Odds and Ends 7/7/10

Antagonizing the press
by Armando Doronilla

"...This behavior does not come as a surprise, because of Luistro’s background as a street campaigner. He is a cleric and was chancellor and president of De La Salle University. His appointment as head of the Department of Education immediately raises the issue of whether clerics should ever be elected or appointed to public office, given the explicit constitutional mandate separating Church and State."

Poor Armando Doronilla. What a pity he is not aware that Luistro is NOT a cleric. Either that, or he does not know the simple fact that a cleric means a member of the clergy, in other words a person ordained to the Sacrament of Holy Orders. DepEd Chief Luistro is not a member of the clergy, but a member of the De La Salle Brothers - a religious LAY organization whose apostolate is education. So Doronilla is taking off from an erroneous premise when he raises the issue of "clerics..appointed to office, given the explicit constitutional mandate separating Church and State". It never ceases to amaze me that the even the remotest issue concerning the Church and State likely brings up the issue of "separation of Church and State", without an understanding of what it really means. It then remains a mystery what "explicit constitutional mandate" (really?!? explain please) Mr. Doronilla is referring to.
/
DOH chief to promote reproductive health

"MANILA, Philippines - New Health Secretary Enrique Ona vowed to promote reproductive health and to expand the membership and benefit packages of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) in the next three years.

According to Ona, he received five orders from President Aquino, foremost of which is the expansion of PhilHealth coverage.

Ona said the Department of Health, under the Aquino administration, would also promote reproductive health as a means to ensure the health and welfare of the family.

To do this, the department would conduct an information campaign on responsible parenthood by giving all possible options to achieve family size based on one’s desire and capacity."

The term "Reproductive Health" seems open to many definitions as well, much like "separation of church and state". At least the UN is much more specific in its definition, emphasizing "safe and satisfying sex life" (huh?).
For DOH Chief Ona, it all boils down to conducting an "information campaign on responsible parenthood by giving all possible options to achieve family size based on one’s desire and capacity". Pretty much sounds like teaching family planning methods. I doubt if responsible parenthood can actually be promoted by DOH if all they do is teach parents to be informed about "all possible options" of family planning methods. I believe the use and purpose of contraceptives are common knowledge enough (although NFP is not) , and family planning should not be so much an issue of cost either. Condoms cost P4 a piece. There are birth control pills that cost about P40 for one cycle/month. Sending text messages average 10 to 20 pesos per day. A bottle of gin - a daily favorite among the menfolk in the iskinitas - costs P120. NFP does not cost anything. It appears more an issue of promoting the right attitude and discipline. I sure hope DOH can teach and promote that. Good luck.
/