UPDATES...UPDATES...
Dear Mr.Celdran:
I am a travel writer and have in fact, promoted your walking tours in one of my assignments. However, I was appalled after reading about your birth control agenda at the Sunday Inquirer. If I knew that you use your tours to promote your social agenda and not the country’s agenda, then I wouldn’t have recommended your tours in the first place. Now I know better.
Please re-think your strategy as it serves to divide the people. As a tour guide, your role should be to provide a good historical and cultural overview, not to moralize. While you may think that the people around you are amused, there are those who have taken notice and are sorely disappointed.
Please try to unite not divide the country. After all, the role of a tour guide is sensitive because you do represent the country to the world. If you can bring the people to a common ground, then you may become more renowned than you’ve ever been.
Sincerely,
M**** R****
Huh? My own "agenda"? The country's "agenda"? What? Oh my. I have nothing to say to that. I will leave it all up to everyone else to fill in the blanks with what I might say.
Meanwhile, peace to you Miss M. Your opinion, though unwarranted, is totally valid. I am really quite sorry for disappointing you, I really wish it could have been otherwise.
Meanwhile, back to my, ahem... "agenda"...
Updates: Hey, remember Dinlay? The lady from the shantytown near San Agustin Church who begged for me to pay for her ligation? Well, good news. I checked up on her a few days ago, and she got one. Frankly, I was really afraid she was gonna run off with the Php500.00 I gave her but she actually went out and got one. See? She kept her word. Not all squatter folk are wretched beings willing to steal your cellphone and sell their first born for a packet of meth, ok?
And it seems that my "agenda" is gaining ground. Since my "poverty" tour and press conference for the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) in Intramuros last August 14, (above - view of press panel, organizers, and a few of the attendees), I heard that ten (10) more congressmen have signed on to approve the bill. Thank you very much Dr. Azucena Suplido, Former Health Secretary Dr. Alberto Romualdez, UNFPA Representative Ms. Suneeta Mukherjee, and UP Economics Prof. Philip Medalla for speaking so eloquently during the forum. I also learned from this event that this conservative stance against contraception (Humanae Vitae) was only picked up by the Catholic heirarchy only recently (as in 1968) and it's passing was not unanimously approved within the heirarchy itself. So this letter, which has resulted in the oppression of Catholic women/mothers for the last 40 years could just be a product of inter Vatican politics and drama pala? Well, I guess that's true. All the laws and rules of the heirarchy are written by human beings at the end of the day. And human beings, unlike God, are not perfect.
Best of all, Miss Lisa Macuja Elizalde joined the meeting and volunteered to be the face of a new movement called Speak Out! Catholics for Reproductive Health. She is so brave to publicly show support for such an (undeservedly) controversial topic. And she is also really glamorous. Once again, I look like a giggling idiot in the photo.
And of course, a Carlos Celdran tour of poverty would not be complete without the mandatory giving away of condoms like candy to the city's less privileged (above, me looking for people to throw condoms at).
Finally, watch RH DEBATE at 8:00pm ANC tonight and watch Atty. Jess Sison, Congressman Zialcita, and Cong. Liwayway Chato talk themselves into a hole in a debate with Dr. Alfredo Romualdez, Cong. Edcel Lagman, and Prof. Philip Medalla of UP Economics Department. Be sure to send your text votes in at the end of the show. Support the speakers that make the most sense, OK?
Oh, and one more thing. I have in my grubby little hands the names of the 
congressmen who are UNDECIDED about the RH Bill. Hmmm. Perhaps we should send them a nice note saying that they should do the right thing and vote the right way? Tell them things like , "The Reproductive Health Bill is not pro-abortion" and that "The RH Bill is absolutely integral to the improvement of Philippine society as a whole."
And you can quote me on that. Email celdrantours@hotmail.com and I'll send you the list. It's way too long to print on this blog.
And on other completely unrelated matters, thank you so much Dot for the great feature in the Davao Sun Star, and thanks Vonjobi for the post. See y'all later.
posted by carlosceldran @ 12:00 PM
31 Comments:
Who is this M.R.
Is she/he from UST? I want to slap her silly!
I respect M.R. and her (presumably) religion-dictated views. At least she was polite in her letter to you. I actually agree that by distributing contraceptives and paying for ligations, you *are* forwarding your own agenda -- that of reproductive health and population control. (And I think you deserve thunderous applause for it!) I see nothing at all wrong in that. EVERYONE, no matter how objective, apolitical, or ambivalent they think they are, has an agenda. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and if the agenda is for the good, then promoting that agenda is laudable. As a tour guide, you do, in a way, you represent the country; but you are also an individual, and so cannot help but color your tour with your own belief system. Besides, I think everyone would agree that you are FAR from the typical tour guide who merely spouts a predetermined spiel. Your personality and style (and therefore, your opinions and unique take on things) are the biggest reason your tours are so popular. You yourself say that your tour is a "performance." As such, people should know to expect that the things you say and do are *your own* assertions, and not the governement's, or even the Filipinos' in general.
