Please, Mr. Postman

Based on personal experience, I would have to say that weakest communications link in this country is the postal system, also known as Philpost. Over the past couple months, mail sent to me from the U.S. has arrived either late or not at all. Even priority mail items that finally did reach me were not delivered--based on the Quezon City Post Office date stamp-- for three weeks or more after arriving there.

In an attempt to resolve this issue, I called that office. According to a delivery supervisor with whom I spoke, the problem is a shortage of and turnover of mail carriers in my locale which is a densely populated mixed business and multi-unit condominium area but that they're doing the best they can with their available resources to keep up with delivery demands.

Incidentally, finding the phone number for Philpost was a task in itself because that operation is not a government bureau as such but rather a government owned corporation and so is not listed under Philippine government offices. Instead, it's listed alphabetically under Philippine Postal Corporation in the Metro-Manila DPC "Government and Business Phone Directory". Significantly, there's no customer service number listed under that heading in the phone book or on the Philpost website.

So if you are outside the Philippines and are mailing an important letter, consider sending it via registered mail or through private carriers such as LBC or Fed-Ex. If you can get away without sending the primary document itself, there are of course other recourses for correspondence from, to, and within the Philippines such as telephone, fax, email, and text messaging. For residents of Metro-Manila, to improve the chances of receiving your mail consider renting a post office box. Sending money to the Philippines can be done through such services as Philippine National Bank, Western Union, and various Internet services.

Another problem with the postal service here is internal pilferage which is why much of the mail (possibly including my lost items?) goes missing. Also there are no public mailboxes. The reason for this is that they would be highly vulnerable to theft due to the high crime rate here. So mailing a letter requires a trip to the post office or to malls where there are private companies that accept mail and perform other services for Philpost such as selling stamps.

In short, although it's a separate entity from the government, the postal system's deficiencies reflect the culture of inefficiency of its "parent company" and of the Philippine society as a whole. Unless the national character through some miracle drastically transforms itself, it would probably be futile to expect Philpost to function any better than it does now.

The Illusion of Philippine Independence

Yesterday was Philippine Independence Day. It was 111 years ago on June 12 that this country won its freedom from Spain. Shortly thereafter, the Philippines was colonized by the U.S. and did not become a sovereign nation until 1946.

It seems to me that this year's celebration was more subdued than in previous years. Perhaps this is due to the anger of the people over an ongoing attempt by the Philippine House of Representatives to ram through a change in the Constitution that could change the present presidential form of government to a parliamentary system. This would allow the current and very unpopular lame duck President of the Philippines--who cannot run again for this office again due to the term limit rule of the current Constitution--a shot at running for a seat in the proposed parliament and sooner than later becoming Prime Minister. This is because she must find a way to stay in office to retain the immunity that protects her from civil and criminal charges that await her once she is no longer in power. The corruption in which the President and her husband appear to be involved is also rampant throughout the Philippines, and the resulting diversion of billions of pesos in public funds to pockets of crooked politicians and dishonest government employees keep the people from social and economic advancement.

Along with this corruption is the phenomenon of patronage, which extends to personal and family relations, creating a culture of dependency. An example of this mind set is reliance on friends and relatives, especially those in key positions for jobs, loans, and other forms of assistance in exchange for personal loyalty and votes .

Examples of dependency are over reliance by children--even after reaching adulthood--on their parents for protection, shelter, and emotional sustenance; reliance by families for financial support from family members who are OFW's (overseas Filipino workers); reliance on live-in domestic help (a must-have for the middle and upper classes) to do household and child care chores that their employers are usually capable of doing themselves but which are considered beneath their dignity; reliance on the Church for family planning decisions and on patron saints for protection no matter what kind of unnecessary risks believers take, such as reckless driving.

Not surprisingly this national character trait of dependency has led to a personal and social lack of discipline and restraint. No less than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, of the Philippines, Reynato Puno, weighed in on this issue, decrying the sad state of ethical, political and economic state of affairs here. He declared that under these circumstances the country "has no reason to celebrate our freedom".

The sad thing is that the Philippines has so much potential in both natural and human resources that will never be realized unless through some "miracle", the country can pull itself together and its citizens can begin to act responsibly. Until then, the phrase "Philippine independence" will remain a contradiction in terms.

Minority Report

Although predominantly Roman Catholic, the Philippines is home to followers of many other religious beliefs (and non-belief). Among the the assorted groups (just to name a few) are Animists, Muslims, Buddhists, Mormons, and various Protestant denominations.

