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. 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. 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. 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! Mabuhay!
I’m terribly sorry that you were dragged into our crazy political debate. You’ve handled it with such grace. On behalf of reproductive health advocates and women of the Philippines, thank you. Mabuhay.
Bravo Sarah!! Unfortunately, i think you will forever be known in the Philippines as “The Blogger”! Best regards!
Atty. Villacorta,
You sir, are an embarrassment to our country. Had you done your job well to begin with, all this side story would not have happened. Sarah will not tell you this because she a very polite person. But your sir are very arrogant for making it seem like Sarah is making a huge deal about it. She is not, but you are. How arrogant of you to come to her site and chide her like she is a child not even bothering to capitalize the first letter in every sentence except to your name! You think mentioning your name and title will simply make people shudder and keep their mouths shut. Well, that only happens in the Philippines. Welcome to the world wide web!
It is because of authorities like you that I am elated to be residing in America.
Sarah, I truly apologize for this disrespectful response you got from an ‘authority’. I am confident that you will handle this matter very professionally, whichever route you might want to take. Best wishes to you!
Mr. Tito Sotto is not an esteemed senator.
True that.
Tito Sotto is never and will never be an esteemed senator . No Way. Tito Sotto is a mere comedian more famous as Tito Escalera of Iskul Bukol University and Tito sotto of Eat Bulaga.
Tito Sotto got it bad in this issue. I wish his staff just issued a formal apology to the source, in this case Ms. Pope.
With regards to our current crop of senators, I think there are a lot more of them who could be considered with less esteem than Mr. Sotto:
– a senator who evaded being prosecuted for murder by hiding out in other countries
– a senator who was involved in two coup attempts by staging them in posh hotels
– a senator who staged his own ambush in preparation for the declaration of Martial Law
Senator Sotto’s voting record shows one who is deeply suspicious of foreign involvement in Philippine affairs:
– votes vs GATT/WTO, US VFA
my apologies, Yoyi!
i am atty hector a. villacorta. i am the chief of staff of senator tito sotto. i understand you felt slighted that your blog was not attributed to you which became part of the speech of the senator. let me say that after asking my staff, indeed, your blog was used but only in quoting also from the same book of dr. campbell- mcbride. we are both indebted to the book’s author but if you wish that you also be credited with the contents of the book, let this be your affirmation. i can do it and by this message, i am doing it. hope it satisfies you. but if it does not, what would you want us to do? what have we done to deserve your incriminating words. the senator did not lift it himself, we did. did you want us to tell him to admit what he did not do? who would you like to crucify for this oversight? all the unborn wants very much the right to be born and they need everybody’s help, including yours. remember, rizal was the seventh child of 11 children of teodora alonso and francisco mercado. be on our side. please, and don’t deflect the debate to this matter of plagiarism. it is so out of sync in this great debate. join us in the side of life and truth. forgive us our single trespass. we had no malice, we thought you would be happy about it. there was no injury. hope this makes you feel better. warm regards.
Atty. Hector A. Villacorta
Chief of Staff
Office of Senator Sotto
*facepalm*
i hope you are not really sen. sotto’s chief of staff. this is a lame excuse for plagiarism. i hope the author takes legal action against you for being arrogant when you should be humble. where does the buck stop???
I was hoping lezel was trolling.
BUT “Villacorta confirmed to ABS-CBN News and ANC that he indeed sent the message to Pope”
(source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/08/16/12/sottos-office-admits-copying-us-blog)
my head hurts……
Exactly! unbelievable this guy is…. he’s really asking for it!
They all should just hide under the cover of Parliamentary Immunity or Parliamentary Stupidity, whatever suits them best:-)
I wished the same too, that he was some sort of playful lunatic wanting to sabotage this scenario. BUT. NO. Nga. Nga. Nakaka awa na si Sen. Sotto. Feeling ko, gusto na nya maglaho.
impunity. that’s how it always is in the phils.
