Baloso, Princess Arah A.

BSMT 1 - 2 UTS 000 - UNDERSTANDING THE SELF - GE 14

1. What are the pros and cons (advantage and disadvantage) of contraception (all types/any
type) in the Philippines? What is your "stand" in the government's campaign for reproductive
health?

Contraceptives, or also known as birth control, is the use of medicine such as pills, syringe,
devices, or surgery to avoid pregnancy. It takes on various forms, and can have distinct
effects to women. With the increasing rate of mortality and early pregnancy, there is a lot that
birth controls can offer. First and foremost, it gives importance to family planning. From the
word itself birth “control”, families can control whether they should have children, how many
children they are planning to have, or when to stop having one. This is an advantage to not
only women but to families as a whole, because it considers the situation or part of their
partners, so that they can also prepare for a family.

Adding to the fact that it also reduces pregnancy-related risks. As well as preventing abortion
or unwanted children where young teenagers are mostly affected. However, the downside of
birth controls falls under physical changes to women. When taking pills or implants, there
can be scenarios of spotting or bleeding between periods, sore breasts, or headaches and
nausea. Although a little concerning, these effects are said to happen only to a few and at
the beginning of taking it.

In my opinion, contraceptives would really help women in taking control over their
reproduction. If the government implements proper lectures on addressing the pros and cons
of birth control, I believe that the mortality rate would slowly decrease over time, and people,
men and women, will be knowledgeable about reproductive health and would be able to
consider family planning.

2. Describe the current status of the LGBTQIA++ in your community? What is your "stand"
with their growing status?

In this day and age, I think that most people, have come to accept the members of
LGBTQIA++ community. Through the years that they have been expressing who they are,
receiving hate and critiques, people, especially the youth, had already welcome their
community and is now supporting beside them for their rights. Personally, I think that there is
no wrong in voicing out what they are and advocating their human rights. They are also part
of our society, and have been a big part of promoting equality in our country.

Let’s not make this positivity a reason for us to simply stop moving and be content with a life
that we know could be better. Simply looking at reality for better or for worse, can unlock so
many valuable conversations that can help make the current and future generations of
Filipinos live in a better place than where we are now. Refusing to talk about things that
matter in the name of staying positive stagnates us. What we may believe is bolstering our
sense of community in the form of joy and laughter may just be a front for the propagation of
abuse and division among people.
It’s time to make connections and start conversations that matter. We shouldn’t shy away
from things that may make us uncomfortable but may help us be better men and women to
our fellow Filipinos so we can begin to heal generational scars that fail to be addressed
simply because opening them up goes against the grain of the Filipino culture of positivity.