67 COUNTRIES WHERE ABORTION IS LEGAL

ABORTION IN THE PHILIPPINES

SHOULD ABORTION BE LEGALIZED IN THE PHILIPPINES?

This question is still a matter of debate. Should there be a need to decriminalize abortion in the Philippines? What is the stance of the public about it? How is the condition of abortion in the country? To catch a sight of how abortion is widespread in the Philippines and what are its results on women who terminated their pregnancies, watch the following videos.

DISCUSSION

THE AUTHORS' PERSPECTIVE

Isn't it sorrowful how women are discriminated against because of the ongoing stigma regarding abortion? They are labeled as murderers and heartless just because they ended up with the decision of terminating their unwanted pregnancies. Some would say that the baby should have a chance to live. Nonetheless, women should be freed from feeling guilty for choosing abortion.

One major reason why women undergo an abortion is that they don't have the financial capability to support their baby. The majority of Filipinos are not educated about reproductive health and family planning even though we have the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, resulting in many unwanted and unplanned pregnancies.

The phrase "Thou shalt not kill" becomes easy to view as hypocrite anti-abortionists--especially men who tolerate extra-marital intercourse yet would refuse to financially and emotionally support the child conceived because of faulty contraception. It is morally irresponsible to think that a pregnancy must be brought to term even if the mother's life is at stake when we have the medical means to save the mother. Motherhood is a very special bond between mother and child. It should be understood that a mother needs to be emotionally and financially equipped to raise a child.

I am KAREN G. TUPPIL. I support abortion.

The Philippines, as we all know, is a religious country that considers abortion to be against God's law. That is why the majority of their compatriots oppose abortion, which is still illegal in our nation. However, I am not one of those who consider abortion to be a negative thing, and I do not feel that this makes me an immoral or unethical person.

I am pro-abortion because, first, unwanted reproduction aids in the emancipation of couples, families, and communities from poverty. Research shows that women who were forbidden to get abortions were nearly four times as likely to live below the federal poverty level compared to those who got abortions. This is probably because the mother isn’t yet financially stable or even doesn’t have a job to support the baby. Connected to this is my second reason why I’m pro-abortion, which is because it provides a child with a better start in life. Women who have planned pregnancies and receive both prenatal and preconception care have healthier children. The food that the mother has a long-term impact on the child’s health and this is all possible if the mother is financially stable. Lastly, I’m pro-abortion because it is fundamental to women’s empowerment and equality. Abortion means that women have full control over their own bodies, and as a result, they will achieve the same moral status as men, as well as full political, social, and economic equality with men.

I am ROSEMARIE C. TAGUFA and I am pro-choice.

As much as we appreciate the unborn child's life, we must also respect the mother's life. I, as a man, feel that a pregnant woman should have the utmost authority over the unborn child she is carrying. It is their basic human right to chose whether or not to have children. Yes, it should be the partners to decide on having a kid, but there are circumstances wherein pregnancy is undesirable, such as rape.

Conceiving a child is hard already; how much more raising them is a lot harder; an unplanned pregnancy result in the conception of an unwanted child. Malnutrition, poverty, and neglect are the possible consequences for the child. Allowing a child to live a life they do not deserve due to a mistake is a huge weight for both the child and mother. It is possible that the youngster lacks access to education, health care, and a safe environment. Adopting the child would be the worst-case scenario.

Before the things mentioned earlier happen, a pregnant woman should have the ability to decide on their conceived child, not primarily for them but for the child's future. Terminating the pregnancy does not equate to killing them; it saves the child from the life they do not deserve.

I am JOHN AMIEL C. GASPAR and I am pro-choice.