President Noynoy Aquino Signals Strong Support for the Reproductive Parenthood-Reproductive Health Bill

... Naaalala ko tuloy ang batang nakilala ko sa Baseco. Talagang nakapinta sa mukha niya ang hinagpis. Papaano ba naman, labing-anim na taon lang pala siya, dalawa na ang naging anak niya. Paano niya papakainin ang mga bata, paano niya paaaralin, gayong wala silang trabaho ng kanyang asawa?

Sino po ba ang nagkulang? Sino ang nagtulak sa kanila sa ganitong sitwasyon? Paano bumagsak sa kanilang mga balikat ang ganitong pananagutan? At ang pinakamahalagang tanong: Ano ba ang aking magagawa?

Buo ang loob ko na maisabatas ang prinsipyo ng Responsible Parenthood. Mulat ako na may mga tutol dito. Subalit obligasyon ko bilang pinuno na lumapit sa lahat ng sektor, para kausapin at magpaliwanag sa kanila nang mahinahon -- kahit pa ang sabi ng iba’y dapat i-excommunicate na ako. Kailangan po nating pakinggan maski na ang mga taong, sa pananaw ng marami, ay sarado na ang isipan. Pero sa huli, kailangan kong magdesisyon. Kailangan ko pa ring sundin ang aking kunsensiya. Kailangan kong gawin ang tama. ...

- from President Benigno S. Aquino III's Speech during the Conferment Ceremony and Attendance at the University of the Philippines-Diliman 100th Commencement Exercises UP Amphitheatre, UP Diliman, Quezon City 17 April 2011. Read the full text of the speech here.

Here's our translation of the above portion of the President's speech:

... I remember a child I met in Baseco. You can really see the anguish in her face. But why not? She's only 16, but she already has two children. How can she feed these kids, how can she send them to school, when both she and her husband have no job?

Who is at fault? Who pushed them to this situation? How did this responsibility fall on their shoulders? And the most important question: What can I do?

I am committed to enact into law the principle of Responsible Parenthood. I am aware that there are people who oppose this. But as a leader, it is my obligation to approach all sectors, to talk with them and explain to them in a calm way—even if some say that I should already be excommunicated. We have to listen even to people who, in the opinion of many, have already closed their minds. But in the end, I need to make a decision. I still need to follow my conscience. I need to do what is right. ...