I don’t like the fact that my blog was used without my permission against the education of the women of the Philippines and their reproductive rights. That is the issue and it was indeed plagiarism. If his staff did it, he condoned it. He is responsible for your actions. My BLOG was quoted, not Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. I put her work in my own words and you copied my words.
A woman needs to know that the Pill can indeed harm her but this is NO REASON to take away this choice from her in the first place.
I do not agree with Senator Sotto’s position on this issue and he twisted the message of my blog to suit his own purposes against the women of the Philippines.
No, your lame comment does not make me “feel” any better.
Women of the Philippines: I am 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, I in no way would ever condone taking this choice away from you!
dear sarah;
a blog is meant to be shared and we shared it.
totally agree… information.. the power and the weakest part of the internet.. I guess they did not see that someone will notice it if they use a blogger’s post..
You didn’t share it. You stole it. If you had shared it, you would have cited the source. Instead, you stole it and tried to pass off the contents as your own.
Are you really a lawyer? Because in spite of the title that you put before your name, it seems that you’re having great difficulty grasping the very simple point of this whole issue.
The issue here is that your boss committed plagiarism by failing to cite the source of the words that he used in his speech not to mention that he twisted it for his own twisted ends.
My advice for you is that you and the whole staff of Sotto resign and take the fall for your boss. Senator Sotto, for his stupid and vehement stance against the Reproductive Health Bill alone is slowly becoming the laughingstock of the country. And now this equally stupid gaffe.
Maawa kayo sa boss niyo na sobrang nagmumukhang tanga na.
ps. And for Christ’s sake you shouldn’t have posted here in the comments section. You should have contacted the owner of this blog privately and offered your profuse apologies. Which really makes me wonder how ended up being an attorney and a chief of staff for a senator. Ang tanga mo eh.
“Shared” is very different from “stole”.
A blog that is meant to be shared is re-blogged and linked back! Are you for real?
A book is also meant to be shared, so is an academic paper, medical journal, etc. But you still have to acknowledge the author of that book or paper if you are going to use his or her idea, much more if you are going to quote from them directly.
Then again, what can you expect from a senator who criticized musicians for double meaning songs, conveniently forgetting the fact that his comedy group became popular as a result of naughty double entendre songs.
Esteemed, he is definitely not.
wow. you have the audacity to reply back with those words? why not just say, “yes, i agree with you and we sincerely apologize for not giving you the credit.”? is that hard to say? yes, a blog is meant to be shared, but you also need to give credit to whom credit is due. geez
Seriously? You’re a real piece of work… unbelievable
Are you really a lawyer? From what university did you graduate from? It seems you do not even understand the basic tenets of intellectual honesty. There is no hope for this country if all lawyers think like you.
*FACEPALM*
Dear MR. Villacorta,
You are absolutely right. A blog is meant to be shared. Problem is you did not share it. You stole it. Your boss even twisted the arguments of the blog and used it to support his position. You are wrong plain and simple.
You didn’t share it; you PLAGIARIZED it.
The only reason you admitted it came from Sarah’s blog was because you got CAUGHT.
And to add insult to injury, now you and your boss are BELITTLING the source you stole from.
If you want to truly make amends, then I suggest you actually learn some ethics, grow a backbone and unequivocally apologize instead of trying to pass off poor excuses for your dishonesty. Remember that this ultimately reflects on your boss and not just you and his other staff.
Wag kang pilosopo.
If your intention was to “share” it, you would have attributed the relevant parts of Sen. Sotto’s speech accordingly. You would have cited the blog and given a link to the post you lifted. But you didn’t. Had the Filipino Freethinkers not discovered your plagiarism, you would have continued to pretend it was a completely original speech.
What a poor reflection of a Filipino. What a poor reflection of a chief of staff.
At this point, the only thing that could have redeemed you was a sincere apology, but you’ve shown how your terrible excuse for writing skills couldn’t even manage that.