One of the smallest minorities in this country is the Jewish Association of the Philippines of which I am a member. Because our numbers here are so few (maybe a few hundred maximum, most of whom are concentrated in the Metro-Manila area) I'm interested in seeing our community grow. So I have proposed an outreach program to the Association to attract Jews in the Philippines who may not be aware that there is an such an organization with whom they an affiliate. Hence, the search is on for such prospective members.

One of the more challenging aspects of this recruitment program is trying to balance Jewish visibility with the need for security and protection. In this country, about 10% of the people are Muslims, and there is an element of that population who do not wish us well. And the attack on the Jewish community in Mumbai last year is always in the back our minds. But isn't such antipathy the case in almost every country where Jews have settled? Moreover, Jews have had a presence in the Philippines for centuries. For an excellent chronicle of this history, click here and see the article "Jews In The Philippines".

Personally, as a Jew and an atheist, I feel comfortable living in the Philippines, almost to the point of complacency. As we are about to see this is potentially harmful. It's true that in the almost four years that I've lived here, neither my ethnicity nor my personal views have ever been a serious issue. And there are other community members who have lived here a lot longer than I have who likewise have not felt threatened for being Jewish. The real hazard to our personal safety is the result of the high crime rate in this country, which is something that almost everybody living in the Philippines needs to be alert to and concerned about, regardless of background. So there is really no room or excuse for the complancency in which occasionally I indulge.

Many of the couples and families who are members of the Association are blended, typically Jewish foreigners and local Filipinos. Some of the latter have opted to convert to Judaism , but those who have not are no less welcome for it. My personal view is that both Jewish and Philippine cultures are enriched by this joining of ethnicities.

For more information about the community, please visit the website The Jewish Association of the Philippines.

The Day The Philippines Stands Still

Of all the holidays celebrated in the Philippines, the population of which is predominantly Roman Catholic, Good Friday as the culmination of Lent has the greatest impact on the country, especially in Metro-Manila. All government offices and most businesses including, malls, retail stores, newspapers, even vital services such as pharmacies and private medical clinics are closed. Public transportation is curtailed; the rapid transit lines are shut down and few taxis, buses, and passenger jeepneys are running.

The entire period beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Easter is called Holy Week. During this time many people take off work and head for resorts or their home provinces, so by the time Good Friday rolls around, Metro-Manila comes as close to being a ghost town as any large city can be. (Actually, many of these closures begin the day before, which is called Maundy Thursday.) The street outside my window this morning is as quiet as the cityscape in the movie "I Am Legend".

The national attention given to Good Friday is so strong that by comparison, Easter Sunday, festive though it may be, is almost anti-climatic. In this respect the prominence of Good Friday as observed in this country really reflects a dark side of Filipinos' national character. This is due to their narrow focus on the crucifixion story itself rather than Easter's message of resurrection and rebirth. In fact the symbolic nickname that Filipinos give themselves as a people is "Juan de la Cruz" (Juan of the cross) which reflects a feeling of relatedness with the biblical account of Jesus' sufferings . Yesterday's "Philippine Daily Inquirer" features "The passion and death of Juan de la Cruz", an excellent column about this identification framed in the Stations of the Cross as it relates to the current political scene in this country.

On Good Friday, many devout people throughout the country participate in such rituals as self-flagellation and even voluntary crucifixion while crowds of tourists avidly watch these spectacles. To add to this gloom the Saturday after Good Friday which was formerly known as Sabado de Gloria (Saturday of Glory) is now called "Black Saturday". According to my wife, who is a psychologist and was born and raised in this culture, all these traditions reflect a pathological fixation with death, also known as necrophilia. Ironically, the Church in whose name these traditions are carried out and which claims to be pro-life has not liberated the people from such morbid behavior. If anything, it has reinforced this mindset.

This mentality apparently has its roots in the Spanish colonial period. During that 300 year era, the Spanish friars instilled a sense of helplessness and racial inferiority into the minds of Filipinos, and the belittling attitude towards the people by America as the colonial successor to Spain wasn't much better. Perhaps the violence against life that is so common here is a natural emotional reaction to that historical abuse. But it is destructively redirected by Filipinos towards themselves and each other, a way of thinking that might be summarized as "if I suffer, you suffer". Added to this mix is the authoritarian upbringing in which children are raised wherein they have little protection or recourse from parental abuse.

