Dictionary, Collins Pocket Books Second edition/ 2007 (Definitions of love, sex and responsibility)
• Eddie Babor
• Prof. Glenton O. Guiriba, Head of the Sociology Department of BU CSSP/ Forum on Human sexuality, Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning/ December, 2010
• I – witness, GMA News / “Nanay na si Nene” 2009(Documentary)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO))/www.hopeland.com/2008
• City Health Officer, Legazpi City, Albay/ Forum on Human sexuality, Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning/ December, 2010
• Ethical, moral, and legal issues/ Sexual ethics and Religion and sexuality/ www.wikipedia.com/ 2008
• Paglia, Camille/ Sexual Personae/ Quotes on Pregnancy/ 2008/ www.wikipedia.com
Unwanted Pregnancy, Pre-marital Sex, Teenage Parenthood; these are some of the issues that are rattling the country today. It is quite evident that the Philippines’ population is massively growing, with over 90 million inhabitants and still counting and with a government that is having difficulty absorbing and serving every single one, it is undoubtedly very unproductive. What’s worse is that this scenario is not only evident in the Philippines, a similar situation is happening in other countries all over the world. Nowadays, even though there is already a massive awareness campaign being conducted by countless government and non-government organizations about pre-marital sex or the importance of abstinence, the number of women getting unwanted pregnancy still continues to increase. Sadly, most of which are teenagers or young people (SWS, 2009).
Taking this into mind, I decided to make a review about a specific movie which would somehow address these specific problems about sex and responsibility. In this review I will not only try to explain the concepts and aspects depicted in the movie but I will also try to expound the topic in focus and expose the grave consequences of engaging in pre-marital sexual activities. I feel that by doing so, I could somehow illuminate if not, educate those people who have already performed such salacious acts and those who are still planning to do it. Through this review, I could indirectly inform them of the apparent error in their ways and point out as well as emphasize to them the responsibilities that go with it or rather that arises from doing such impulsive act.
Now, in order to effectively achieve these goals, I had to find a movie which would perfectly send out the right message or which is mainly about the consequences of performing impulsive sexual activities and the responsibility that goes with it. Fortunately, I was able to find such movie entitled “KNOCKED UP”. I chose the movie because the theme as well as the idea that it is trying to convey is synonymous to that which I am trying to explain. I also chose the movie because the topic or theme is very timely and because it addresses the problem of pre-marital sex as well as the topic about sex and responsibility. Another reason why I chose the movie was because it not only exposed the bad and tragic things that could happen to the life of a person or to the life of an individual when they engage in untimely sexual activities but because it also offered a solution as to how to deal with the aforementioned problems and consequences.
This movie review is not only a simple review aimed at trying to analyze a film but it is also, for me, a wake up call and a guide to those people who are willing to engage in pre-marital sex without attempting to evaluate the consequences of such actions. We must always remember to think about the consequences of the actions that we make. We must not be short-sighted and must always contemplate on the effects of the judgments and decisions we create. Because these decisions, no matter how big or little they are, will always have a profound effect to ourselves, our loved ones and to the community.
MOVIE SYNOPSIS
“KNOCKED UP”
(COMEDY AND ROMANCE)
Knocked Up is a hilarious, poignant and refreshing look at the rigors of courtship and child-rearing, with a sometimes raunchy, yet savvy script that is ably acted and directed.
Storyline
For fun loving party animal Ben Stone, the last thing he ever expected was for his one night stand to show up on his doorstep eight weeks later to tell him she's pregnant.
When Alison Scott is promoted in E! Television, she goes to a night-club to celebrate with her older married sister Debbie. Alison meets the pothead reckless Ben Stone and while having a small talk with Ben, Debbie's husband Pete calls her to tell that their daughter has chicken pox. Debbie leaves the place but Allison stays with Ben, drinking and dancing along all night; completely wasted, they end up having a one night stand. Ben does not use condom and eight weeks later, Allison discovers that she is pregnant. She calls Ben and they decide to try to stay together and have the baby. However, Ben needs to grow-up first to raise a family of his own.