This Senator comedian and his staff obviously doesn’t know what a blog is. Like his view on RH, it’s totally backwards.
atty. villacorta. you are a disgrace. i am ashamed to be a Filipino today.
What audacity you got here, Atty. Villacorta. For a while I thought Sen. Sotto’s staff is his Eat Bulaga’s staff.
Mr villacorta, sharing requires citing your sources. You are right, everybody can share whatever are on blogs. Actually, you can quote anything you have ever read or heard (blogs, books, stories, movies, etc). You just need to acknowledge where you quoted them from. Understand that while you used the same book as a source, Sarah actually used her own words (which required some work) rather than lifting paragraphs word for word (which you did). Do you know why inspirational quotes always tell you from whom the quote came from? It’s to acknowledge the thinking done by that person who originated the quote. If you don’t do that, you would be taking their work as your own. Hence, it’s stealing/plagiarism. Are inspirational quotes copyrighted? No? But we always acknowledge the source don’t we? Mr atty, you obviously have no grasp of intellectual property. Sad.
I’m sorry Atty but you didn’t shared it,,you stole it and twisted the blogger’s arguments. You’re a lawyer and you should have known that re-stating or copying someone’s work without proper attribution is illegal. Can’t believe you still have the nerves to justify your illegal act! How arrogant! so shameful..You’re so lucky Sarah didn’t sue you for that…Lesson learned: don’t belittle a blog post.
Seriously Atty Hector A. Villacorta, put down the shovel.
lezel: if you were really a lawyer you shouldn’t have posted that message here in the first place. you should have at least sent her a private message. It seems like you were doing this to draw attention to yourself…
yes true, it wasn’t the senator that wrote the speech (that’s for sure) however that doesn’t absolve him of what has happened. Just as sarah said, he still condoned it. Used it as a way to get into the spotlight, to make his name and his CHOICE known. The thing is in the end since you have confirmed that this blog was used as a reference, then it should be cited. It would have made a whole lot of difference if you did.
as for the issue of the RH bill. I for one believe that everyone; men, women and teens should be given a chance to at least learn from this. I do not think the “poor” population of this country even understands what the RH bill is all about and yes we all have a opinion on what the RH bill stands for therefore it would be good if both sides come together and make their own stands and let the people decide whether they believe it should be done or not because in the end this is for the people and if majority of the people do not believe in the end result of this law, whether it be pushed through or not, then what’s the point?
I personally is of Pro-RH however i still believe that everyone has a right to understand what the RH bill is all about and if they do decide that it is wrong then so be it. It is their CHOICE.
Not only did you steal it, you twisted the bloggers message to make it seem she was on your side. You should be ashamed of yourself and stop justifying your actions. Just man up and admit your mistake (oh, “mistake” is an understatement because you did this on purpose, with malice intended) and not make excuses.
Salamat, Sarah, for your gracious words! 🙂
You’re work is plagiarized, yes, you were wronged, yes, there was an apology, yet you continue to say things like they are taking women’s choices away, etc… without any inkling as to what this entire issue is all about basing it on a youtube video you watched. do you even know where the Philippines is? I wish you just enjoy your 24 hours of fame and increase in site traffic because this is probably the only time you’ll get it. Good day!
Here come the trolls! 😀
Why is he a troll? Why, because he doesn’t agree with this horrible bill that will force the poor women if a very moral country to be part of population control against their faith?? That is a not a troll, that is a human being trying to save his country from the moral decline of every other country touched by the UN!
I’m saying he’s a troll because he basically just posted a comment insulting Sarah and belittling her intelligence. He called her ignorant in no uncertain terms (ex. “do you even know where the Philippines is?”) and insulted her blog.
Did you not read the comment I replied to? Looks like someone’s overreacting! HAHA! 😀
Since I can’t reply to RosalindaL on her comment below:
A VERY MORAL COUNTRY?!
Excuse me, I need to go out and laugh.
I am Filipina. Every single day I see immorality. A majority of religious population does not a moral nation make. The Catholic church itself is not the beacon of morality that you think it is. Paranaque (or was it Pasay?) diocese scandal rings a bell? Priests with kids? Priests molesting children?
