First, let me extend a very warm welcome to the many new Filipino readers that have discovered this blog in the past 24 hours. My husband is from Australia, so I do get down to that part of the world on occasion and I hope to visit your beautiful country at some point in the future.
It is great to have you here, although the circumstances of our meeting are, to say the least, unusual.
It seems one of your esteemed Senators, Tito Sotto, plagiarized a blog post I wrote on February 23, 2011 entitled How The Pill Can Harm Your Future Child’s Health, lifting entire sections of the article basically word for word that was delivered in a speech to the Senate Floor regarding the possible passage of the highly controversial Reproductive Health Bill.
What’s worse, Senator Sotto is denying the charge of plagiarism, saying in an interview with ABS-CBN:
“Why would I quote the blogger? I was quoting Natasha McBride.”
Nice touch Senator. Â You almost had me convinced you were a nice guy with the tears and all.
Many of your citizens have emailed me assuring me that was a put on, and I’m starting to think they are right.
A thief is a thief, Mr. Senator. Â Denying it doesn’t get you off the hook; it just makes you a lying thief.
On the bright side, I am thrilled that your lapse of moral judgment has brought much-needed attention to the fact that the birth control pill can have devastating consequences to a woman’s long term health and possibly those of her children and even grandchildren.  Gut dysbiosis is a serious condition that has multi-generational consequences that women need to be educated about and completely aware of before making the very personal decision to use them.
It was indeed brave of you to take this controversial position. Â Kudos to you for that.
By the way, I am truly sorry for the loss of your son.
As the mother of two sons myself, I can only imagine the pain and devastation you have felt from such an experience.
While this has been a highly charged and hopefully enlightening experience for all involved, it’s time now to set the drama aside and get back to fighting the good fight by continuing to educate people about how their food and pharma choices affect not only themselves but also those they dearly love.
And although my attorney will likely try to persuade me otherwise, for now I’m moving on as I’ve got work to do.
Women of the Philippines: I am terribly sorry my blog was used and twisted against you. You deserve the choice to use The Pill if you want or need to based on your particular circumstances. While I want you to know that this choice has health consequences as does the decision to use any pharmaceutical drug, I in no way would ever condone taking this choice away from you! Â Mabuhay!
Great post, at least you can reflect on what you felt was wrong, shows a quality to be admired!
So what was the outcome? I have found numerous news items about this from November, ending with statements that there would be hearings by the Senate Ethics Committee about Sotto’s numerous instances of plagiarism.
A search of Google news comes up with nothing more recent.
My assumption is that the whole thing was then swept under the rug. That would be typical of the Philippines, where rich/powerful families can do pretty much as they please (Sotto’s brother was one of three guys who gang-raped a 15 year old actress in 1982 — charges were dropped after they ‘apologized’).
Good Day to all of you readers and Sarah
Although I don’t know much about this Sen. Sotto…one thing is clear this guy is a complete JERK! You all Filipino voters should come to your senses not to re-elect this guy!!! I have Filipino friends around here in US. They are such a very welcoming and warm people…I can’t say nothing ever that negates them. Now hear this…a personal testimony of mine…I come from an all white folk where we are told that anything that is not WHITE is not RIGHT. For a time in my life I adhere to what I was told about…which I can say is totally crap. The first time I come across with Filipino’s I was ashamed of what I believed. It’s the exact opposite. Filipino’s are one of the best people I work with. It totally changed my perspective in life. Now for this Senator Sotto guy…I think I will make an exception…just maybe this the kind of guy my folks was talking about.? I think this guy in violating Sarah…(Yeah Sarah you are being violated samewise)..is a complete utter waste of good oxygen. I am sorry for the Filipino readers in saying this to your Senator Sotto…you have been “F*CKE*D” up pretty good. I have to be honest though…we also have guys like him here in the US. We got choices in life…either wank em or smoke em. But I am a God fearing man. Although I can say I am not religious enough. Heard it though that Philippines is a very religious country. One thing for sure you guys have ugly politics…sorry. I really do felt sorry for the Filipino there in Phils. and of course Sarah. I felt the Filipino’s are being robbed of a God given right to have something better out of your politics and politicians. I curse Sen. Sotto and his hair!!! Hah hah.