The above psycho-social analysis may seem to be beyond the scope of an expatriate blog, but it's very important that foreigners who plan to live in the Philippines be aware of this troubled aspect of the national psyche that lurks beneath the mabuhay (welcome) facade with which strangers are greeted. Having this awareness will reduce culture shock and go a long ways towards understanding that despite the smiling faces and apparent lightheartedness of the people, in the hearts of too many Filipinos, there is an anger and sadness that makes every day a not so Good Friday.

Coming to "Terms" with Philippine English

For various reasons such as advanced age, many foreigners (myelf included) in the Philippines may have a hard time learning the native languages. (Yes, there are more than one). So it's fortunate that English is the second language here. Hence, American expats can readily communicate with most of the Filipinos with whom they come in contact, especially in Metro-Manila.

However, there are many English terms and phrases here that have taken on a variation in meaning from their American usage. For one thing, Filipinos are fond of truncating and cutting words to the point of just using their initials. "Refrigerator" for example becomes "ref", and "air conditioner" is shortened to "aircon"; "chocolate" to "choco"; restaurant, "resto".

In the turbulent political scene we have "cha-cha", the abbreviation for "Charter Change" (a proposal to overhaul the Philippine Constitution); "con-con" (Constitutional Convention) and "con-ass" (constituent assembly). These last two are alternate means of making the change.

Examples of words that are abbreviated to the use of just there initials are CR (comfort room, i.e. restroom [go figure]) ; LBM (loose bowel movement ); BF, GF (boyfriend, girlfriend); OFW (overseas filipino worker); GRO, (guest relations officer--a euphamism for bar girl). No wonder that Filipions are champion cel phone text messengers. Even a text from a stranger may be answered with a curt "hu r u" (who are you?) .

Matters become confusing when an English word is expressed here in an entirely different way from American usage. For example, as I previously mentioned, there are several different tongues spoken in the Philippines, but rather than refer to them as languages, Filipinos call them "dialects".

Here are some terms from the business world: If you're shopping for a sport shirt, to Filipinos, it's a "polo shirt". If you want to buy a slip, ask for a "chemise". If a party on the other end of a phone call is about to temporarily halt the discussion, (s)he will say "awhile" or "for a while" rather than "please hold". A telephone extension number is a "local", and the main phone number is a "trunk line". One can "avail of" (make use of) a service or product. The noun form of course is availment. If you're changing residence addresses, this is a "transfer" rather than a move.

In adult entertainment, a porn star or a stripper is "bold". What Americans refer to as blue humor in the Philippines is a "green" joke.

"Batch" refers to a group that graduated from the same school together, so a fellow member of a particular class year is a "batchmate" rather than classmate. Americans think of a university "course" as a one semester subject, but here it means a major, and for examinations, especially finals or professional certificates, instead of studying, students "review". The candidate with the highest score is a "topnotcher".

As for legal expressions, a property mortgage is an "amortization", Squatters as well as tenants who are delinquent in rent are subject to "ejectment" instead of eviction. Speaking of squatters, the politically correct term here for such trespassers is "informal settlers". Instead of petitioning, a litigant "prays" to a court and hopes that his/ her case will "prosper" (be awarded in his/her favor).

In the mean streets here, a pedestrian crossing the road has to be careful not get "bumped" (instead of struck) by a vehicle. If a vehicle involved in accident flips, it is said to "turn turtle". The roadsign warning "no swerving" means no sudden lane changes. A corrupt law enforcement official such as a traffic cop is a "crocadile".

In the local newspaper reports, a crime suspect who has been captured has "fallen". A town or city councilor is a "dad", (but a woman in this political office is not a "mom"). A political candidate is a "bet".

Then there are words that are obsolete or archaic and are almost unknown in modern American society, except by etymologists or linguists--and by Filipinos, who still use these terms such as "rascal" or "scoundrel" (a wicked person) and "scalawag" (crooked politician), or the expression "by and by" (eventually); And there are obscure terms such as "mulct" (defraud or extort). The local expression "slang na slang" (literally "very slang") is an adjective phrase that describes Americans who speak with a Southern drawl or Midwestern twang. Many Filipinos believe that these accents are the regular mode of conversation for Americans in general.

The above expressions are just a few samplings of Filipinos' colorful use of English, and after a while even expats begin using them automatically. Now if you'll excuse me, I've drunk so much coffee while writing this post, I have to avail of the CR.

