Flowers, chocolates, majestic surprises, and cheesy Valentine's captions—all in the air as the month of love begins.
Undivided with the concept of romantic dates is the innate desire for affection and fulfillment of sensuality as an expression of adoration, conforming to the call of pleasure with love and passion February brings—making love, as lovers call it, sex as we know it.
Despite the rapid awareness of safe sex in this generation, it remains a sensitive topic clouded with taboos and conservative views, making it hard for our society to move forward with absolute education in safe sex being mandated.
With an enchanting atmosphere, the month of love offers a platform to reveal this matter’s many depths. It's a chance to show that it's a tapestry of self-love, respect, and understanding, as well as a moment of romantic love, and the way it reflects in our society.
The Philippines on Sex Education
Embarking on a pivotal journey to address the complexities of sex education, the Philippines finds itself at the forefront of a nationwide discourse.
Within the hallowed halls of legislative and educational domains, palpable tension lingers; grappling with the question of whether the integration of comprehensive sex education should extend its embrace to all schools.
However, amid these deliberations, the Department of Education (DepEd) has taken decisive action unfurling the banner of change in selected regions across the archipelago. Marking a watershed moment in the nation's educational landscape.
The Philippines witnessed the long-awaited fruition of a legislative milestone—the enactment of Republic Act No. 10354, or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RH Act), following a 14-year gestation period.
With the ink on the legal parchment still fresh, the government embarked on a proactive mission to revolutionize the educational narrative. This manifested in the strategic integration of sex education into the K-12 curriculum, targeting a dynamic spectrum of students aged 10 to 19. This formulated curriculum will be used by public schools and can be adopted by private educational institutions.
The nation has taken a bold step towards fostering a more informed and empowered generation, laying the groundwork for a future marked by comprehensive sexual education.
Band-aid solution fixes nothing
Putting a band-aid on shattered glass, feigning ignorance towards incompetencies—in a romantic scene—is perhaps forgivable; in a national crisis—a sin.
Despite the enactment of the RH Act, the Philippines still experiences one of the highest teenage birth rates among Southeast Asian nations, with 47 births annually per 1,000 women aged 15-19. This is higher than the global average of 44 and the Southeast Asian regional average of 33.5, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive intervention.
In tandem with the RH Laws, DepEd issued a seminal directive encapsulated in Order No. 31 s. 2018, which outlines the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). This includes sexuality education and mandates the provision of age-appropriate reproductive health education tailored for adolescents.
Recognizing the crucial role of education in mitigating the escalating rates of early pregnancies, sexual violence, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections among the youth, DepEd affirmed its commitment to address these societal challenges through a comprehensive and proactive approach.
But years later, the data stayed the same, if not worse. Its vulnerability resulted in unguided sexual activities, which increased the exposure to sexually transmitted infections and, for girls, the additional risk of untimely pregnancies.
It is not an absolute solution, and it is still shackling our society in a devoted belief in standardized normalcy.
An ongoing debate
Like navigating the landscape of love, encountering problems halts the progress in each relationship. This is similar to how the Philippines finds itself entangled in a web of ongoing debates despite the implementation of pertinent legislation.
On one side stand advocates of safe sex among youth, ardently welcoming the integration of sex education into the school curriculum. They believe that understanding sex and its proper practices would benefit teenagers as they enter the stage of developing sexual behaviors.
On the other hand, a contrasting perspective emerges from those less open to the notion of having discussions about sex within educational institutions—religious groups, and those who are still confined in the conservative belief that sex should not be talked about at schools—or not at all. Marked by reservations and discomfort, this viewpoint raises questions about the appropriateness of introducing such a subject into the academic sphere.
Reconciliations and Whatnots
Despite the controversies surrounding the matter, one can find ways to reconcile and continue—overcoming a hitch at each stage of each relationship.
Positioned as a transformative solution, sex education emerges as a key instrument in cultivating a generation of responsible youths in contemporary society. This serves as a proactive means to address a spectrum of critical sex-related topics, including but not limited to sex itself, sexual identity, and intimacy. By shedding light on these subjects, sex education plays a pivotal role in enlightening individuals about the multifaceted dimensions and implications inherent to these aspects of human life.
Moreover, the implementation of sex education aims to empower individuals with a comprehensive understanding, fostering a sense of responsibility and informed decision-making. In essence, sex education stands as a crucial cornerstone in fostering a generation capable of promoting healthy attitudes towards sexuality and contributing to the development of a socially responsible and well-informed society.
Talking and engaging in the discourse of safe sex should not be shunned; rather, it should be promoted and advertised for an inviolable understanding of its importance towards the youth, especially in the month of love, where lovers gather in an intimate time, sharing intimate moments.
Article: Gabrielle Cruz
Graphics: Rick Andrei
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