More online polls reject RH bill (updated) May 21, 2011
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After the landslide pro-life victory in ABS-CBN’s Harapan online/SMS polls, a few more similar public surveys have been put up. The same pro-life trend seems to be evident on these too.
The Philippine Star (a publication partly owned by the Belmontes, related to the very pro-RH House Speaker Belmonte) has been running an online poll at: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=687349&publicationSubCategoryId=522.
I’ve taken some screenshots of the results. The first was on May 19, at 10:28PM. Here are the results:
I took another look at the poll on May 21, 1:54PM. The number of “votes” had doubled by then. Here’s the screenshot:
The fight is still close, but a clear trend has emerged: most participants in the survey — a lead by 14 percentage points — reject the RH bill.
Another, much smaller, poll can be found at Pinoysurvey.com (http://pinoysurvey.com/2011/05/rh-bill-sa-pilipinas/). I took a screenshot of the results on May 19, at 10:27PM. Here is how it was back then:
Pinoysurvey results as of 2011-05-19 (22:37)
On May 21, at 1:55PM, the number of “votes” had more than doubled. The results were as follows:
Pinoysurvey results as of 2011-05-21 (13:55)
Looks like it’s another pro-life victory here too. Four out of five participants are against the RH bill.
So, where’s the much-ballyhooed pro-RH majority now? Can’t they even get enough people to dominate these polls? One would think that at least on the well-publicized survey by Philippine Star, the supporters of the RH bill would at least get a small lead (if they actually were a majority), but they can’t even manage that!
Granted, these polls aren’t very scientific, but they do give an indication of the public mood in those niche audiences. It would seem that any claim of a pro-RH “majority” is not as well-founded or across the board as some propagandists suggest.
Update (June 2011):
For those interested in following these polls, here is an update.
As of June 20, 10:41PM:
As of June 20, 10:47PM
Looks like a very clear and consistent pro-life trend here. Let’s hope our politicians listen to the people.
ABS-CBN poll rejects RH bill May 9, 2011
Posted by Maddog in Politics and Law, Prolife Issues, RH/Abortion Bills.2 comments
A text poll[1] taken during the airing of ABS-CBN’s Harapan on the evening of May 8 — which featured a live debate on the RH bill — came up with an unexpected result. People were asked to send in their “votes” via SMS, choosing one of two options: A) Ipasa; or B) Ibasura (either pass the bill or trash it). At the end of the show, the final tally as of 12:40AM, May 9, was:
- Ibasura: 65.38%
- Ipasa: 34.62
In other words, nearly two-thirds of the text voters wanted to junk the bill!
This was undoubtedly a veritable landslide victory for the pro-life movement in the Philippines.
Here is a screenshot from the ANC Alerts Twitter page:
Screenshot of the ANC Alerts Twitter page. Click to see the full-sized graphic.
Where’s the pro-RH “majority”?
Well, well, well… whatever happened to the pro-RH “majority” that the SWS and Cong. Lagman keep on crowing about? Looks like that “majority” couldn’t get their act together last night. In fact, they can’t even seem to get a decent-sized rally together at all! If so many Filipinos really support the RH bill, they sure don’t seem to be standing up for it.
In contrast, the rallies AGAINST the RH bill across the country have drawn tens of thousands. The March 25 rally at the Luneta may have drawn as much as 200,000 (although the media chose to report an estimate made early in the rally of 40,000). Even if we accept the 40,000 figure, can the pro-RH “majority” even get anywhere close to that many together in a rally? Nope.
The cat is out of the bag. The “majority” claimed by the bosses at the SWS is a phantom majority.
Our congressmen would do well to listen.
Notes:
Jesus was once an Unborn Child too April 25, 2011
Posted by Maddog in Politics and Law, Prolife Issues, RH/Abortion Bills.add a comment
Christ sanctified the womb and the innocent children who are its temporary residents. This artwork says it all.
Sadly, some of the proponents of the RH/abortion bill want to pretend that some unborn children aren’t even people. They say the fertilized egg must first be implanted in the uterus (which happens some three to eight days after conception) before it is considered a human life.
Some will even say that they become people much later than that. Worse, some even think they aren’t people until they emerge from the womb.
Worst of all, some don’t care at all whether the unborn are people or not — it’s supposed to be a “woman’s right” to decide to kill them or not!
Let’s not leave any doubt: abortion is murder (killing of the innocent).
