'Not bird, not flower': Parents urged to teach correct terms under comprehensive sexuality education | ABS-CBN
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'Not bird, not flower': Parents urged to teach correct terms under comprehensive sexuality education
Department of Health-Calabarzon, Department of Education and local governments launch "TEENdig Kabataan" in Antipolo, Rizal on March 20, 2023, to address different health issues faced by teenagers like teen pregnancy, mental health and HIV. Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News/File
Department of Health-Calabarzon, Department of Education and local governments launch "TEENdig Kabataan" in Antipolo, Rizal on March 20, 2023, to address different health issues faced by teenagers like teen pregnancy, mental health and HIV. Raphael Bosano, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA — Adolescent pregnancies have been increasing in recent years – enough for concerned government agencies and civil society organizations (CSOs) to call these numbers "alarming" in a press conference calling on lawmakers to pass the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill on Monday.
MANILA — Adolescent pregnancies have been increasing in recent years – enough for concerned government agencies and civil society organizations (CSOs) to call these numbers "alarming" in a press conference calling on lawmakers to pass the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill on Monday.
Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) executive director Usec. Angelo Tapales dubbed it as a "landmark" legislation because it will "change the lives" of adolescents as they will be given more attention.
Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) executive director Usec. Angelo Tapales dubbed it as a "landmark" legislation because it will "change the lives" of adolescents as they will be given more attention.
Agencies and groups are also asking the Office of the President to re-issue Executive Order No. 141 series of 2021, which adopts as "a national priority the implementation of measures to address the root causes of the rising number of teenage pregnancies, and mobilizing government agencies for the purpose.”
Agencies and groups are also asking the Office of the President to re-issue Executive Order No. 141 series of 2021, which adopts as "a national priority the implementation of measures to address the root causes of the rising number of teenage pregnancies, and mobilizing government agencies for the purpose.”
The press conference was organized by Oxfam Pilipinas, Save the Children Philippines, Young Feminists Collective, and Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development.
The press conference was organized by Oxfam Pilipinas, Save the Children Philippines, Young Feminists Collective, and Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development.
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Invited speakers include the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), CWC, Department of Health, Department of Education (DepED), Family Planning Organization of the Philippines, National Youth Commission, and the Philippine Commission on Women.
Invited speakers include the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), CWC, Department of Health, Department of Education (DepED), Family Planning Organization of the Philippines, National Youth Commission, and the Philippine Commission on Women.
RISING ADOLESCENT PREGNANCIES
According to Mylin Mirasol Quiray, acting chief of the CPD-Knowledge Management & Communications Division, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show the number of pregnant adolescent children aged 10 to 14 rose to 35 percent – from 2,320 in 2021 to 3,135 in 2022.
According to Mylin Mirasol Quiray, acting chief of the CPD-Knowledge Management & Communications Division, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show the number of pregnant adolescent children aged 10 to 14 rose to 35 percent – from 2,320 in 2021 to 3,135 in 2022.
In general, adolescent pregnancy – those aged 10 to 19 – increased to 10 percent, from 136,302 recorded in 2021 to 150,138 in 2022.
In general, adolescent pregnancy – those aged 10 to 19 – increased to 10 percent, from 136,302 recorded in 2021 to 150,138 in 2022.
The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill has been passed on third and final reading at the House of Representatives and pending on second reading at the Senate.
The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill has been passed on third and final reading at the House of Representatives and pending on second reading at the Senate.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is one of the authors of the proposal and chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, assured she will continue to push for the legislation, even when it is not among the priority measures of the Senate.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is one of the authors of the proposal and chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, assured she will continue to push for the legislation, even when it is not among the priority measures of the Senate.
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The lawmaker believes teen pregnancy is an "epidemic".
The lawmaker believes teen pregnancy is an "epidemic".
"…But given the hike in teen pregnancies across the country, I do hope that the Senate will take this up sooner rather than later. Teen pregnancy has long been a national social emergency. Panahon na para masolusyunan ang epidemyang ito (It's time to address this epidemic)," Hontiveros said in a statement.
