The RH Bill - From the eye of a Cab Driver

I support the RH Bill and have been an advocate of Reproductive Health since 2005, spreading its concepts and benefits to teenagers, young adults, and parents in economically-challenged communities of our country through the Non-Government Organization that I worked with before. I have understood its benefits to the people on both opposing worlds where money is the dividing line between the two but listening to a point of view of a cab driver made me realize the urgency and need of implementing the RH Bill.

I arrived in Cebu City after an hour of flight from Manila for a few days stay. As soon as I exited the Mactan Cebu International Airport, I immediately got to the regular taxi stand and hopped on a cab with a non-calibrated meter (saved me about P50.00). Manong driver was very courteous to greet me and asked if I am from Manila and if I understand Cebuano. I went on coversing with him in Cebuano to give him the idea that I know the place - which just made me feel secure.

As we started our journey to Banilad, I started asking about the Gimik events here in Cebu just to start the conversation rolling. It went from events, tv networks, food places, and etc. We slowed down to a halt in an intersection when a little girl, about 7, approached the window side where I was sitting and knocked, started singing, and begged for some few pesos that I could spare for her. I just said No, since I didn't have loose change to give. As the lights turned green, we were off.

Then Manong driver commented, "ayaw gyud na hatagi sir kay kung tagaan nimo ang isa, daghan na musunod ana. Kaluoy ba gyud anang mga bataa, kung wla lang unta nagpataka ang mga ginikanan ug panganak, dili unta nila masinatian ang kapit-os sa kinabuhi." [Don't give them anything Sir, if you give to one, the other will come as well. I pity those children, if only their parents was responsible enough, they would not have experienced that difficult life]. I was taken aback by his words and asked him, what would have done differently to have spared this children from poverty. He said that it is a chain of poverty where peole live on the street or even those who are in the slums irresponsibly pro-create. They already know that they are living in poverty but still had as many children as they can without even considering that they are barely earning to get by just the two of them. As a result, children get hungry which leads to begging to get food for the day. And once these children started to taste more food from illegal and inappropriate channels, they will start to crave for more like prostitution and drug dealing. Then become irresponsible people, bearing children they could not attend to and the cycle repeats. That's why he supports the RH Bill.

I know that cab drivers talk a lot but this one just threw some sense into me. He is more of an advocate that I am. He just summarized the points where RH champions.That people need to be informed of the different birth-control methods including the natural methods that would give them the choice on what to use and these information will be provided to them. This way they can plan their family sizes and even plan as to how they are going to grow it. The need on educating the youth on the ill effects of teenage pregnancy. And in the event that they are, get them ready for maternity. And guiding the parents on the psycho-social and sexual development of their children as they play a major role.

What he has seen is reality. I just hope that others would be able to see reality and remove those clouds in their eyes that hinders them from seeing clearly. We don't want to continue this cycle, right? We need to act now.