Some contraceptives actually kill the unborn (for example, by preventing the fertilized egg — a newly-conceived human being — from implanting in the uterus. With nowhere to implant, the baby eventually dies. This is an early-term abortion.
Such contraceptives are called abortifacient contraceptives — meaning they can cause abortions.
HB 4244, the current number for the so-called “reproductive health/responsible parenthood” bill in the Lower House, will spend millions (or billions) funding these deadly abortifacient contraceptives. It should really be called the RH/ABORTION bill.
Pimentel replies to Robredo April 12, 2011
Posted by Maddog in Politics and Law, Religion and Social Issues, RH/Abortion Bills.add a comment
A few weeks ago, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo overstepped his authority as he tried to nip in the bud a growing popular movement among local government units (LGUs) against the RH/abortion bill. He declared that barangays have no power to enact ordinances that restrict the sale and disribution of contraceptives (Robredo warns LGUs against making anti-RH law – Inquirer.net).
Barangay Ayala Alabang in Muntinglupa, followed by seven barangays in Balanga City, Bataan, have already passed such pro-life ordinances. More LGUs intend to follow suit.
Robredo’s blunder was pointed out by none other than former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, Jr., the father of the Local Government Code that limits the powers of Robredo’s office. Pimentel’s response is reproduced below.
After reading Pimentel’s brilliant riposte, one has to ask: Does Rebredo even understand the Local Government Code?!!! As DILG Secretary he should!
Penitential Walk for Life March 22, 2011
Posted by Maddog in Politics and Law, Prolife Issues, Religion and Social Issues, RH/Abortion Bills.Tags: abortion, cebu, pro-life, reproductive health, reproductive rights
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The Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu packed with pro-life supporters attending Mass
Thousands of pro-life Cebuanos, led by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, trekked some two kilometers on a wet, drizzly Saturday evening from Fuente Osmena to the Metropolitan Cathedral to pray for the protection of life and to dramatize their opposition to the RH/Abortion bill now being debated in Congress.
The March 19 “Penitential Walk for Life” was called for by the archbishop, which also coincided with his 61st birthday. The walk started at 6PM at Fuente Osmena and ended with a Mass celebrated by the archbishop and two auxiliary bishops, with some 5000 people in attendace, as estimated in an article by the Cebu Daily News, a local newspaper. Other observers estimated the total crowd that participated at different points along the route to be much bigger, with estimates ranging from 10,000 to as high as 20,000 persons.
Quite notably, Sun Star Cebu did not report on the event at all, at least not by March 24, a full five days after.
Other forms of mobilization against the RH/Abortion bill are being planned.
Photos
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma walks down Osmena Ave. to the Metropolitan Cathedral
Marian Groups release statement opposing RH Bill February 28, 2011
Posted by Maddog in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
(Here is the text of a press statement released by the Task Force for Family and Life Visayas, Inc. (TFFL). It illustrates the growing awareness among the grassroots that the RH/Abortion bill is certainly not the benign and wonderful measure its authors claim it to be. Wake up, Philippines!)
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
Task Force for Family and Life Visayas, Inc. (TFFL)
Marian Groups release statement opposing RH Bill
A national convention of leaders from Marian groups throughout the Philippines recently released a strongly-worded omnibus resolution opposing the RH bill. The statement was signed by over 1,400 leaders and members of the various Perpetual Dawn Rosary and Cenacle organizations that met in Carcar, Cebu, on February 12-13.
The Task Force for Family and Life Visayas, Inc. (TFFL) in turn forwarded copies of the resolution to President Aquino, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, CBCP President Nereo Odchimar, and newly-installed Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma. The TFFL called on all parties to heed the heartfelt sentiments of ordinary Filipino citizens expressed in the resolution.
The Marian convention’s statement noted that the RH bill “has caused a deep division among our people,” and that the proposed measure now pending in Congress “in its entirety is about contraception.” It warned that its passing would bring about the propagation of a culture of death, promiscuity, and breakdown of families.
The attendees at the convention concluded that they fully agree and support all the points taken up by the Bishops in their recent Pastoral Letter entitled “Choosing Life, Rejecting the RH Bill,” including the rejection of the RH bill.
To back up their call, the signatories vowed to support the actions recommended by the CBCP, including civil disobedience should the RH bill be passed, and possible excommunication of legislators and national leaders who endorsed the RH bill.