"…But given the hike in teen pregnancies across the country, I do hope that the Senate will take this up sooner rather than later. Teen pregnancy has long been a national social emergency. Panahon na para masolusyunan ang epidemyang ito (It's time to address this epidemic)," Hontiveros said in a statement.
COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION
DepEd assistant secretary Dexter Galban sees age-appropriate Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) as an effective measure to prevent adolescent pregnancies.
DepEd assistant secretary Dexter Galban sees age-appropriate Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) as an effective measure to prevent adolescent pregnancies.
Galban explained different lessons for various age groups are being taught through curriculums of elementary, high school, and alternative learning system (ALS) students.
Galban explained different lessons for various age groups are being taught through curriculums of elementary, high school, and alternative learning system (ALS) students.
"Talagang nakaatang sa kanilang edad. So pagpasok na pagpasok pa lang nila sa paaralan, nag-uumpisa na ang CSE. Una, kung ano iyong parte ng katawan, ano ang 'good touch', ano ang 'bad touch', and eventually the more complicated and more complex aspects of CSE, RH (reproductive health) - lalong-lalo na pag nagbabago ang katawan, and they're entering the adolescent period," he told reporters.
"Talagang nakaatang sa kanilang edad. So pagpasok na pagpasok pa lang nila sa paaralan, nag-uumpisa na ang CSE. Una, kung ano iyong parte ng katawan, ano ang 'good touch', ano ang 'bad touch', and eventually the more complicated and more complex aspects of CSE, RH (reproductive health) - lalong-lalo na pag nagbabago ang katawan, and they're entering the adolescent period," he told reporters.
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(It's really patterned to their age. So as soon as they enter school, CSE begins. First, it covers the reproductive parts of the body, what constitutes 'good touch' and 'bad touch', and eventually delves into more complicated and more complex aspects of CSE and reproductive health (RH) - especially as their bodies change during adolescence.)
(It's really patterned to their age. So as soon as they enter school, CSE begins. First, it covers the reproductive parts of the body, what constitutes 'good touch' and 'bad touch', and eventually delves into more complicated and more complex aspects of CSE and reproductive health (RH) - especially as their bodies change during adolescence.)
"And hopefully this will provide them with more information on the pros and cons of particular actions, at natutulungan at nagagabayan natin sa kung anong dapat nilang gawin bilang mga kabataan. So by providing proper guidance, by letting information become readily available, hopefully we're able to guide them towards making the right choices at the right time," he added.
"And hopefully this will provide them with more information on the pros and cons of particular actions, at natutulungan at nagagabayan natin sa kung anong dapat nilang gawin bilang mga kabataan. So by providing proper guidance, by letting information become readily available, hopefully we're able to guide them towards making the right choices at the right time," he added.
(And hopefully, this will provide them with more information on the pros and cons of particular actions, and we can help and guide them on what they should do as young individuals. So by providing proper guidance and making information readily available, hopefully, we can steer them towards making the right choices at the right time.)
(And hopefully, this will provide them with more information on the pros and cons of particular actions, and we can help and guide them on what they should do as young individuals. So by providing proper guidance and making information readily available, hopefully, we can steer them towards making the right choices at the right time.)
Quiray agrees with this, as she urged parents to teach children the proper terms of body parts instead of using symbolisms such as "bird" or "flower" when talking about the male and female organs, respectively.
Quiray agrees with this, as she urged parents to teach children the proper terms of body parts instead of using symbolisms such as "bird" or "flower" when talking about the male and female organs, respectively.
"We also are calling for parents... Please talk about sexuality with your adolescent children. As stated by Department of Education, it could start as really teaching our young people 'good touch, bad touch', teaching them the right way to name our private parts. Huwag (not) 'bird', huwag (not) flower. Tawagin natin siya (let’s call it) as it is, like any other body part: like our eyes, our nose, our hands. It could start as simple as that," she said.
"We also are calling for parents... Please talk about sexuality with your adolescent children. As stated by Department of Education, it could start as really teaching our young people 'good touch, bad touch', teaching them the right way to name our private parts. Huwag (not) 'bird', huwag (not) flower. Tawagin natin siya (let’s call it) as it is, like any other body part: like our eyes, our nose, our hands. It could start as simple as that," she said.