Which is why, what struck me most about M.R.'s letter is her mention of the "country's agenda." Where does she get the idea that banning contraception is the country's agenda? The national government has not (so far) made reproductive health illegal, and I think it's safe to say that the govt. knows we are overpopulated and what the grave effects of that are. If she means that it is the country's agenda because she believes that this is what is good for the country, then what she's really doing is promoting *her own* agenda, isn't she? And she has every right to do that, just as you have every right to do the same. Given my own agenda, of course, I sincerely hope your efforts are much more successful than hers. ;-)
That's terrific news about Dinlay! I hope she inspires many other women to do the same. I'm so glad your RH launch last week was successful. My family and I really wanted to attend, but none of us was free that morning. :-/
I think it's wonderful that Carlos injects 'major' social issues together with his tours. I think it's most imperative that tourists AND some 'out of touch' Filipinos be shown and reminded that birth control is crucial in not only the Philippines, but other countries as well. Although religion inevitably becomes the main focus in the debate, this should not be the case.
Poverty is crippling for many people. And talking about it to others as a tour professional, is incredibly important and well, quite noble really.
Yes it's uncomfortable to look at.
Yes your heart hurts when you see that the issue can be bettered.
Yes, every single person deserves the right to decide whether or not they want a baby.
And men need to be responsible by wearing condoms, (which the government should readily provide for free.
I also believe that some of the billions of dollars the Philippines receives in aid should go directly to family planning and womans reproductive education programs.
It's human nature to be intimate.
People are designed for the most part to find one another and mate.
It is ultimately what keeps the world turning.
It's not a lack of discipline that produces too many babies, it's a lack of education and true and tested birth control.
I understand why Carlos is being criticized by some for his decision. But I applaud him.
Turning away from the social reality is how the Philippines got into this mess in the first place.
Agenda?
Since when is a persons education visual affirmation an Agenda?
Keep it up Carlos.
At first I misunderstood your methods, but now I applaud them.
I think its brilliant and MORE people should do what Carlos is doing.
After all, he is a grown man with a voice, right?
And the last things I will say is that religion is the reason for this mess in the first place. So to use it as a tool for ones opinion is the same thing as what Carlos is being accused of doing.
CONDOMS for EVERYONE I say.
FREE FREE FREE!!!!!!!
Keep telling people how you feel and what you know C.
B
Printed on bond paper? How... quaint. Sort of like M. R.'s views. It's so... retro. Mwahahaha!!!
Keep up the good work Carlos. A letter or lightning cannot stop you from your crusade of being caring person.
GREAT JOB!!!
Keep it up Carlos, some people are blind to see that what's further dividing the country is poverty brought about by over population.
Population control should be the country's agenda, specially if the country cannot provide even the most basic of public service.
Without further ado, and no pun intended, my hat's off to you Sir... *tips baseball cap*.
Keep doing what you are doing. Manila owes you so much for all that you are doing. While most of us have left the country for greener pastures, you are staying behind to promote our heritage. And on top of that, I admire you even more for taking up this very important cause. How do we make sure you get the TOYM award? And where do I send you condoms and pills?
On the other hand, having a FREE condom entitles some of these man to screw anyone they like with a promise, the girl will not get pregnant. It's a two way sword.
On the other hand, used for the appropriate reason, it's a tool not only to prevent disease but as a form of contraception.
Since these people are poor and the cost of a condom beyond there means, there should be a reusable condom out there.
Sorry for my graphic words. The only way to catch your attention.
hey carl well done on a great idea! Why I am so proud of you is the fact that you are enabling change from the grassroots level which have been proven to be more effective than mere promises of actions and political posturing. To make a difference in other peoples lives is highly admirable and do keep up the good work as it will be your one legacy as a human being. I hope that people would make a similar contribution to the filipino society like what you have done rather than poison us with their religious rhetoric. As an Australian with filipino heritage, I believe in the democratic principle of allowing people to have a right to express their views. However we also believe that if "you have nothing good to say then say nothing" as none of it will have any contributing influence to the betterment of the people. regards m. may
Religion aside... The problem is not really the population but wealth distribution and social justice (or lack thereof). Cutting down on people will only give us an older population (more senior citizens and less working bodies to fund the cost of their elders retirement) just like Europe. What is wrong is not the contraception itself but the mindset it brings with it that more children is bad.
The only solution to poverty is "...one person [government] who truly loves us." not band-aid solutions like cutting down on our country's most precious resource-people-because it will only hurt us in the longer term.
*pardon the reference to Lost
Hi Carlos, I totally support you on your "Agenda" and I know that opinions against this from religion-based naysayers are inevitable won't sway you from your mission.