In addition, the resolution also called for an Oratio Imperata against the RH bill to be read in all churches during every Sunday Mass all over the country, and a Church-led educational initiative on Natural Family Planning (NFP) and issues concerning the protection and nurturing of human life and the family.
The convention gathered together leaders and members of the Marian movement from all over the country, under the theme, “Marian Pro-Life Witnesses of Hope, Reconciliation and Peace in Our Times.”
About Task Force for Family and Life Visayas, Inc. (TFFL)
The Task Force for Family and Life Visayas, Inc. (TFFL) is an association of men and women who are committed to the protection of family and life, as mandated by the Constitution and specific legislations and by the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. It is a juridical entity duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
###
Media contact
DOUGLAS GACASAN
President
Task Force for Family and Life Visayas, Inc. (TFFL)
Photos: Cebuanos Unite for Life February 15, 2011
Posted by Maddog in Prolife Issues, Religion and Social Issues, RH/Abortion Bills.3 comments
I’m a few days late again, but I’ve finally uploaded some photos of the successful pro-life rally against the RH/Abortion bill held last February 11.
Sun Star Cebu estimated the crowd at around 5,000 people, which is fair enough from what I personally saw. I believe that is the largest number pro-lifers have gathered in Cebu City against the proposed legislation so far.
The crowd converged at Fuente Osmena were they were treated to music, fiery speeches, and information on the RH/Abortion bill. The response was enthusiastic!
Below are some scenes from the rally. Enjoy!
Pro-lifers gather at the Cebu Provincial Capitol
The march gets underway
Taking the heat
Various groups joined the march
Well said!
Even the weak and innocent count
Cebuanos Unite for Life February 8, 2011
Posted by Maddog in Catholicism, Politics and Law, Prolife Issues, Religion and Social Issues, RH/Abortion Bills.1 comment so far
Cebu Provincial Capitol
With the RH/Abortion bill being made ready to be railroaded through Congress, Cebuanos have had enough and are calling upon all to stage a massive protest action on February 11. The prayer rally is called “Cebuanos Unite for Life.”
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma issued a letter calling on the Catholic faithful and clergy to hold the prayer rally at Fuente Osmena Circle this Friday to declare their opposition to the deadly and unconstitutional RH/Abortion bill. Filipinos of other faiths are also invited.
The details are as follows:
Venue: Fuente Osmena Circle
Date: February 11, 2011
Time: 2:00PM to 5:30PM (1400 to 1730)
Assembly points:
- Beside CNU on Osmena Blvd. (for Catholic achools, youth organizations, parishes from the east: St. Rosario, Cathedral to San Nicolas).
- Beside USC Boys’ High, on Maxilom Ave. (for Knights of Columbus, CFC, parishes in the north: Talamban, Mactan, Sacred Heart).
- V. Rama corner B. Rodriguez (for senior citizens’ groups, AWROC, San Victene Sambag 1/11, Council of the Laity, Marian organizations, parishes from the south: Guadalupe, Naga, etc.)
- In front of the Provincial Capitol (ASC, pariahes from the north and outside Cebu City: Mandaue, danao, Bogo, etc.)
Please brings rosaries and pro-life banners and placards. Bring the Philippine flag.
The rally in Cebu City will in turn be followed by another mass action in Manila, called Filipinos Unite for Life, on February 12, 4:00PM, at the EDSA People Power Monument, Freedom Park, on EDSA corner Temple Drive, near White Plains. More protests are being planned in other cities throughout the country.
(UPDATE — 2011-02-11: The Manila action will be an Interfaith Prayer Rally against the RH Bill. The date and venue have changed. It will be on February 13, Sunday, 4:00 PM onwards, at the PICC Grounds, Roxas Blvd. Please let everyone know.)
There is no more time for pussyfooting around this issue. The culture of death is now in the Philippines. The enemy is no longer just at the gates; it is already inside the walls, ravaging the city. We have to rally around the flag and save our country, its families, and its freedoms. The time to stand up and defeat the RH/Abortion bill is NOW!
You can download a map of Cebu City at http://www.cebu-ph.com/cebu.pdf.
fe February 8, 2011
Posted by Maddog in Catholicism, Politics and Law, Prolife Issues, Religion and Social Issues, RH/Abortion Bills.
trackback , edit post With the RH/Abortion bill being made ready to be railroaded through Congress, Cebuanos have had enough and are calling upon all to stage a massive protest action on February 11. The prayer rally is called “Cebuanos Unite for Life.”