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She also called on the teens to get sexuality information from proper sources, citing a study showing that almost a fifth of young adults are exposed to pornography.
She also called on the teens to get sexuality information from proper sources, citing a study showing that almost a fifth of young adults are exposed to pornography.
"Kumuha kayo ng tamang impormasyon about sex and sexuality. Lalo na ang social media – next to none – ang source of information ng mga kabataan on sex and sexuality. So ‘pag ganoon, napaka-alarming noon kasi unregulated ang social media content natin.”
"Kumuha kayo ng tamang impormasyon about sex and sexuality. Lalo na ang social media – next to none – ang source of information ng mga kabataan on sex and sexuality. So ‘pag ganoon, napaka-alarming noon kasi unregulated ang social media content natin.”
(Get the right information about sex and sexuality. Especially with social media – it's the main sources of information for young people on sex and sexuality. So if that's the case, it's very alarming because social media content is unregulated.)
(Get the right information about sex and sexuality. Especially with social media – it's the main sources of information for young people on sex and sexuality. So if that's the case, it's very alarming because social media content is unregulated.)
EDUCATION TO HEALTH
Students from the Araullo Highschool read materials containing sex health education during the Health Information Dissemination Program held on October 01, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File
Students from the Araullo Highschool read materials containing sex health education during the Health Information Dissemination Program held on October 01, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/FileMeantime, Galban said they continue to guide pregnant adolescent children through alternative delivery modes, which is also a way to reduce school dropouts. Through other mode of learning, children are not deterred from pursuing their studies.
Meantime, Galban said they continue to guide pregnant adolescent children through alternative delivery modes, which is also a way to reduce school dropouts. Through other mode of learning, children are not deterred from pursuing their studies.
"So we now allow our learners to continue learning by shifting modality kahit sila ay naging teen mom. And at the same time, binibigyan natin sila ng dagdag na suporta through our learners support programs... Hinabi natin ang mental health support sa CSE, pati na sa adolescent reproductive health para masigurado natin na comprehensive iyong approach natin," he said.
"So we now allow our learners to continue learning by shifting modality kahit sila ay naging teen mom. And at the same time, binibigyan natin sila ng dagdag na suporta through our learners support programs... Hinabi natin ang mental health support sa CSE, pati na sa adolescent reproductive health para masigurado natin na comprehensive iyong approach natin," he said.
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(So we now allow our learners to continue learning by shifting modality even if they become teen moms. And at the same time, we provide them with additional support through our learners support programs... We integrated mental health support into CSE, as well as adolescent reproductive health, to ensure that our approach is comprehensive.)
(So we now allow our learners to continue learning by shifting modality even if they become teen moms. And at the same time, we provide them with additional support through our learners support programs... We integrated mental health support into CSE, as well as adolescent reproductive health, to ensure that our approach is comprehensive.)
"We activated our teen centers – also called called our Learner Wellness Centers – so that the resources are readily available... Kinokonekta natin to sa community-based teen centers that are usually run by the LGUs or our SKs (Sangguniang Kabataan), at ni-li-link pa natin ito lalo pa sa ating mga health offices," he added.
"We activated our teen centers – also called called our Learner Wellness Centers – so that the resources are readily available... Kinokonekta natin to sa community-based teen centers that are usually run by the LGUs or our SKs (Sangguniang Kabataan), at ni-li-link pa natin ito lalo pa sa ating mga health offices," he added.
(We activated our teen centers - also known as Learner Wellness Centers - to ensure that resources are readily available... We connect this to community-based teen centers that are usually run by LGUs or our SKs, and we further link them to our health offices.)
(We activated our teen centers - also known as Learner Wellness Centers - to ensure that resources are readily available... We connect this to community-based teen centers that are usually run by LGUs or our SKs, and we further link them to our health offices.)
CSOs are also united in asking the public to keep the conversation going to help resolve rising adolescent pregnancies.
CSOs are also united in asking the public to keep the conversation going to help resolve rising adolescent pregnancies.
FROM THE ARCHIVES:
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Adolescent pregnancy
teenage pregnancy
DepEd
CPD
health
education
Comprehensive Sexuality Education
sex education
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