I have a totally unrelated question for you: Is that a bulging tummy in your pictures or is that just an optical illusion?
hey! Really nice blog = )
Anyways, can I exchange links with you? that is, include my blog (http://joenil.blogspot.com) to your list, and I'll do the same? hehe. Kind of share the same passion in traveling.
thanks & goodluck!
- Joenil
Nerdluck, no one is saying that more children is a bad thing in itself. However, when you are still bringing more children into this world when you cannot even feed nor educate your existing children, I say it's time to do something.
People may be our country's best resource but only if they have skills and/or an education to offer potential employers.
As for the scenario in Europe and Canada, I think that the modest efforts being made toward population control won't bring us anywhere near the tipping point for that to happen anytime soon.
Hi Carlos,
a modern tour guide in tourism has to tackle also critical issues and should not only fefer to historical facts. That is what tourism research on tour guiding says today. You do connect the history with present issues of the society and that is good! Go on with it!
Tom
What Katrina said.
I think it's healthy for people to have an "agenda" designed to help others. Nothing wrong with being politically engaged on social issues: it means you actually care about your country, and have hope that things can change for the better. It means one hasn't given up.
I don't understand people who need to slap that "divisive" label on others just because they don't personally agree with them.
And was there a competition for Official Filipino Spokesperson On All Things Filipino that this MH won? Hum. I must have missed it.
@ Nerdluck: Well, I think the things you name also have an important role in poverty. This isn't to say those shouldn't be addressed.
But sociologists do indeed say that overpopulation IS near the top factor creating poverty in a country. So to fight national poverty, slowing the population growth to sustainable levels is a commonly agreed upon necessity, among those who get funding to analyze poverty.
Common sense probably explains the basics as well any socioeconomic data does: families who have 2 children have more wealth than families with 7 children, both in the short and long-term.
Singapore is now finding it hard to encourage their citizens to change their preference from "stop at 2" to "have 4 or more." They are now desperately encouraging the people to mate. Only time will tell if they can reverse the downward spiral their birth rate is now free falling in. The mindset is now difficult to change.
Band aids don't really heal the wound beneath it unless it is treated first.
Nerdluck: Your arguments sound like the same points raised by my teachers and Zealot classmates in my Opus Dei high school.
1. I don't believe in imposing 2-child policies or anything or that sort, but I believe in people having the opportunity to make informed choices. And that includes having a say and control on how many children a family can have, whether they want 2 or 10. With that in mind, imposing an anti-Reproductive Health bill IS can be just as anti-humanity as the government dictating 2-child policies.
2. Analogy time? Depending on the wound, yes, it's true that a band aid won't really heal anything, but I know for a fact that healing and treatment would come easier if you clear the environment and create some breathing room.
Nerdluck.
Your arguments do not hold water at all. You talk about a scenario that is already POST birth control promotion. Part of the reason why Singapore is where it is today is because they controlled the growth of their population.
Did it ever occur to you that their promotion of birth control is WHY they are so rich now?
And now just like other developed first world countries, Singapore can expand it's cultural base and IMPORT immigrants to fill in the gap like the US, Canada and Spain etc..
If they choose to liberalize their immigration policies, Singapore will soon look multi culti and fascinating like France and other countries THAT COULD ABSORB immigrants from poor countries like the Philippines.
Stop answering already, nerdluck. Your arguments are just echoes from some Opus Dei college professor. Your arguments, which are old AND DISPROVEN, are obviously not your own.
Ok, ok, I can see when my opinion is not wanted. Forgive me if I thought this space was ok to be a venue for discussion. Apparently, it is not. There is no need to be hostile because if you read back on my comments, I was not.
BTW, I do not take offense at being told to shut up, but I do take offense in being called an echo. My opinions are my own derived from what I gathered from materials available to me in my job in a parenting magazine among others.
And in my opinion, Singapore is not rich in terms of culture and I think the author of this blog will agree that poverty of culture is worse than poverty of resource. Culture comes from people, after all. What's this blog about again?
@ everyone: Let's all agree to disagree, ok?
I really enjoy Carlos' blog because it's a space for discussion on Philippine issues with interesting points of view. And this is a thought-provoking thread
Let's try to disagree about the comments posted without engaging in the personal attacks. That's the deathkiss of good discussion on the internet. Address the content of what's said, not the person. Let's be respectful of each other. Agreed?
Stay away from this discussion if you are "pikon".And stop being so melodramatic,di bagay.Philippines need some sort of population management and we don't have to copy the west.I think we should start thinking what's the best for us pinoys.Unfortunately, we do have to face the truth,we have to look at the catholic church in the eye and say,you are wrong on this!
Indiobravo
As the author of the blog, Nerdluck, I politely must disagree.
Poverty of resource is the worst of all. Really, it is.
