Misconceptions & Clarifications

Our thinking influences our actions. Misconceptions beget misconduct. Learn commonly held but incorrect notions that corrupt the family at its very foundation.

RH Bill Misconceptions

• The RH Bill does not promote or pave the way to abortion. Clarification: The RH Bill does not legalize surgical abortion, but it does promote all types of abortion and does legalize abortion of 5 day old babies...
• The RH Bill does not promote sexual promiscuity. Clarification: The law will guarantee children and teenagers (since they are “people”) the right to have a satisfying and safe sex life with anyone, and to decide if, when and how often to reproduce...
• The RH Bill will strengthen parental rights in forming and educating their children. Clarification: In the Bill, children and adolescents have the right to have a “satisfying and safe sex life” and “to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children.”

Overpopulation Misconceptions

• Having two children should be the ideal family size. Clarification: Note that two children per family would give a total fertility rate of much lower than two, since women without children would have to be included in the computation of “children per woman”, or total fertility rate...
• Filipino families have too many children. Clarification: The UN Population Division figures indicate that it is not an exaggeration to say that as early as now the Philippine Total Fertility Rate (children per woman) is already dangerously low.
• The world is overpopulated. Clarification: This is not the full story. To the contrary, in fact, across the globe, people are having fewer and fewer children...
• Overpopulation is a scientific fact. Clarification: Not overpopulation, but population aging and underpopulation, as seen in these sample article titles...

Contraception Misconceptions

• Contraceptives should be listed as essential drugs. Clarification: Contraceptives should not be listed as essential drugs, but as dangerous drugs...
• Condoms have no holes. They provide truly safe sex as advertised. Clarification: Condom manufacturers in the United States electronically test all condoms for holes and weak spots. In addition, FDA requires manufacturers to use a water test to examine samples from each batch of condoms for leakage...
• Condoms are effective in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in a country. Clarification: In Thailand and in the Philippines, the first HIV/AIDS cases were reported in 1984; by 1987, Thailand had 112 cases while the Philippines had more, with 135 cases. As of 2003, there are around 750,000 cases in Thailand, where the 100% Condom Use Program had relatively great success...