A Dark Side of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)

Before I retired and relocated to the Philippines, I worked for or knew of employers in the U.S. who were unscrupulous in dealing with their workers. Some of their unethical and / or illegal practices included requiring employees to work off the clock or designating ordinary sales clerks as "assistant managers" and placing them on straight salary in order to avoid paying them overtime. As a result, I'm sensitive to attempts by businesses to short-change and exploit rank and file employees either directly or through their political lobbies, one of which is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the States, and their local branch, the American Chamber of Commerce, also known as Amcham. And while the the theme of "Your Guide to Living in the Philippines" is helping expats adjust to the Philippines, I feel that it reflects badly on the rest of us non-Filipinos living here when foreign companies indulge in questionable business strategies locally. So I'm taking this opportunity to digress from my usual advice material in order to address this issue.

Unfair though it may be to the working people of the Philippines, it should come as no surprise that Amcham is calling for and end to holiday overtime pay for local employees (see Foreign firms seek flexible holiday pay) . Although the spokesperson in the article claims that such elimination is not the intent, it should be obvious that by using the term "flexibility" that this is Amcham's slippery slope towards that end.

The ostensible excuse for this organization's proposal is the impact of the global economic situation on business and the resulting need for cost cutting. In turn, a reduction in labor expenses (read wages) would supposdly enable companies avoid layoffs and to hire more people for less money and thus reduce unemployment as well. In other words, these BPO companies who have already saved money by off-shoring these jobs to begin with want to also exploit their overseas workers by balancing their books on the backs of these employees—who are much more vulnerable to the downturn in the world and local economy than their employers. In effect the workers, by taking a salary cut, would be paying out of their own pockets for their employers' holding the line against staff reductions or even for absorbing new employees.

But are employers really that hard up? We've read of the incredible bonuses and salaries that executives of many corporations in the U.S. receive, and yet these businesses were still given bail-out money. Some of these companies such as Citibank have branches and BPO operations in the Philippines where they receive considerable tax breaks. Yet upper management still considers it more expedient to cut labor expenses than their own bloated salaries and bonuses instead.

But the biggest joke in Amcham's proposal is that employers and employees "work together" in setting holiday flex-pay schedules, as if rank and file employees have equal power and voice in the matter as management (with the possible exception of workers in unionized industries). Otherwise, its obvious that all businesses follow the golden rule: The one who has the gold makes the rule. A business is not a democracy. If a company decides to eliminate a benefit, it doesn't matter how the workers feel about it. BPO companies always have the option of taking their operations to another country where labor is cheaper, and they don't mind using this leverage as a threat to get their way in the host country.

And if anyone is under the illusion that the Chamber of Commerce can be be trusted to safeguard workers' rights and interests, please see "The Anti Union Network" which discusses the campaign by the U.S. branch of this organization against pro-worker legislation, among other practices. Then there is the opposition by Amcham China against that country's proposed legislation attempt to improve workers' rights (Steelworkers, Global Labor Strategies Counter Corporate Opposition to Worker Rights in China).

Finally, consider that if these foreign corporations get away with this "flexibility" scheme, isn't it just a matter of time before local businesses also jump on the bandwagon and try to impose similar or even more wage and /or benefit reductions?

A Payment, A Theft, and an Update

This is the time of the year (January through March) when permanent residents in the Philippines are required to trek to the Bureau of Immigration and file an annual report. This is basically the payment of our visa extension fee, which is PhP310 per person (plus a PhP200 per month penalty for every month missed after that window). When you consider the large number of aliens residing here, it's no surprise that this is a lucrative source of income for the Philippine government.

As I stated in the original post of this blog, the main office for the Bureau of Immigration which is located in the Intramuros district of Manila is not a pleasant place to visit both in terms of the environment and the amount of time that it can take just to accomplish the simplest task there. But there are signs that the BI is becoming a bit more customer service oriented. Their website has a lot of good information, that can save you a trip or even a phone call to their office. It even has downloadable forms. More importantly, the BI now has satellite offices scattered around Metro-Manila including Makati City, Parañaque City, and Caloocan City (as well as numerous subports throughout the country). Of course this make it more convenient to complete such matters as the annual report filing.