A one night stand turns into the unexpected for Ben, when Alison announces to him that she is now pregnant with his child. Ben decides that the best thing to do is to get his life sorted so he can care for Alison and his new child, which isn't an easy job for him.
CRITICAL REVIEWS
I think what makes "Knocked Up" work so well is that many of the situations are familiar to people in the audience. As a parent myself, I've had to deal with reading all the pregnancy books, dealing with a hormonal wife, adjusting to parenthood, and all the other good stuff that is joked about in the movie. But "Knocked Up" goes well beyond that. There are jokes about kids on the internet, suspicious spouses, websites, fantasy baseball, and more. They even joke about "Star Wars," "Back to the Future," and "Spider-Man 3" which wins it serious geek points in my book. (David Edelstein)
Another interesting thing about "Knocked Up" is that it is not really pro-life or pro-choice. Abortion is discussed as an option, but the movie doesn't take a stand on it. Joanna Kerns pushes her daughter to have an abortion then have a 'real child' later. Simultaneously, Harold Ramis tells Ben having a kid was the best thing that ever happened to him. I think ultimately the film conveys a message that everything can work out in the end and it's ultimately worth keeping a baby. It's an interesting message from an otherwise raunchy comedy. (Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper show)
DISCUSSION
“Love, Sex and Responsibility”, I believe that these are the main topics being tackled and talked about in the movie (Knocked Up). In the film, these topics were addressed through the comical misadventures and happenings in the lives of the protagonists. Even though the scenes in the film were funny and very laughable, the true idea or theme being conveyed by the movie to its viewers remains to be one of the most serious problems faced not only by the United States, but by a lot more countries all over the world including the Philippines. But before we proceed to a deeper analysis of the subject matter, it is only prudent that we first clearly define the three key words involved in our review, love, sex and responsibility. Let’s start with love; according to the Webster’s Dictionary, Love is a warm, inconspicuous and primeval affection, benevolence or charity towards ourselves or for other people. Eddie Babor also stated that love can be irrational and therefore subjective and can be rational and therefore objective. While Sex, specifically sexual intercourse, is defined as an act of procreation by the Webster’s Dictionary. Responsibility, on the other hand, is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as the state of being answerable; duty; charge; obligation.
When it comes to romantic love, a lot of people nowadays are still confused about how they feel towards other people. Maybe that’s why many of them end up having unwanted pregnancy to ruin their lives because they always confuse love for lust. According to Prof. Glenton O. Guiriba, Head of the Sociology Department of BU CSSP, during a forum on “Human sexuality, Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning”, most women especially teenagers and immature adults give sex in order to have or obtain love while men give love in order to obtain or experience sex. Women have a big tendency to give in or to surrender themselves and their virginity in order to obtain the full trust and love of their partners as implied in the statement. Although this claim may not be true in all cases, I believe that this phenomenon is actually happening and is experienced by many teenagers and young adults today. I got to be honest; I don’t exactly know if there is a scientific study or survey to prove this particular claim but based from what I’ve seen and heard from the interviews and documentaries conducted by the media networks, most teenage mothers said that they engaged in sexual intercourse with their boyfriends so that the latter would not try to leave or hurt their feelings in the future (GMA news, I-Witness). For them, having sex with their partners sort of serves as an assurance that they will never be left behind. This kind of mentality or belief is just one of the reasons why our country is suffering from over-population right now. Yes, they might think that by doing so their love for each other will go all the way or will be preserved. But that’s only applicable at that point in time where they still don’t yet know or understand the gravity of the actions they are going to make. When the consequences and effects of their mistakes start to hit them in the future, they will start to understand that the world is not only about pleasure and love. Financial as well as moral matters will haunt them; they will start to realize that their previous dreams and ambitions will never again be realized and that their new purpose in life now is to properly rear a child. Well don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having a child because after all, they are the greatest things that could happen to the life of a person or individual. But when the parents or the individuals responsible for the child is not able or is not capable (financially and psychologically) to provide for the needs of the child, that’s when everything goes wrong. As I’ve already mentioned, their lives take a turn for the worse. Their dreams are shattered and their youthful goals in life just suddenly disappear before their eyes. And if that still is not enough to convince young people to refrain from giving in to sexual desires then I might just have to sight graver effects. We cannot ignore the fact that when people engage in pre-marital sexual activities, there is a fairly big chance that they might get deadly viruses like HIV or even AIDS. Another risk that individuals should also bear in mind (especially young women) when they engage in pre-marital sex is the risk of their bodies being unprepared for the rigors of giving birth (according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO)).Also, the family that these individuals create usually becomes a drag on the economy and on the country because at most times the parents are not capable of landing a decent job which makes them rely too much on the programs of the government (according to the Human sexuality, Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Forum/ City Health Officer, Legazpi City).