Again, you are not being forced to go against your faith. Let the Catholic/sectarian schools do what they did with the Rizal law – request their exemption because it is “against their religious beliefs”. I don’t care.
i guess i also need to say this to RosalindaL:
a very moral country ei? you go to Quiapo church and you see what? geez… there are people selling drugs used to induce abortion.
RosalindaL: He’s a troll for insulting Sarah for standing up for her work. Plagiarism is theft, no matter how you cut it. Just because Sen. Sotto and his people is working for a cause you morally agree with does not mean he can act dishonestly about it.
They are not trolls. They are the Senator’s minions. :p
Emily — the two groups don’t have to be mutually exclusive 🙂
ROSALINDAL, tell me where the hell in the world u came from? What morality are u talking about here? Please do not inject opinion in this blog anymore. You are nothing but a mess. Admit it, are u a filipino or what?
if you can even call it an apology. all i could get from the statement of sotto’s staff is arrogance.
What apology? The one that belittled and demeaned Sarah for catching on that someone used her ideas and words without her permission? That’s not an apology; it was an attempt to excuse dishonesty after it was caught.
As for having no inkling about the issue, that doesn’t matter. Exclude her from the RH debate if you want but she still has a right to what she wrote while Sen. Sotto and his staff have none, especially after using it as if it was theirs.
It’s hypocritical of you to argue on the moral importance of this debate while ignoring Sen. Sotto’s basic human responsibility to remain honest in all his actions, especially as a Senator. Even where it was his staff that’s at fault, he has a duty to remain upright in this matter. Or is that something you don’t care about in your blind devotion to the Senator, right or wrong, honest or dishonest?
and WHERE is the apology?!… and if that comment from Atty Villacorta was ever intended to be one, it was definitely as half-assed as that sorry excuse for a speech in the Senate. and YOU even dare ask if Sarah “even knows where the Philippines is?” how insulting! you are just as crude and rude as Sotto and his staff who do not know how to do their job well!
STILL, it’s originally campbell’s work, not urs..
all u did was put her works into your own words, which is not a hard shit to do.
and u did TOTALLY NOTHING to contribute into that works, which the senator’s party
quoted.
plus, he’s right. A blogger’s just a blogger.
Make your ‘words’ official and we’ll acknowledge you if ever we get some of ur words.
If not, gtfo
“not a hard shit to do” then why bother stealing her words in the first place? Walk the walk before you talk the talk. With that kind of reasoning, your username reflects what you are.
why bother “walk the walk” when someone already did it?
and before u call me dumbie,, go do ur homework in SPELLING CLASS, *roflmfao*, Mr. Annanymous.
almost thought ur name was something Anal. lol
dumbie
Oh, and you’re a prime example of good English grammar and spelling? The standards must’ve been set so low.
I’m scared for the future of our country if more people think like you. “Why bother ‘walk the walk’, when someone already did it?” Really? Your analogy brings lazy high schoolers to shame. “Why bother writing this homework when I can just steal parts of it from Wikipedia?” “Why bother studying for this exam when my teacher won’t fail me anyway?” “Why bother getting a job when my parents can continue giving me baon anyway?” HOORAY FOR YOUR IDEA OF PROGRESS!
Also, it’s miss, not mister. Ergo, I called myself ANNAnymous. But I guess your thick brain didn’t even notice my (corny) wordplay. How can you, if “u” insist on telling someone from the internet to do “ur” homework in SPELLING CLASS despite your own lack of knowledge for proper spelling and punctuation (read: one comma is enough, sweetie!)
I’d love to call you a c*nt, but you seem to lack the depth and warmth of one.
Why bother “walk the walk” when someone already did it?
ISKUL BUKOL!!!
nice name, dumbie.
There is no reasoning with a dumbie. 🙂
you’re so dumb, you dont even know what a play of words is. it’s a freaking PUN, freaking dumbie!