So today for the first time I completed this chore at one of these locations, specifically the one in Makati City (This branch is in the Board of Investments Building on Buendia Ave [north side of the streed]) aboout 1/2 kilometer past EDSA). I arrived there around 7:45 a.m. expecting to find a large crowd already waiting for service, even though the doors don't officially open until 8:00. This is usually the case at the main BI office. To my surprise I was the only applicant there, and I was processed immediately even though it was not yet 8am. The whole procedure took about 15 minutes and would have taken even less time but for the fact that I was filing in behalf of my wife as well. (Such proxy filings are permitted only for applicants over 65.)

The trip itself, however, was not without incident. A gym bag that I was carrying on my shoulder was lost or swiped in the surging crush of passengers where I was caught up while boarding the MRT commuter train en route to Makati City. Fortunately, the lost contents were just an umbrella and a paperback novel (not to mention the bag itself). In the three and half years that I've been in the Philippines this is the first time that I've experienced such an incident. Ironically, at the time I was focusing on protecting my pocket from being picked such that I forgot about the bag. Also I had taken the book along because I thought I would have a long wait at the BI(!) Even though I was the victim, I still felt like such an ass for being careless. As I mentioned in my original blog entry, theft and snatchings of this nature are very common in Metro-Manila. So it's essential to be vigilant no matter what possessions you're carrying or how your carrying them .

***

Here's an update regarding the Philippine SRRV (Special Resident Retiree's Visa). In my original post for this blog, I stated that an investment of $50,000 USD is required to participate in this program. At the time I was unaware that this amount applies only to those applicants who are ages 35—49. For those who are 50 or older, it's only $20,000. Please visit the Philippine Retirement Authority website for more information. It tells you just about anything that you need to know about this visa.

I would like to offer special props to fellow Philippines retiree Barry Ruth who read "Your Guide to Living In The Philippines" and brought me up to speed about the SRRV age-based investment amount differences along with other pertinent details . Click here to visit Barry's excellent website, which is also about living in the Philippines.

Reflections on My Life as an Expatriate

Today I was looking through some beautiful photographs that Lydia had taken in 2004 of our apartment in Alta Loma, Calfornia. I had never seen these pictures before and they were so vivid and evocative, it's as though I were back there again. We have some fond memories of that place and as I sorted through the photos, I felt a twinge of nostalgia.

Yet every day I am thankful that we were able to retire and relocate to the Philippines. For despite the low-key but comfortable life style that we enjoyed in California, it was just not worth the freight of putting up with a job that I hated and yet at the same time feared losing. After three and a half years of living here, it still feels wonderful to wake up every morning and know that my life is my own.

What's more, when we left the U.S. in 2005, I knew that between the real estate bubble that would eventually burst, the insane policies of the Bush Administration including the Iraq War and even his incompetent response to the damage from Hurricane Katrina, it was just a matter of time before the American economy would pay the price. So our departure from the U.S. was well timed.

Our life in Metro-Manila is so different in so many ways from that in Alta Loma that it's difficult to compare them. Each is a separate reality because of the respective cultures and societies. so the terms "better" and "worse" don't apply.

If we had the means to live the life-style that we had in California without having to work, would we repatriate? Perhaps. On the the other hand, if we had that kind of money, we might be better off staying here, as we would then be affluent by local standards. But until the day comes that we have the luxury of making such a choice (and I doubt that it ever will), the Philippines is our home, warts and all, and we intend to continue enjoying it as comfortably as our limited means will allow.

The Future of American Medical Care Lies in—Asia?

I recently came across an article that discusses the outsourcing (actually off-shoring) of medical services in America by at least one insurance company ("Insurer Offers Option for Surgery in India"). That's right. Wellpoint is offering to send their clients from the U.S. to hospitals in the third world (specifically India) for treatment—airfare for the patient and a companion included. Depending on one's perspective, that's how expensive and inefficient the medical system in the U.S. has become or how cheap and hassle-free comparable care is in some other countries. In fact a study ("The Wrong Place to Be Chronically Ill") shows that patients in America fare badly comparied to their counterparts in the rest of the industrialized world. So unless President-elect Obama follows through on his stated goal of rationalizing the delivery of medical care in for all Americans, it may not be long before all insurance companies start shipping patients overseas (see "Operating Profit").

This got me to thinking about the state of health care in the Philippines—which of course is also a third world Asian country. Over the past few months I've had various health problems—more than I have had in the entire three years that I've resided here combined (and which by the way are likely age related). As a result I have had to consult with a host of specialists and undergo various medical tests, some of which were as as a hospital outpatient. And while I broached the topic of local medical care in the original post of this blog, based on my recent repeated exposure to the local health care and insurance, more than ever I believe that the Philippines has the potential to become a host country for medical tourism.