With all these being said, it is only prudent that the youth should always think twice before making decisions which would later on ruin their lives and their future. They must never confuse love with lust and should always weigh their options and think about the consequences of the actions they are going to make. The responsibility of rearing a child and raising a family is just too much for young people who probably still don’t even have a bank account in their name. The youth must be wise and must learn to control their feelings and emotions for other people. It is okay to love and care for other people as long as you respect each others limitations. The youth must also learn to fully understand the true meaning of love. A lot of people nowadays, especially young people, say that one reason why they engage in sexual activities is because they both love each other. Many people, especially teenagers and young adults, pair love with sex or sexual activities. They tend to think that when they engage in sexual intercourse with somebody which usually results to unwanted pregnancy, the fruit of their act immediately becomes a product of their love for one another. That’s where they are wrong. How could something as negative, pitiful and uncertain as unwanted pregnancy be a result of love which is said to always bring something that is positive? How could a feeling be called love when it results to the ruin and destruction of each others lives and reputations? Love is thinking about what’s best for each other. “Love is to wait for the right time even though it might take years” said Frederick Douglas. So if two individuals really do love each other, they would know that an impulsive act such as untimely sexual intercourse may bring about their downfall. They should understand that sex must only be done in the right time and that right time is only after marriage.
Sexual intercourse is commonly considered a 'marital right' by many religions, permissible to married couples generally for the purpose of reproduction. Today, there is wide variation in the opinions and teachings about sexual intercourse relative to marriage by the world's religions. Some sections of Christianity, such as Catholicism, commonly view sex in marriage as holy and for the purpose of reproduction. Islam views sex within marriage as something pleasurable, a spiritual activity, and a duty. In the Baha’i Faith, sexual relationships are permitted only between a husband and wife (www.wikipedia.com). Although religions may have different perceptions about sexual intercourse, all of which agree on one thing. That sex should only be done in the context of marriage. Another reason why sex should only be performed after marriage is the legal assurance it provides to both partners. Let’s face it, even though a lot of couples get married, in the end some still end up unhappy and go for a divorce. We must accept the fact that not all marriages become successful. When this happens, especially when there is a child involved, the responsibilities are thrown at each other or are forgotten. It is best that a legal bond or security is in place in order to assure that the due responsibilities are not disregarded.
In contrast to the previous paragraph, some people argue that individuals don’t have to be married so that they could engage in sexual intercourse. According to Camille Paglia in her article, Sexual Personae, as long as both partners are financially and psychologically stable, they could engage in sex even though they are not bonded by marriage. She stated that aside from the religious aspect of marriage, the reason why people get married was in order to be financially stable and dependent on each other. So that they could each share the responsibilities that may arise. With this being said, as long as both individuals have financial stability and is willing to support each other, then there is no point in marriage anymore, she said. But on a personal note, I disagree with what she said. In the movie “Knocked Up” which was the film I reviewed, both the protagonists were adults with pretty decent jobs. It could be said that they had brilliant lives until they engaged in an impulsive one night stand. They both thought that nothing will change but unfortunately, they were wrong. Their lives suddenly turned upside down. After two months, they both nearly lost their jobs and what’s worse; they were getting overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising a child. What I’m trying to point out here is that marriage is the only right time when couples could engage in sexual intercourse. Even though both partners are financially okay, when sex and unwanted pregnancy comes knocking in their doors, their lives are sure to change. The worse scenario that could happen is when your partner decides to leave you and abandon the responsibility of helping you raise the fruit of both your actions. It would be harder to insist and acquire assistance because of the fact that both individuals are not bonded by a legal marriage. You know what I mean.
