"The Woven Tapestry" by Lucas Xavier Bakker
It is an unfortunate reality that women of the Philippines still suffer from innumerable issues, so many that it is nigh impossible to write about them in a single essay alone. To eradicate them would require a change in people’s dispositions, especially men, and a complete restructuring of our system. So many of these problems have become so ingrained in our society and norms, that it is of the utmost importance we draw attention to them to begin picking these threads out of the woven tapestry of Filipino culture. Perhaps the largest of these issues is that of reproductive health and the access to contraceptives.
To begin, there is an evident lack of access to contraceptives in our country. For over twenty years now, the fight for a more widespread access to contraceptives for women has persisted. For years in Manila contraceptives were outright banned, making it impossible for women to protect themselves from pregnancy. This restriction on the ability for a woman to take care of her own body was more than just a restriction of access, it was a restriction of basic human rights. This has gotten slightly better in previous years, however, such as when in 2017 according to the Human Rights Watch a ban on 51 different contraceptives were lifted, but still we are nowhere near fully solving the problem. The fact that only five years ago these contraceptives were allowed speaks volumes to how our country progressed in terms of reaching equality.
While many contraceptives are now allowed, the availability of these are less than desired. A report made to the UN Human Rights Council just last year states that the Philippines has failed to provide adequate access to contraceptives and reproductive health services. This has only exacerbated with the pandemic, when emergency reproductive health care services were practically forgotten in pursuit of stopping the virus. These are vital to the safety of not only women but younger girls who face sexual abuse and require immediate treatment.
This issue does not lay in the government, it lies in our very culture itself. In a highly religious, conservative country, change is looked down upon while a promotion of outdated ideals continues to prevail. This is what is hindering our progress towards creating a better place for the women of our nation, this is why the progress that is being made is so agonizingly slow. For every step forward, a group of conservative lawmakers force us back. Religion dictates politics, even if it means mowing down human rights to please God. There is nothing wrong with religion, but it is definitely wrong to let it control us. Everyone has a right to choose their own religion, and it’s unjust that those who do not follow a certain religion are forced to comply with its rules.
Of course, a meager access to reproductive health services have a drastic impact on the women of the Philippines. Without contraception, the possibility of STDs to occur grows largely, not to mention the chances of getting pregnant. Getting pregnant is such an upheaval in one’s life, which many feel unprepared for. No contraception leads to an increase in unplanned pregnancies, which unfortunately happen often here. This then goes beyond simply affecting just women- it impacts our country as a whole, and is a main reason for why the Philippines is still seeing a steep rise in population and it gets harder and harder for the nation to sustain its ever-growing numbers.
The act of giving birth is also quite dangerous, and without proper healthcare many can die from it. These threats not only affect physical health, but also mental health. Imagine, for a second, being a woman who has no access to contraception or emergency healthcare- the fear of contracting STDs or getting pregnant is crushing. You feel unsafe everywhere, nothing can protect you, in a country where rape and sexual abuse are so prominent. This level of distress is almost unimaginable to those who have not experienced it, but it takes quite the toll on one’s health.
These issues have an effect on everyone, but it is important to focus on what matters most here- even today, Filipino women face countless restrictions on their rights, denied access to services they need to protect themselves from STDs, pregnancies, and death itself. The system of our country needs to be changed, along with we as people being more open to progress rather than sticking to traditions that only do more harm than good.
Bibliography:
- Caliwan, C. L. (2017, November 15). Ban on contraceptives deemed lifted. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1016029 -
Goldberg, J. (2021, January 26). A right to contraception in the Philippines. Center for Reproductive Rights. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://reproductiverights.org/a-right-to-contraception-in-the-philippines/ -
Philippines lifts ban on 51 contraceptives. Human Rights Watch. (2020, October 28). Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/11/20/philippines-lifts-ban-51-contraceptives -
Santos, A. P. (2017, March 13). The fight over access to contraception – DW – 03/13/2017. dw.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023, from https://www.dw.com/en/filipino-women-struggle-for-birth-control/a-37918902