Cabral: One Foot in Hell
In the waning days of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s second term of office and the uncertainty over whether she will be able to maneuver herself into a third term; when cabinet secretaries are being forced to quit so they can run for office, and her cronies are making last minute moneymaking deals; when her political allies are weighing their options of whether to stay with her or shift their alleigence to her anointed one (?), Esperanza Cabral was quietly doing her job. On Valentine’s Day, Health Department workers passed out condoms in poor urban areas. Cabral says more condoms are being passed out to targetted urban poor areas in an effort to combat the spread of AIDS, which she says has reached epidemic proportions.
She says the number of reported AIDS cases has doubled in the last few years to more than 4,000. Granted that’s not much in a country of nearly 90 million with an uncontrollable population growth, but that could be the tip of the iceberg. How many cases are unreported? Given the sharp increase in reported cases, we could see that four thousand multiply exponentially if we don’t do something right now. Hence the condom distribution.
Of course anytime that anyone wants to do anything that involves their genitals, the wingnuts from the Catholic Church will swoop in and vow damnation. Bishops have called for her removal from office, and she was told that she now has one foot in hell. Two bishops have even condemned presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro after he said he would keep her in her post if he became president. They are so disillusioned with Teodoro that they have publicly endorsed the candidacy of JC delos Reyes, the young extremist candidate from the religious Ang Kapitaran party, whose very limited knowledge of public policy seems to come only from what he reads in the Bible.
Cabral says she scared of the sometimes “vicious” attacks from the Church. But she says she will soldier on as long as Arroyo doesn’t order her to stop. And–to my surprise—Arroyo has not stopped her. After a decade of caving in to the Church on the family planning issue in exchange for its tacit political support, she has actually left Cabral alone to do her job. And Teodoro, after initially flip-flopping on reproductive health, has publicly said that he would keep Cabral at DoH if he wins.
In the meantime, Cabral is getting it left, right, and center from the bishops and the “faithful”. She has tried to sidestep the attacks by saying the condom distribution is not a contraception issue but rather a public health issue. She’s not doing it to promote contraceptives but to prevent the spread of a deadly disease. But the attacks continue. Cabral is literally trying to save lives. And for that she is being accused of being anti-life.
There have been a few statements of support for Cabral from the reproductive health community, but they have been sporadic and uncoordinated. Perhaps this is in part due to the fact that she is part of an unpopular regime, but stopping the spread of AIDS and saving lives should not be a partisan issue. Its time for advocates of reproductive health to get their act together and give Cabral a hand, otherwise the other side will win again.
February 27th, 2010 21:37
http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-support-Sec-Esperanza-Cabral-for-curbing-HIV-and-unwanted-pregnancies/337025789432?ref=mf
Spread the word!
February 28th, 2010 00:17
a priest once said, “pray to God that you may accept things that you cannot change and also pray that you can do something for things that can change”. i think that we must accept that people have gone liberal. its consequence- the rise in HIV-AIDS cases. the rates are alarming but changeable (positively). what the church wants is that through their preaching, they will “renew” the people’s values/beliefs to lower the cases of HIV-AIDS. but it would take ages before that happens, so it needs to be supplemented. what the doh secretary is doing is trying to change HIV-AIDS cases quickly to lessen the damage of something that cannot be changed abruptly. i think they should learn to accept and understand that.
February 28th, 2010 04:00
I have to say that Secretary Cabral has balls of steel. Not a lot of people would be brave enough to go up against the Catholic Church and put their job as well as their reputation on the line. I wish more people would support her in this fight to save lives.
February 28th, 2010 10:08
The church needs to sit the “F” down and shut the “F” up! I applaud Cabral in her efforts! Its about time somebody stands up for what is right! If passing out condoms prevents the spread of HIV/AIDS and/or helps control population growth then HOORAY! Too many people having unprotected sex will cause too many deaths! Too many people having too many babies means more and more uneducated, unemployed and under nourished people.
Oh yes! I am 100% in FAVOR of birth control!
March 1st, 2010 06:29
One foot in hell? Hahahhahahahha… If the church had its way they would have condemn all mankind for the sake of following the 2000 year olds scriptures! Have they already checked how many priests have STD or children for that matter?
March 1st, 2010 09:40
This incident aside, I am wondering if Cabral’s career in DOH was always this professional.
That aside, I do question the DOH’s distribution of condoms during Valentine’s Day. While I understand the gesture, I am convinced that the money they spend on condoms could have gone into something more constructive and long-lasting, such as free medical missions to promote Reproductive Health awareness.
That aside, I agree with the commenters: I really wish the church would stop acting like a bunch of self-righteous pricks.
March 1st, 2010 10:11
Ma’m,
May your tribe increase!
March 1st, 2010 14:35
Even as DSWD secretary, Cabral declared her support for RH. Even then the President left her alone.
March 1st, 2010 17:57
“Better safe than sorry.” If you can’t help it, protect yourself as well as your partner, and try a bit to be more responsible adults when it comes to sex.