For me, sex should only be practiced or done when the partners are really genuinely in love with each other. When they acknowledge each others strengths, weaknesses and personalities and when they realize and accept the consequences and effects of the actions they are going to do then that is love. Without real and true love, sex should never be done or practiced.
FINDINGS
After a careful analysis of the movie “Knocked Up” as well as several accounts about the topics in focus, I have come to such findings:
• Individuals who engage in pre-marital sexual activities usually don’t really fully understand the consequences, effects and responsibilities which may arise from their salacious acts.
• Individuals, particularly women, surrender their bodies and their virginity to their partners because they think that by doing so, they could gain the full love and trust of their partners. (GMA,I-Witness documentary/2009, Prof. Glenton Quiriba)
• Individuals who were still teenagers when they engaged in pre-marital sex usually ended up dropping their studies and became unemployed.
• A lot of individuals still don’t fully understand the meaning of true love that is why they always end up surrendering their virginity to their partners whom they claim as their true love.
• Increasing numbers of young people are having unprotected sex and they have become the group with the highest risk of contracting the virus that causes HIV and Aids. It could be due to their lack of knowledge about safe sex or just plain ignorance due to a false sense of confidence that their partners are free from Aids or feeling that they are "not that unlucky" to contract the disease.( By The Nation
Published on August 30, 2009)
RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to address all of these problems, I have come up with several recommendations.
• First, if couples want to engage in sex that badly or they want to have a baby, then they should marry each other first. In that way, both individuals could share the responsibility of raising a child and a family.
• If couples on the other hand want to engage in sex without the sanctity and blessing of marriage then they must first evaluate the situation they are in. They should at least think of the consequences and responsibilities which may arise from their desire.
• As for the youth, there is only one solution that could help them with these issues of pre-marital sex and teenage pregnancy. That solution is called ABSTINENCE. The greatest remedy for teenage pregnancy and early parenthood is not some artificial method or some unsafe contraceptive, its abstinence. Abstaining to the urge of having sexual intercourse with other people is the key. The youth should acknowledge and accept the fact that they are not yet ready to engage in sexual activities and face the problems that go with it. If they love someone, they should wait for the right time and the right opportunity; and that right opportunity is after marriage. Sex after all is mans basic instinct and I believe that it is best enjoyed in the context of marriage where both are ready for the responsibilities embedded in it.
END NOTES
• SWS Survey on teenage pregnancy ( 2009),Philippines /www.wikipedia.com
• “Knocked Up” (2007) movie review / www.comingsoon.com
• Edelstein, David “random movie critique”/ 2007, www.comingsoon.com
• Roeper, Richard “Ebert and Roeper show” / 2007
• Webster’s Dictionary, Collins Pocket Books Second edition/ 2007 (Definitions of love, sex and responsibility)
• Eddie Babor
• Prof. Glenton O. Guiriba, Head of the Sociology Department of BU CSSP/ Forum on Human sexuality, Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning/ December, 2010
• I – witness, GMA News / “Nanay na si Nene” 2009(Documentary)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO))/www.hopeland.com/2008
• City Health Officer, Legazpi City, Albay/ Forum on Human sexuality, Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning/ December, 2010
• Ethical, moral, and legal issues/ Sexual ethics and Religion and sexuality/ www.wikipedia.com/ 2008
• Paglia, Camille/ Sexual Personae/ Quotes on Pregnancy/ 2008/ www.wikipedia.com
A RESOLUTION...
“Don’t try to change everything, just some things “.