Singapore, Thailand, and many other countries who have raised themselves out of the third world have benefitted from a strong population management policy. Smaller families, more resources, healthier mothers, and a manageable national education system are just a few of the benefits.
No amount of excuses about inequitable distribution of resources ek ek ek can dispute that.
Sorry. Population management is something that we have needed for a long time. I'm surprised as an editor of a parenting magazine, you don't see that. Please tell me who are the sources of your information.
Did you know that 40% of all pregnancies in the Philippines are unwanted? and from that, almost 30% of them end up in an illegal abortion? Just a couple of days ago, a fetus was found in a bathroom at Plaza Lawton outside Intramuros.
Now tell me how much better is this situation than teaching mothers about condoms and other forms of birth control?
I am far from pikon sir or ma'am. I was just surprised that you would rather keep me silent than take my side into consideration. I have not even stated that I disagree with informed choice. Note this line on my first comment: "What is wrong is not the contraception itself..." That would be strange to hear from an Opus Dei Professor or an advocate of the Catholic church which you seem to have issues with. I'll make it clear that my position is against THE mindset that having more children is bad for us. I'm also not here to shoot holes on the bill's merits (I am not quite qualified to take on the author as I am but a simple-minded man) but to inject some issues into the discussion that I feel should be considered. The intention is just easily mistaken for the other. Please keep the discussion open and not try to force me out. This is my last comment anyway since deadlines are here and I'm in trouble as it is already. Suffer me for just a little more.
@Sir Carlos
I'm not an editor, I am an illustrator and graphic designer. I understand the statistics but I hope you also take these facts into consideration: The average annual Philippine birthrate between 1990 to 2006 was down to 2.1% from an average of 2.6% for the years 1970 to 1990(UNICEF) while the number of the elderly of the population rose to 3.5% between 1980 to 1990. The median age of Filipinos in the 1970's was 17.6 and rose to 19.7 in 1990 and 21.0 in 2000. The NSO projections show this number to rise to 28.4 by 2020. Our fertility rate for 2007 stands at 3.05, well above the ideal replacement rate of 2.1 but it trends down from 3.29 in 2003. Our population is ageing. I concede to the fact that cutting down our growth rate will bring about a boom in economic growth but this will be temporary as the needs of an ageing population will siphon more resources than the working-young can provide. The economic implications could be apparent only when we are already on retirement. Woe to us then. If it happens after us, woe to our children.
Then there is also the case of our endangered indigenous people. Their culture and way of life is already dying. But we should leave that for them to decide, right?
Nerdluck:
The numbers you quote are from a time when a population policy was in place. Would be interesting to see what happened after 2000, when it was all but ignored and the sins of neglecting to educate the kids of the 90s became apparent as they reached child-bearing age.
I think everybody should be given access to information in order to make INFORMED decisions. Denying them this choice is wrong.
If you don't agree with Carlos.
It is better for you to write your own Blog. about what you think about birth control pills and other anti family planning.
Me and Carlos don't know each other but as a fellow Blogger.
I respect his courage and determination, to show to the world than an ordinary person can do Great things for his country.
The issue is not over population but from STD's,Aids and list goes on. It is a democratic country and everyone is entitle with his/her own opinion.
Anybody here catch that debate on ANC between Liwayway Vinzons Chato and Edcel Lagman? Chato was totally freaking me out! It was a total feat of contortonist logic when she related the success of natural family planning with Mother Teresa. Nabaliw ako!
But I was waiting for Lagman to point out to Chato that not everybody in the RP is Catholic and therefore her argument against FP is, really, her own lang (she was quoting Humanae Vitae na kasi kaya medyo napakamot na ako ng ulo). Would have loved to see her counter that one.
Carlos Said:
Did you know that 40% of all pregnancies in the Philippines are unwanted? and from that, almost 30% of them end up in an illegal abortion?
I'm ready to believe this statistic. Could you please tell me the source? Not that i don't trust you - it's just that I would like to be able to quote it as well.
I heard this while at the presscon held by the RHAN. Reproductive Health Advocacy Network.
I think they have a site. Not sure if the statistic on it but they probably have a link.
Miriam:
The source of information which says that from the 3 million pregnancies each year in the Philippines, half of them are unplanned (1.5 Milions!) and 1/3 of those unplanned end up in abortion (that is 470,000 iligal abortions every year in the Philippines!!!) commes from the Guttmacher Institute - Unintended Pregnancy and Induced Abortions in the Philippines, causes and consequences. . The report also states that family planning could reduce 30% maternal mortality (11 mothers day every day in the Philippines of pregnancy related causes, many of them due to unsafe abortions. . I am sending the full report to Carlos's email. Family planning does not induce abortion but on the contrary prevents it. Access to reproductive health is not a matter of faith,and shoudn't be exclusive for the rich,it is a human right.
Thanks love
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