Likewise, pray for strength during times of temptation. Self-discipline strengthens our character. Uncontrolled promiscuity is something we will individually have to answer and pay for, eventually.
The several cases of HIVs are now being recorded coming from call center companies. Next to OFW, most of us have friends, if not relatives working for a call center. Let’s help re-establish some moral values where needed.
God help us all!!!
March 1st, 2010 22:38
Make hay while the sun shines. “Habang may
kamandag Kagat!”
March 2nd, 2010 15:18
Binabati namin ang pagkilos ng Department of Health kaugnay sa kaso ng HIV and AIDS dito sa ating bansa.
Naniniwala kami na ang pamimigay ng condom maliban sa impormasyon kaugnay sa mga sexually transmitted
infections gaya ng HIV-AIDS, ay makatutulong upang mas mapangalagaan ng bawat tao ang kaniyang buhay.
Ang condom ay isa sa mga mahahalagang sangkap ng reproductive health na karapatan ng bawat mamamayang
Pilipino anuman ang relihiyon at grupong kinabibilangan nito. Malaking tulong ito sa mga tao lalung lalo
na sa mga kabataang nakikipagtalik na—4 milyong edad 15-24 ayon sa University of the Philippines
Population Institute o UPPI.
Pinatunayan ng mga pag-aaral na ang tama at palagiang paggamit ng condom ay nakatutulong na makaiwas sa
pagkakaroon ng impeksyong nahahawa sa pakikipagtalik (STIs), lalo na ang HIV. 1Ayon sa World Health
Organization, napatunayan sa mga pag-aaral na 2hindi nakapapasok ang anumang virus (kasama ang HIV) gamit
ang latex condom na nabanat. Sa Thailand, ang 100% na pagpopromote ng paggamit ng condom sa mga sex workers
ay nagpababa ng kaso ng STI mula sa 410,406 na kaso noong 1994 sa 27,362 noong 1997.
Kung ang Pilipinas ay tutulad sa mga ginawang pagkilos ng mga bansa sa Asya tulad ng ng Thailand na tutol
sa pagdami ng kaso ng STI at HIV-AIDS, mas makakapag-ingat ang mga tao laban sa impeksyong ito.
Kung ipagpapatuloy ng mga Obispo ng CBCP ang pagiging bulag, bingi at manhid nito, patuloy din na lalaki
ang bilang ng mga tao, kasama na ang mga kabataan, na maaring magakaroon ng HIV-AIDS. Marami sa mga kabataan
ngayon ang nag-aakalang nagagamot pa ang sakit na AIDS, isang indikasyon ng mababang kalidad ng impormasyon
na nakukuha namin mula sa mga kaibigan at media. Sa panahon ngayon, higit na kailangan naming mga kabataan
ang impormasyon, edukasyon at serbisyong tutugon sa mga sekswal at reproduktibong pangangailangan namin.
Napatunayan ng maraming pag-aaral na ang sexuality education na tinatalakay ang tamang paggamit ng condom
ay hindi naghihimok sa mga kabataan na maaagang makipagtalik (Blake, 2003; Guttmacher, et al., 1997; USPHS,
Surgeon General 2001) at nakatutulong din na mapababa ang bilang ng maagang nagbubuntis (CDC, 2004c).
Ibang-iba na ang takbo ng panahon ng mga kabataan ngayon. Kailangang maging bukas ang isip ng lahat, lalo na
ng mga nasa gobyerno, sa pagtugon sa problemang kinahaharap sa kasalukuyan ng mga kabataan. Kinikilala namin
ang kahalagahan ng abstinence bilang isang option ng mga kabataan pero alintana rin namin ang mga resulta ng
mga pag-aaral na nagsasabing ang “abstinence lamang” na paraan sa pag-iwas sa HIV ay hindi nagpakita ng long
term effect, lalo na sa mga kabataang nakikipagtalik na (Bearman & Bruckner, 2001; Jemmott, Jemmott & Fong, 1998;
Kirby, Korpi, Barth & Cagampang, 1997)
Mas dapat na bigyang tutok ng gobyerno ang mga programang magtuturo kung paano pangangalagaan ng mamamayan,
lalo na ng mga kabataan, ang kanilang sariling katawan at kalusugan. Kung kaya’t kami sa Likhaan-Youth ay
sumasaludo sa insiyatiba ng DOH sa pangunguna ni Sec. Esperanza Cabral sa pagkilala sa tunay na solusyon sa
pag-iwas sa HIV-AIDS. Naniniwala kami na ang mga kabataan ay may kapasidad na mag-isip para sa sarili, lalung
lalo na para sa ikabubuti.
Kiko dela Tonga
Youth Program Coordinator
Likhaan Center for Women’s Health, Inc.