Well, that’s probably the most significant statement which I’m going to adhere to as the clocks hit 12 on December 31. As we all know, 2011 is less than 24 hours away from its foreseeable demise, at least that’s how much more time was left as I was writing this essay, and 2012 will be knocking on our doors faster than anyone could say “Exodus”. Okay I may have exaggerated a bit, probably because of the excitement welling inside of me right now. But who cares? The New Year’s just around the corner and everyone is preparing for a new life and a fresh start.
If you were able to catch the news a few days ago, the networks reported that a large number of Filipinos are hopeful that 2012 will be a fruitful, productive and propitious year for everyone. That was the result of a survey conducted by the SWS in the early weeks of December and I think 97% of its respondents were found to be in agreement with the first sentence of this paragraph. Well, I could probably say without any trace of hesitation that I am one of those individuals who are fervently hoping for an auspicious year. I mean, who wouldn’t want that? We live in a country where a lot of problems have yet to be resolved. Filipinos work day and night, toiling and literally breaking their backs just to provide for themselves and their families. Why not give them something to be hopeful about. After all, hope is considered to be the driving force of a person in whatever grim situation he may be. However unsatisfying this year may be for him, the thought of being able to start anew and to change next year will surely get his hopes up.
This promise of change and a new life is, has always been and will probably always be codified in what every single soul on the planet calls as a “New Years Resolution”. A creed, a promise, a vow or whatever you may call it; maybe written or just memorized as long as it contains the do’s and don’ts, right’s and wrong’s and other imperatives an individual must follow and/or live up to in the coming year. Some argue that it may be compared to the “Ten Commandments”, although just in a much lower and more inferior scale. In this short, personally- directed edict, a person will try to change his ways and improve himself based on his reflections of the past year.
Now, for those individuals who are not familiar with a New Year’s Resolution, the definitions I just gave may suggest that it’s one heck of a practice. But believe me when I say that however noble its purposes are, it’s also considered to be one of the most unfollowed, unchecked, unlived-up-to promises in the history of promises. For a lack of a proper term, I resorted into making my own words; I hope you get my point. Anyway, Filipinos tend to always forget what they once vowed to do. They always tend to break the promises they once made. Some of you may say that I am generalizing a bit, but let’s be honest. This is deeply embedded in our culture, dare I say in our blood. We say that we are going to do something but we end up not doing it anyway. We start doing something and we stop before we make it halfway. I know I do it sometimes and I am ashamed of it. What’s funny is that we seem to always have an excuse for not finishing what we’ve started. Oh come on! This is the height of ningas kugon! And this could be translated into unfinished projects and/or activities etc. which usually cost us a lot of time, money and effort. Again, the height of ningas kugon!
I implore everyone that before we start bragging about the things we are going to change or improve next year, we must first make a commitment to really do what we are going to do. It doesn’t take a genius to know that unkept promises don’t promote improvement or change. It just results into a more unproductive year and a miserable life. Start by evaluating your list of do’s and don’ts for next year. Start by recasting your New Year’s Resolution if you already have one. Start by really reflecting deeply on what has to be done and what you want to do for the following year. I believe that in that way, a person can arrive at a more realistic plan on improving himself. Don’t rush and take it one step at a time. You don’t really have to immediately decide to change everything about yourself which you deem as negative or an aberration in your character. Start by changing some things. After you do so, practice it then make it your hobby. After that, strive to turn it into a habit then eventually into a system of living. It’s as simple as that. ------
It’s 3:00 in the morning, December 31, 2011, Saturday. I’m so sleepy. If anyone of you thought that I’m going to enumerate my “to do” and “not to do” list for next year in this essay, well you’re apparently wrong. I certainly planned to do so but in some way I got out of track. This will be my last essay for 2011. Hope to make more next year.
-eKiM…
Well, that’s probably the most significant statement which I’m going to adhere to as the clocks hit 12 on December 31. As we all know, 2011 is less than 24 hours away from its foreseeable demise, at least that’s how much more time was left as I was writing this essay, and 2012 will be knocking on our doors faster than anyone could say “Exodus”. Okay I may have exaggerated a bit, probably because of the excitement welling inside of me right now. But who cares? The New Year’s just around the corner and everyone is preparing for a new life and a fresh start.
