(intermediate)Victory!

Despite shameless dithering and outright bullying of resource speakers by anti-RH congressmen, isolated and dated studies presented as ‘conclusive evidence’ and yet more spouting of the misinformation opponents of the RH bill fear they’ll be jailed for should it pass (condoms don’t prevent AIDS, they spread it! Oral contraceptives will give everyone cancer!), the house population committee this week passed the motion to terminate congressional hearings and move to a technical working group, bringing the process to pass the RH bill one step closer to fruition.

The 3rd and last congressional hearing on the RH Bill saw the petty, the ignorant and the absurd. Honorable House Representatives bereft of valid arguments against the bill wasting time with long rambling speeches about arcane procedural loopholes, ganging up on resource speakers and demanding they answer questions outside their fields of expertise while ignoring the actual experts’ advice, facts and figures. In blatant breach of congressional decorum, audience members in opposition to the bill laughed derisively, incredulous at the assertions of the representative of the Catholics For The RH Bill that she could indeed be a Catholic and in support of the bill. At one point a three foot high poster of the Blessed Virgin Mary was raised up out of the audience area in the hands of a Pro-life Philippines member trying to distract a resource speaker, the same lady who at the last hearing called the bill’s supporters ‘Pro-death’.

That hearing also saw the brave, the well-informed and the just. A simple poor working mother, brought in as a resource speaker to relay the plight of the urban poor for whom ‘natural’ planning methods had failed so miserably, daring to speak out of turn and address a Congressman directly, chastising him for insinuating that oral contraceptives cause cancer by challenging him to come across the table so she could show him just how strong she still was after 20 years on the pill. Doctor after nurse after statistician after economist putting their professional expertise at the public’s disposal. Other congressmen, perhaps more mindful of the mandate of their office, remembering to simply thank the gathered resource speakers for their time and reminding their fellows to treat those citizens with respect.

Because it is too rare for the public to see these elected officials outside of a TV studio interview or campaign rally, here are the names of the congressmen who acquited themselves well in the meeting, perhaps the exceptions that prove the rule*:

Hon. Rep. Walden Bello, Akbayan

Hon. Rep. Rogelio Espina, Biliran

Hon. Rep.  Janette Garin, Iloilo

Hon. Rep. Teddy Casino, Bayan Muna

Hon. Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, Gabriela

Hon. Rep. Edcel Lagman, Albay

And here are those who fuel cynics/realists everywhere:

Hon. Rep. Karlo Nograles, Davao

Hon. Rep. Pablo Garcia, Cebu

Hon. Rep. Irwin Tieng, Buhay

Hon. Rep. Victorino Socrates, Palawan

In the much delayed interest of brevity, specific examples of their hot-or-not behaviour may be saved for either a future article or bought through a semi-inebriated dinner conversation with this author, who enjoys spicy food and cheap red wine.

The bias in this piece is obvious, and if it seems like those politicians against the bill are caricatured as arrogant know-nothing gloryhounds on a bully pulpit, any tax payer should be free to have a peek at the documented footage or transcript of the hearing. And what of the esteemed medical, educational or civil rights experts that must have been brought in by the opposition? In the interest of, or perhaps as a mere sop to, fairness, presented hereunder is the first resource speaker brought in to present her formal position paper in opposition to the RH Bill.

Despite all the ugliness on parade, at the end of the day we won. For at least that one day, government worked, and it worked because of all of you, you with your hours sacrificed on the altar of civic participation. It might even continue to work, if we all can keep making it so.

*The rule which states that in the event of a nuclear apocalypse, survivors are to eat their legislators first.

15 comments

  1. The real question here is this. Does the entire Legislative body truly represent the voice of the people? Is every congressman for each region they (per se) represent qualified to deal with this specific issue at hand or other issues that affects their constituent at all social and political level and economic in nature? If they are truly qualified,…(which i doubt,!!!) then let them pass the RH Bill ! (But, they willl always say that they are, No?), Okay, since a majority of them are Catholics, an wouldn't like to hurt the sensitivities of the CBCP, let them at least make a resolution and the proper budget allocation, to pass on the "SWORD OF DAMOCLES" to the Commission on Election, for a national Referendum!!!!!!
    Thus erasing all Religious biases, that his present discussion in Congress would entail. "

    • [Senate approval and President approval. Yay! :)]

      It depends. Who are our allies in Senate? I don't hide my frustration that such an important bill will probably be debated by utter morons such as Lito Lapid and Bong Revilla.

      Just. Bong. FUCKING. Revilla.

      • Well… we do have Miriam Defensor Santiago. she may be crazy but she's the good kind. :))

        And we have Pia Cayetano? and 12 others.

        […]As for the Senate, 14 Senators are supportive of the RH Bill. Four senators – Sen. Teofisto Guingona, Sen. Manny Villar, Sen. Ralph Recto and Sen. Tito Sotto –are against the RH Bill. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Joker Arroyo and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile have a neutral stand, while the stands of Sen. Franklin Drilon and Sen. Sergio Osmena III are unknown at this time.[…]

        lifted from http://www.thepoc.net/commentaries/9423-reproduct

        • Will it be assigned to Pia's Committee on Health and Demography?

          She's kinda hot.

          551-6601 extension 2314 is "Datu Puti Buhok."

  2. [The bias in this piece is obvious, and if it seems like those politicians against the bill are caricatured as arrogant know-nothing gloryhounds on a bully pulpit, any tax payer should be free to have a peek at the documented footage or transcript of the hearing.]

    I've heard, encountered, an called out enough Pro-Life schmucks to know that you're not being biased K1 – you're basically reaffirming something I already know.

    And really…

    [At one point a three foot high poster of the Blessed Virgin Mary was raised up out of the audience area in the hands of a Pro-life Philippines member trying to distract a resource speaker, the same lady who at the last hearing called the bill’s supporters ‘Pro-death’.]

    To any pro-Lifers reading this:

    You accuse of of being being rude and disrespectful, and yet you turn a blind eye to the retardation and obvious cock-blocking of your own members. Calling you guys out for your lies and obvious smokescreens is not being rude, it is being honest, and I would in any circumstance rather be an honest asshole than a polite liar.

    You want rude, try this : Fuck all of you and your retarded cause, you pus-nutted, pencil-dicked, shit-eating, yogurt-for-brains Gobshites. I hope that everybody in RP with half a brain will wise up to your collective stupidity, and laugh all of you out of relevance, if not the country.

  3. I will have a happy, happy new year , with this latest development! I join you in your prayers for the eventual passage of the bill, which is long, long overdue!

  4. That… is congress.

    Your congress and the game of politics. A free entrance cirque 'doh' freak show because it was meant to be by the clown who invited her (the lady in the video). Its a political game thing by the rich and bored turned politician. 8 minutes is 8 minutes. Once it is spent its gone. So who invited her? They want progress delayed so they can find a way to kill the bill.

    1. If the enemy attacks, you delay him
    2. If he stalls, you harass him
    3. If he retreats..you attack him damn it!

    Its a tight rope high wire act in that circus. Its not easy being a member of congress so Kudos to pro-RH bill lawmakers.

    Cheers to the author, wishing Kenneth a safe and prosperous new year, thank you for bringing the good news.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK41TYsV8Hc

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