Archbishop Jose Palma issued a letter calling on the Catholic faithful and clergy to hold the prayer rally at Fuente Osmena Circle this Friday to declare their opposition to the deadly and unconstitutional RH/Abortion bill. This will in turn be followed by another mass action in Manila, on February 12, at the EDSA Shrine (called “Filipinos Unite for Life”). More protests are being planned in other cities throughout the country.
The details are as follows:
Venue: Fuente Osmena Circle
Date: february 11, 2011
Time: 2:00PM to 5:30PM (1400 to 1730)
Assembly points:
- Beside CNU on Osmena Blvd. (for Catholic achools, youth organizations, parishes from the east: St. Rosario, Cathedral to San Nicolas).
- Beside USC Boys’ High, on Maxilom Ave. (for Knights of Columbus, CFC, parishes in the north: Talamban, Mactan, Sacred Heart).
- V. Rama corner B. Rodriguez (for senior citizens’ groups, AWROC, San Victene Sambag 1/11, Council of the Laity, Marian organizations, parishes from the south: Guadalupe, Naga, etc.)
- In front of the Provincial Capitol (ASC, pariahes from the north and outside Cebu City: Mandaue, danao, Bogo, etc.)
Please brings rosaries and pro-life banners and placards. Bring the Philippine flag.
There is no more time for pussyfooting around this issue. The culture of death is now in the Philippines. The enemy is no longer just at the gates; it is already inside the walls, ravaging the city. We have to rally around the flag and save our country, its families, and its freedoms. The time to stand up and defeat the RH/Abortion bill is NOW!
Rice importation and population growth January 22, 2011
Posted by Maddog in Politics and Law, Prolife Issues, RH/Abortion Bills.Tags: lagman, overpopulation, pro-life, prolife, reproductive health
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Last January 11, the Philippine Daily Inquirer carried the story, “PH to sharply cut 2011 rice imports.” It said (emphasis mine):
MANILA – The Philippines, the world’s biggest rice importer last year, plans to sharply cut its imports of the grain this year, the head of the state grains agency said Tuesday.
National Food Authority administrator Angelito Banayo, asked about rice import plans for the year, told reporters: “Much much lower, probably not even half — probably one third.” He would not give specific figures.
. . .
Banayo said the government planned to cut imports because it already had a lot of rice stored from previous years.
Very interesting indeed. The population of the Philippines is not shrinking, but our rice imports will be drastically reduced. What does that mean?
This development indicates that past rice shortages (and the need to import) were not necessarily caused by “runaway population growth” as some have hysterically claimed. Rather, it seems that any shortages were more likely caused by other factors (such as corruption, hoarding, and inefficiency). After all, PNOY, in his State of the Nation Address, stated that some P160 billion worth of rice were wasting away on the shelves.
Way too often, doomsayers have been blaming rice shortages — and a host of other ills practically including the kitchen sink — on alleged “runaway population growth” or “overpopulation.” They seem to forget that both our nation’s Total Fertility rate (TFR) has been dropping like a rock, along with our population growth rate (see my blog post on that here).
Exploiting Jose Rizal January 1, 2011
Posted by Maddog in Catholicism, Religion and Social Issues.Tags: Jose Rizal, philippines, Rizal
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It is a well-known fact that on the night before his execution, Jose Rizal retracted his erroneous religious beliefs which were contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Even to this day, however, despite all the documented historical evidence attesting to it, there are still those who, for their own reasons, still try to deny that the retraction ever took place.
Sadly, not all of these reasons are noble.
Many atheists and those with an ax to grind against the Catholic Church, for example have taken a liking to Rizal because they perceive him to be a model of rebellion against the Church and religion in general. They are also presumably well aware that Rizal is a popular figure that they can exploit to gain sympathy for their cause, as well as foment resentment against the Church.
I would like to draw attention to the article, Hard Facts About Rizal’s Conversion (Sinagtala, 1988), by the late Fr. Marciano Guzman. It deals with the facts of Rizal retraction and related issues. Fr. Guzman writes:
These attempts to deny our national hero’s conversion and retraction are made without conclusive and documented evidence. They normally do not transcend the psychological arguments devised by the blatant disbelief and stubbornness of some members of masonic lodges.