It's true that many places and facilities here are backward. Even the state of the art medical centers often have crowded clinics and long wait times to see the doctor. So what else is new? Like so many others, I also encountered those problems in the U.S. as well.

The medical expenses that I've incurred have not exactly been a walk in the park. Still they are a fraction of what I would likely have had to pay in the States for the same kind of treatment. That goes for my insurance premiums as well. As for benefits, my claims have been reviewed fairly and paid within a few weeks of submission.

As for drugs, the Cheaper Medicines Bill that I mentioned in my original post has still not taken effect. So a visit to the local pharmacy can still be an expensive proposition, although somewhat leavened with the occasional availability of generics. However, unlike in the States, here you can spread out the cost of your dosage by purchasing pills by the piece, prescription and non-prescription alike. (Obviously, however, this does not work with liquid medicines). The pharmacist just snips off the desired number of individual bubble-wrapped pills from the foil packet. Another advantage to this method is that by buying just a few pills to start with, you can determine whether or not the medication has intolerable side effects before committing yourself to the expense of the full prescription quantity.

So if you are relocating to the Philippines and are worried about the difficulties that you will encounter in resettling, with proper planning such as selecting a doctor, checking out some of the hospitals, and buying insurance shortly after your arrival (not to mention living a healthy life style), you can eliminate medical care as one of those concerns.

Destructive Dogma and Demographics

As I briefly mentioned in my original post, overpopulation is one of the most pressing issues in the Philippines. When my wife emigrated from that country in 1969, the population was approximately 35 million. In 37 years it has mushroomed to over 85 million, and about 28% of this growth has occurred since 1990 when according to The Philippines: A Country Study the population was 66 million. And according to the Philippine Information Agency, this country has one of the world's highest growth rates. Although this percentage has dropped steadily since the 1960's, neverthless it will generate a doubling of the population every 29 years well into this century, according to A Country Study.

While contraceptives are available, the Philippine government does not encourage the use of artificial birth control methods. The driving force against instituting such a program is the Catholic Church, specifically the CBCP (Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines). The President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, also opposes it. The most that the Council and the President will support is NFP (Natural Family Planning), more widely known as the rhythm method ("Vatican roulette"). This entails a couple's having sex only during the woman's so-called infertile time of the month, which in some cases cannot be accurately calculated. In other words, couples must abstain from sex during the rest of the month.

However, a large majority of the people are not buying this bill of goods. A recent poll shows that 71% of Catholics actually want access to artificial birth control methods and support the proposed Reproductive Health Bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Edcel Lagman. This law would not only allow other means of family planning besides the unreliable NFP, it would also encourage sex education in schools with the goal for youngsters to learn responsibility in this area.

As might be expected, President Arroyo said that she would veto such legislation. She says that she is "pro-birth spacing but against "birth control" (huh?). Apparently she has no qualms about imposing her views on the rest of the country, and because she is the Chief Executive, she has the power to do so.

Through some twisted logic, the CBCP has declared all forms of birth control as "abortion" which of course the Church prohibits. But speaking of abortion, each year thousands of women in the Philippines take this course of action. Most of them are poor, married (as opposed to the sterotyped single woman in a one night stand or other uncommited relationship), and are already mothers. Further, they do not have access to or knowlege about birth control and usually choose to terminate their pregancies because they cannot afford any more children. And because they are impoverished and abortion is outlawed, this procedure is typically performed under unsafe and/ or unsanitary counditons by unqualified practitioners. Consequently, many of these women die or suffer health problems for the rest of their lives.

I mentioned the following points in my original post in this blog, but they bear repeating here. To underscore the hypocrisy of the CBCP in the matter of birth control, thousands of children in the Philippines are conceived by parents who live in dire porverty and who cannot or will not take care of them. As a result, these kids, some of whom are as young as four years old are abandoned and are reduced to begging in the street. In turn many fall prey to syndicates who exploit them. Yet the Church does not operate one single orphanage or otherwise provide for these children.

Under these circumstances, for the CBCP and the President to claim that they are "pro-life" is positively grotesque. As long as there is so much as one homeless child and as long as the Philippines is subjected to the high child and maternity mortality rates that kill so many infants and mothers and which are poverty generated, the Church has no business meddling or interfering in national population policy.