Attention people, our country is definitely leading.
You read that right. We are leading....to be the most populous nation in South East Asia that is.
I was on my way to my 'supposed' work as I heard this news on the radio. According to the announcers, Philippines has again clenched first place for being the most populous country in Asia, and it's funny to think that we, of all countries, do not practice polygamy.
I know it's old news. We're tired of hearing it. We are daily witnesses to it, just try to walk at the metro, or if you want a great big slap in face, try walking in impoverished areas and you'll go home wondering the ingenuity and creativeness of Filipinos in creating homes for themselves. Not only do you get impressed and amused on how they choose their specific territory, whether it may be on absurd public places, but you will also see their ability to adapt and live a normal life, minus of course a functioning toilet, a healthy and clean environment and a concept of privacy.
The population problem in the Philippines ballooned over the years and I still remember us discussing it in College. It's one of the main attributes that anchor our development as a nation and instead of just getting used to it and coping with it, it seems it has taken a toll for the worst.
Let me state to you the most recent facts of this very "OLD" national development issue.
According to a leading news source, The Manila Times reported that "The Population will be increasing at the rate of 200 babies for every hour this year," the NSCB said last monday.
At present, the Population of the Filipinos according to the news source is around 84 million. According to Wikipedia, it's around 85 Million. 1 million difference, not that impressive.
This makes the population growth rate close to 2%, which is about 1.75%.To give you general statistics, Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country. Manila, our capital, is the 11th most populous metropolitan area in the world. (Wiki)
It would be nicer to think if we were living in another world that this is a high achievement. But in the real world, unfortunately it's one of the worst categories to lead in. More people, demands many resources, and not the other way around. The rise in population tends to go geometrically, while the demand for increase in resources tends to go arithmetically. It also doesn't help that the population distribution in this nation is whacked.
Even if we are exposed and educated globally; and career-oriented individuals who are rearing a rather sustainable life in the metro are not exposed to massive rise in population, how come we cannot seem to downsize the ballooning rate? Is it because of our religion all in all? We are predominantly catholics, we're not even condoning polygamy like other Muslim nations do, but what's the problem with that?
Ah, contraceptives right? We are modern, yet we're still traditional in so many ways. The struggling modernity and supposed 'liberalism' of this nation do not reconcile with our selective traditional attributes.
According to Virola, an NSCB board sec. general, cites that 1. Reliance on guidance from Catholic church on such methods is one of the top three reasons of this trend. Second would be that the poor, usually uneducated strata, has lack of access to modern-family planning methods. Lastly, their justification of increase in birth rates is that more children to do household chores or help in economic activities of the family. More children means more chances to pull the family out from the slums right?
According to Manlia Times, Virola said, poor families are larger than non poor families by more than one number. Specifically, 21 out of every 100 poor families had at least 7 members in 2003. Members of poor families are likely to reach college.
It's sad to think that our thinking methodology is skewed. No matter how noble and religious our intentions are, I don't think anyone would intend us to make our situation worse by relying on pure assumptions, misconceptions and dependability on a supreme being to sort out our problems. It doesn't work that way. Believing in God is one thing, while depending on God to fix up the mess we do is another. We are not exercising our right to be human at all if we just depend on him and take religion as a scape goat to our rising problems. As adults we do not have any right to compromise the future of children. It is not what God wants at all, I'm sure.
People make mistakes. People are are only humans therefore people should take the most necessary precautions to not get muddled in compromising situations. As much as I'd condoned abstinence, it's not a foolproof method. In this age, there is a need for proper contraceptives at times when the will of man grows weak. There is always comfort in the knowledge that there's always a way for retribution. I am pro-choice, as long as for every given choice, is backed up by information.
And what about the idea of quantity versus quality. It's obvious that we are suffering from this dilemma. Majority projects that quantity is always better, more sticking to the odds, when old lessons tell us that quality is above quantity. It is very absurd, and I find it ridiculous actually, that some people feel that the more they have children, the more chances they'd win a ticket out of poverty. These are all based on assumptions, as the parents obvious depend it on fate. If a couple cannot manage to rear children, provide their nutritional needs, give them opportunities to access education, therefore I think there is no point in making the wheel go round. It's a vicious cycle that they need to stop. The quality of children you produce by giving them the best of education, basic needs and opportunities, are key to a better life,it could never be quantity.
That is why there are always projects for education, to inform people about what sex is all about beyond the pleasure. There are also projects for livelihood, not to only accommodate the majority, but to present a core cure. It gives options to women and men to do something worthwhile, than just dreaming their ambitions away and wait for the partners to go home and have sex.
It's sad to think that our neighboring countries have already seen the loophole of population generation. Some say "the more the merrier," in this case, I beg to disagree.
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