#88 Times Street, West Triangle Homes, Quezon City 1104 Philippines
Tel.: 02 926-6230; 02 411-3151
Email: kiko@likhaan.org; office@likhaan.org
Sources:
C. Raymundo, YAFFS 3, 2004, UPPI
CDC, 2003 p. 9; CDC, 1993; Crosby, DiClemente, Wingood, Lang, Harrington, 2003; Macaluso, et al, 1999
1http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs243/en/
2http://journals.lww.com/stdjournal/Fulltext/2002/12000/Condom_Effectiveness__Factors_That_Influence_Risk.13.aspx
2http://journals.lww.com/stdjournal/Fulltext/1997/03000/An_In_Vitro_Evaluation_of_Condoms_as_Barriers_to_a.7.aspx
Blake, 2003; Guttmacher, et al., 1997; USPHS, Surgeon General 2001
Bearman & Bruckner, 2001; Jemmott, Jemmott & Fong, 1998; Kirby, Korpi, Barth & Cagampang, 1997
CDC, 2004c
March 2nd, 2010 18:39
While the condom distribution campaign is a step in the right direction, there is still a lot of work to be done in raising awareness on condom usage. The contraceptive prevalence rate of condoms is less than 2 percent.
Back when USAID was still funding the contraceptive program in the country, boxes and boxes of free condoms were just left to expire in health centers. The midwives would say that they don’t have a lot of condom acceptors.
March 3rd, 2010 09:28
Checked out “The Rundown” last night. The Health Secretary was impressive. The other guest seemed way out of her league. She really should have studied before facing off on air… Glad you were able to get a few “jabs” in yourself Ricky. Well done!
March 3rd, 2010 12:10
from gary olivar of manila standard
Here are some interesting reactions to my earlier columns:
From James Gabrido: “Why is it that the rating agencies which I think have a more fair and unbiased assessment of economic outlook of a country have consistently rated the Philippines a bit better than our own so-called economists [have]? This puzzles me. This is a case of crab mentality.
The ABS-CBN News Channel, for instance, consistently paints a gloomy picture of the country. It’s so unfair. ABS-CBN of Lopez clan and the Philippine Daily Inquirer have been tearing us apart as a nation! And now they say ‘Ako ang simula’?”
March 3rd, 2010 21:10
i saw the rundown too last night. i agree with leonard – the other guest looked like an idiot. cabral did well. and she’s running for public office? good job ricky.
March 3rd, 2010 21:11
i meant the other person’s running for public office? good luck …
March 4th, 2010 07:27
James,
The rating agencies are fair and unbiased? Do you mean Standard and Poors, Moody’s, etc? The same guys who rated all those subprime mortgages AAA? The same ones that maintained their outlook on Lehman and Bear Stearns just days before they went bankrupt? The same ones who have been criticised by US regulators for conflict of interest because they were being paid by the same companies they were rating? That’s your idea of fair and unbiased?
But then again that’s probably the same unbiased reasoning used to make all these glowing assessments of the economy under Gloria. haha!
March 4th, 2010 07:59
James,
I read that article yesterday blasting ABS-CBN as well. Rating agencies aside, the climate in the Philippines is far worse than “gloomy”.
Ricky,
Glad you have a bit more latitude when questioning guests on “The Rundown”. Look out Anderson Cooper! There’s a new sheriff in town!
March 4th, 2010 08:06
You can’t really will anybody “change” anything unless you hit them with the bitterness of reality.
Adversity breeds resolve.
March 4th, 2010 15:12
I wonder if the next president would have the balls to put someone like her in the same position… or would it be back to square one again… like the days of Padre Damaso all over?
March 6th, 2010 18:42
Well, so much for the Church’s stance as a bastion of morality – a Papal Aide at the Vatican is under fire for being linked to prostitution ring.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/03/papal-aide-vatican-singer-fired-over-alleged-gay-prostitute-ring-/1
How the hell can the CBCP can claim being in the right, despite the crass hypocrisy their leaders in Italy?
March 8th, 2010 04:21
Condom or no condom. The Church has no business
on people copulating.
March 8th, 2010 14:56
I think distributing condom would encourage teens to have sex (probably to anybody whom they like).
The best way to avoid STD’s is to educate them not to engage in pre-marital sex or extra-marital sex.
March 13th, 2010 02:58
@Kram
Slippery slope argument much its like saying showing a teen a pack of smokes automatically makes them want to smoke.
My sister in high school has seen what a condom looks like, has seen cigarettes, and has very little interest in the use of either.
So please – quit it with the bullshit logic.
March 28th, 2010 14:28
Are we that afraid of the church that we can’t see for ourself how the country is over populated? I was in Pangasinan for 3 months from October to end of January and I offered to pay for birth control for several women with 5 kids and I was laughed at. The poor women from the villages are mostly afraid of the church, PERIOD!
April 19th, 2010 14:18
It’s her own free will so she knows where her soul is going to… HELL. Bless her soul, muy estupido that she follows what the devil presidente told her. What God said is “Go on and multiply” not “go on and lessen population” que horror… look what happen in China bcoz of 1 child policy the people in the government is getting older now so who’s gonna take charge el gobyerno? the ANIMAL? The hidden agenda of using the condom is to HAVE FREE SEX from 10 yrs & above… CARRAMBA!!!