Oh, so she must be a published author? Why did not your Senator’s staff get the book in the first place and quote that? Because, as evidenced by your chief of staff, you are too lazy to do your own research.
If a blogger’s just a blogger, why did you consider her point of view valid then?
You’re attacking the person that provided you with a talking point in the first place. What is the world coming to?
what did you say?! “A blogger’s just a blogger”?! guess you’ve never read our works ei? yes, we are “just bloggers” but we have contributed a lot and we have changed views and we have helped a lot. no thanks to you. 🙂
For shame, Atty. Villacorta. As a staffer of one of the higher officers of the land, and a legal officer at that, you should know better than to write a “sincere” apology. Next you should know better than to write a LAME “sincere” apology via a blog comment. A sincere apology from your office is best done via official mail. For shame.
Embarassed Filipina.
He’s a comedian, it’s a joke taken seriously by the public.. Happy 33rd anniversary to EAT BULAGA! Senator.
Sarah is right. She discussed dr.campbell-mcbride’s work with her own words, and Tito Sotto or his staff copied it and used it in a speech in the SENATE. It’s a clear sign of plagiarism. Atty. Hector A. Villanueva, if you are really a lawyer you would know. But I think you are stupid enough. Kudos to you Sarah for your humble reaction in this matter. But I hope you seek legal actions.
*double facepalm
Sarah, forgive them for they know not what they are doing. 😀
This isn’t an apology. If anything, this is an excuse. Guys, you made a mistake and you should own up to it. You could’ve just said you’re sorry and then asked what you can do to make this right. Instead, you come up with this “apology”. tsk tsk tsk
Atty. Villacorta,
Professionalism should be the stand here, Firstly, it would behoove your position to be able to write and capitalize properly. It seems that texting has affected the way you write your correspondences, you should be more aware of it with the position you hold. Secondly, there was a huge mistake made – an article was plagiarized – it was wrong. Admit it and apologize. That is the right thing to do. The Senator cannot be above this. His office and staff made the mistake – command responsibility. You have the temerity to chide the author as if she is making a mountain out of a mole hill. Is she !!! You twist her words and intentions to suit the senators need and she should sit back and remain silent. Typical politician mentality. Tell Sotto to do the right thing – Accept what has been done and apologize. How can one even give credence to his stand when he is not even capable of owning up to this.
Stop transforming this into a plagiarism issue. The point is, is the issue of dysbiosis because of contraceptive use real?
The families have to be informed of the side effects (if any) of the family planning methods they choose to use – whether it be artificial or natural. If (as I do not have data that would say that this issue is a real risk) there is a risk factor in taking oral contraceptives, the couple can then choose other contraceptive methods. IUDs. Condoms. Hysterectomy. Vasectomy. Rhythm. Or being made eunuch.
This is not about oral contraceptives alone.
We did not turn it into a plagiarism issue. They did when they plagiarized Sarah’s blog.
Godprey :facepalm: !
Why? This IS a plagiarism issue. Senator Sotto’s staff stole her ideas and words; they admitted it.
Just because there’s a bigger issue involved does not mean it’s okay for Sen. Sotto’s staff to act unprofessionally and unethically. To say it’s okay while arguing on the moral issues of reproductive health is nothing more than hypocrisy.
I agree. If she wrote something like that about the pill, that it could be harmful then by all means, she should stand by her belief. To say that she is not taking away that choice to the Filipinos is showing that she does not even believe fully her own blog. what im hearing is this: pill is bad but your country is poor so you can take it if you please.
I get where this comments are coming from, and i know we have population issues and dont get me wrong, i believe in educating our people and giving this married couples the contraceptives they need. As for senator sotto and staff, i think admitting that They copied sarah’s blog is hard enough so yes i think that by that credit was already and if she wants something more then say it and stop writing a blog telling that you’ve moved on when in fact you havent because of your comments which again gives me the impression that you lack sincerity in what you are writing.
