Yes . More and more Filipino teenagers are having sex. More and more Filipino girls
are getting pregnant .
Look at
these numbers .
- · Based on 2013 data obtained by the National Demographic and Health Survey , 32% of Filipinos aged 15 to 19 , that’s about 6.2 million , were having pre-marital sex . This is much higher than the 23% figure in 2002.
- · Based also on 2013 data , 14% of Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 were either pregnant or are already mothers.
- · Every hour , 24 babies are born to teenage mothers
- · Among the six major economies in Southeast Asia , the Philippines has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy and is the only country where the rate is increasing. ( and that's even in comparison with Western countries like the USA )
One factor is the media. A study in the US says that the average teenager spends nine
hours a day using media : that
means internet , TV , radio
. Filipino teens are not far behind this figure since the Philippines has been
identified as one of the heaviest users of the media .Both the internet and the
mainstream media have widespread sexual content , whether explicit
or implicit . Pornographic websites are
very accessible . Sex videos are just a
click away . Even Facebook is awash with
photos of couples in sexual gestures such as kissing ,
necking and even outright fornication.
According to a study , 80% of movies shown on cable
television have sexual content . On the other hand , 60 %
of music videos have the same type of graphic content . And then , there are the local TV shows --- from soap operas , to gag shows , and even news programs --- that may not directly promote sex, but are doing so in subtle ways through
suggestive scenes , double-meaning dialogues, provocative
clothes and other
indirect ways that brainwash
young minds into expressing their sexuality . Every day ,young people see enticing images and scenes
glorifying youthful romance .
Experts say that
children and teens who use the
media for prolonged hours are at risk of accepting what they see as the norm .
Their social and cognitive skills are
not yet fully developed , and so , they are very impressionable . Thus ,young people tend
to believe the stereotypes they see on the media.
The media is not the lone culprit , of course . Lack of
parental monitoring and guidance is
another reason for the shocking figures. Economic pressures force both parents to work
. Many of them are too tired and too busy to check on their children . Also , many of them are
digitally illiterate , making it hard for them
to monitor their children’s online activities .
Moreover , there are now
10 million OFWs many of whom have
left their children behind. Although
there is no definitive study saying that children of OFWs are the ones getting into pre-marital sex , common sense
tells us that parental
absence has negative effects on
children.
It is important to note that most parents do not know how to talk to their kids about
sex. Most don’t even mention it at all . Those
who mention it don’t know what words to use .
Teens nowadays are watching high definition hard core sex videos
in some dark , remote corners --- and
here is the parent mumbling figurative
words like “ the birds and the bees .”
Another reason is the open
social environment. The existing family
structure , the freedom of
mobility , the teenagers’ vigilance
on their “ human rights” , the permissive
spectators . Filipino teenagers
have so much freedom. Unfortunately ,many
of them abuse that freedom to the
point of self-destruction . They do
whatever they want to do , wherever and whenever
they want to do it . It comes as a shock to many parents , but that’s
the naked truth --- literally .
The last reason is that
adolescence is really a dangerous phase
of life . Teenagers have raging
hormones . They like thrills and adventures .
They are curious about their bodies .They love and hate excessively . Teenagers are always
riding in an emotional roller coaster. Jumping for joy this minute , and weeping in the next . These young people respectfully and silently nod in the class
, at dinner tables , in churches , in
recollections ----but once out of the
adults’ radar , they go on a
rampage.
But if teenagers will blame their hormones , the media , the society and the parents for their risky sexual
behavior ---that would be unfair and irresponsible . That is running away from accountability. If teenagers these days can understand so many complex concepts in
the curriculum , there’s no reason why they would not understand the causes and the effects of these shocking statistics. If
they want to , teenagers can control
themselves and behave with reason and caution
. They can act with maturity and wisdom if properly
guided by adults.
Parents ,teachers , church leaders and government officials should
come up with more aggressive and more creative steps to curb this problem.
For so many years , we have been advocating abstinence and self-control . We have been
telling teens stuff like " Respect yourself. " and " True love waits. " . But how many are
listening ?It’s time to re-think our
approach to this problem. We can try a
combination of frank communication , school lessons on sexuality
and contraception , diplomacy and
an occasional iron fist .
( Data are from rappler.com , Feb. 4, 2014 ; abc.net.au , [ an Australian media organization
] March 24 , 2014 ; inquirer.net , May 15 , 2014 ; www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov;
pediatrics.aappublications.org )