Typical of such reaction was a statement made in 1908 by a Venerable Master of the Grand Regional Lodge of the Philippines. It was pronounced in a meeting called to counteract the effects of Wenceslao Retana’s personal conviction about Rizal’s retraction, expressed in the book Vida y escritos del Dr. Jose Rizal. “If Rizal did retract,” the high-ranking Filipino Mason said, “he might have done it through altruism and not for personal interest. But still I have not believed and remain disbelieving in his retraction, notwithstanding so many things said about it, and in spite of the assurances of Jesuits and Retana… the idol of the Philippines has never changed his ideas, in a word, he has never retracted.”
A similar type of argument could be found in Rafael Palma’s The Pride of the Malay Race. “Rizal was a man of character,” wrote Palma in his book, “and he had demonstrated it in many circumstances of his life. He was not likely to yield his ideas because his former preceptors and teachers talked to him. They did it in Dapitan and did not obtain any result. Why would he renounce his religious ideas for a few hours more of life?”
Those who wish to deny Rizal’s conversion in the last hours of his life go against solid historical evidence.
To those who would deny Rizal’s retraction, Guzman points out the following historical facts (highlights mine).
Overpopulation — A Convenient Lie December 6, 2010
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The following post is an article by Leonardo Q. Montemayor, President of the Federation of Free Farmers and Party-List ABA (Alyansang Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka, Manggagawang-Bukid at Mangingisda). Mr. Montemayor served as Agriculture Secretary in 2001-2002 and Party-List Representative in the Fourteenth Congress. This article is an improved version of his oral testimony at the House Committee on Population and Family Relations hearing last November.
–o–
The so-called problem of overpopulation is a convenient falsehood being peddled by rich countries to cover up their injustices against, and to shirk from their obligations to, developing nations.
Last year, Ambassador Alistair MacDonald of the European Union expressed support for continued assistance to the Philippines, on the condition that our government undertakes comprehensive population control. At present, some 60% of existing EU aid for the Philippines is devoted to population management-related programs.
Mr. MacDonald could have mollified the anger felt by self-respecting Filipinos had he also underscored the urgent need for greater consumption control by citizens of EU states.
The truth is that many advocates of population control, under the cloak of “reproductive health” and “family planning”, are concerned not so much to save lives, as to prevent them. This would mean less pressure from developing nations to clamor for a fairer distribution of global wealth and a stop to the profligate consumption of finite resources by the developed states.
If RH and population control advocates truly desire to safeguard the welfare of mothers and family members, they should accord the highest priority to fund generation and genuine anti-poverty programs through effective socio-economic reforms, balanced agro-industrial development and good governance.
But where are their calls on the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries to comply with their international obligation to allocate 0.7 per cent of their gross national product for the economic development of the Third World?
Where is the leadership of the United States and others mainly responsible for global warming that has been disrupting climate, food security and health, especially in developing nations?
“Open Season” On Catholics? October 4, 2010
Posted by Maddog in Politics and Law, Prolife Issues, Religion and Social Issues.3 comments
Within hours of Carlos Celdran’s outrage against the Catholic Mass, the Internet came alive with Filipinos posting their own opinions on the incident. Many not only praised him but even justified his actions. Others disagreed with his being jailed for violation of article 133 of the Revised Penal Code. Even now, several days after the event, it is still the talk of the town. Even FaceBook had a page for those clamoring that Celdran be released from jail (Carlos has posted bail and has been released).
More worrisome, however, was a flood of posts, on FaceBook and other blog sites, expressing outright hatred and contempt for the Church. Some of these were so vile that they would probably qualify as “hate speech” in other countries.
That wasn’t all, however.
The other night someone forwarded me a text message calling for other acts of disruption and outright sacrilege. What would be next? Silencing of Catholic leaders through grave threats? Violence?
Religious freedom and harassment of religious persons
Carlos Celdran is my friend and I feel bad that he resorted to this stunt. I also feel bad that he is in jail. He has been good and respectful to me despite our disagreements on some issues. He, like myself, has the right to speak out on any issue.
Still, we have to make one thing clear: Carlos Celdran is NOT in jail because of his views on the Church and the RH/Abortion Bill. His right to freedom of speech is protected under the Constitution and no law can take precedence over that. The issue here is NOT about free speech. It is about protecting people of faith from harassment. It is about freedom of religion.
PHNix Network Advocate 
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