If you were able to catch the news a few days ago, the networks reported that a large number of Filipinos are hopeful that 2012 will be a fruitful, productive and propitious year for everyone. That was the result of a survey conducted by the SWS in the early weeks of December and I think 97% of its respondents were found to be in agreement with the first sentence of this paragraph. Well, I could probably say without any trace of hesitation that I am one of those individuals who are fervently hoping for an auspicious year. I mean, who wouldn’t want that? We live in a country where a lot of problems have yet to be resolved. Filipinos work day and night, toiling and literally breaking their backs just to provide for themselves and their families. Why not give them something to be hopeful about. After all, hope is considered to be the driving force of a person in whatever grim situation he may be. However unsatisfying this year may be for him, the thought of being able to start anew and to change next year will surely get his hopes up.
This promise of change and a new life is, has always been and will probably always be codified in what every single soul on the planet calls as a “New Years Resolution”. A creed, a promise, a vow or whatever you may call it; maybe written or just memorized as long as it contains the do’s and don’ts, right’s and wrong’s and other imperatives an individual must follow and/or live up to in the coming year. Some argue that it may be compared to the “Ten Commandments”, although just in a much lower and more inferior scale. In this short, personally- directed edict, a person will try to change his ways and improve himself based on his reflections of the past year.
Now, for those individuals who are not familiar with a New Year’s Resolution, the definitions I just gave may suggest that it’s one heck of a practice. But believe me when I say that however noble its purposes are, it’s also considered to be one of the most unfollowed, unchecked, unlived-up-to promises in the history of promises. For a lack of a proper term, I resorted into making my own words; I hope you get my point. Anyway, Filipinos tend to always forget what they once vowed to do. They always tend to break the promises they once made. Some of you may say that I am generalizing a bit, but let’s be honest. This is deeply embedded in our culture, dare I say in our blood. We say that we are going to do something but we end up not doing it anyway. We start doing something and we stop before we make it halfway. I know I do it sometimes and I am ashamed of it. What’s funny is that we seem to always have an excuse for not finishing what we’ve started. Oh come on! This is the height of ningas kugon! And this could be translated into unfinished projects and/or activities etc. which usually cost us a lot of time, money and effort. Again, the height of ningas kugon!
I implore everyone that before we start bragging about the things we are going to change or improve next year, we must first make a commitment to really do what we are going to do. It doesn’t take a genius to know that unkept promises don’t promote improvement or change. It just results into a more unproductive year and a miserable life. Start by evaluating your list of do’s and don’ts for next year. Start by recasting your New Year’s Resolution if you already have one. Start by really reflecting deeply on what has to be done and what you want to do for the following year. I believe that in that way, a person can arrive at a more realistic plan on improving himself. Don’t rush and take it one step at a time. You don’t really have to immediately decide to change everything about yourself which you deem as negative or an aberration in your character. Start by changing some things. After you do so, practice it then make it your hobby. After that, strive to turn it into a habit then eventually into a system of living. It’s as simple as that. ------
It’s 3:00 in the morning, December 31, 2011, Saturday. I’m so sleepy. If anyone of you thought that I’m going to enumerate my “to do” and “not to do” list for next year in this essay, well you’re apparently wrong. I certainly planned to do so but in some way I got out of track. This will be my last essay for 2011. Hope to make more next year.
-eKiM…
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
mIsCoNsTruEd...
“You think you know, but you don’t” a famous philosopher once said this ... or was it a politician? I'm not really sure anymore. A lot of things have been going on inside my mind lately; projects, long quizzes, recitations, these things have been usually just a piece of cake for me. But now, because of the added responsibilities, extra-curricular activities, proposals that need to be approved, my life has been one hell of a ride.
-random thought
-eKiM...
-random thought
-eKiM...
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