Beth, have you taken into consideration that this person is not American? He is from another country who do not speak English. Seriously, people! What the Senator did was wrong, but what you all are doing is not any better.
What does being American have to do with it?
And what are we doing that is not any better?
But the good Senator can speak English and for the record, ours is one of the most corrupt country in the world that even our bishops accepted SUV as bribes to support a corrupt former President. So much for being a very moral country. We are not the center of the universe and we should not act as if people from other nation should always consider our circumstances. He plagiarised, lied about it, and belittled every bloggers’ credibility while quoting one in his speech. If it offended Sarah, our Senator should’ve offered a sincere apology. Or would you rather that we patronise Sotto like a little child who broke a vase?
I am insulted by your insinuation that we Filipinos do not speak English. It is our second national language, right next to Filipino.
If this guy is who he claims to be – an attorney, no less – then wouldn’t you hold him to a higher standard? He’s an “attorney” for crying out loud! That’s how many years of education? Four years pre-law, then five(?) years of law school, then the bar exams!
We do not give the attorney status to just about anyone, though sometimes it may look like we do.
He probably plagiarized to get by law school.
Mr. Sotto never went to law school. I’m not even sure if he finished college. Except for Wanbol University, a fictional school in a comedy series shown on TV decades ago
seriously RosalindaL? your arguments aren’t any better than the senator’s staff.
RosalindaL, the correct way to say it is “He is from another country THAT does not speak English.” Oh for your information we do speak english in the Philippines.
Seriously RosalindaL, are you trying to say that to expect accountability, intergrity and honesty from our senator is wrong!!!! Maybe for you, but for a lot of others we feel that Filipinos deserve nothing less from their PUBLIC SERVANTS.
Of course not, he is responsible and should be accountable for his actions. My point was that we are talking about people who are from a different country and we don’t know what their educational level is – even if it is their chief of staff, in the English language. But of course, you don’t care what my point is. People like you don’t care what the truth is, you only care to attack and demonize by focusing on the small stuff. Is it really my grammar that bothers you or the fact that I don’t fall into lockstep with you and your leftist ideals? I would assume the latter.
Waiiiit…
You’re confusing. When you say “he” who are you actually referring to? Sotto? Villacorta?
Regardless of educational level attained, Sotto seems able to speak English well.
Villacorta says he’s a lawyer, but looks like he also understands and speaks English, albeit bad sentence construction and capitalization.
So your point about English proficiency and plagiarism is what…?
Your grammar is not that bothering. Nor which side of the fence you’re at. It’s just a bit difficult to get your point because your statements are like shotgun pellets that when fired go to all sorts of possible directions, totally missing the target. How do we argue when you don’t stay within the issue. The issue here is plagiarism and the shame that Sotto and Villacorta brings to the Filipino people – pro or anti-RH Bill. It is a side-story of the RH Bill debate, but it is the main issue here.
What’s leftist in demanding for accountability from a supposedly-esteemed public servant? If it’s not so off-topic, please connect “leftist” with plagiarism. (No, I am not asking you to merely use those words in a sentence.)
I wonder why it is then, that you are American, but we Filipinos obviously speak better English than you? Your comments have many grammatical errors.
Cause she’s Filipino too. An anti-rh one.
Oh my goodness dear lady, are you even comprehending what you read more so what you say! You may be talking about people from a different country but I clearly stated that I am Filipino so I DO know what I am talking about. You keep on mentioning about he (referring to Atty. Villacorta) not being American and from a non english speaking country and that if he does speak english you do not know what level of education in English he has attained. So please who is being petty or small. Regarding the pill, what is your point – that the pill is harmful to women physically, emotionally and morally; that there is an international conspiracy to control and slowly lessen the Filipino population by promoting the use of the pill: etc. etc. Is that it? Ok then that is your opinion, good for you. Lock step left leaning, hmmmm??? Nope I am more right of center. Well it has been engaging. Good bye
hello, mr. sotto finished “Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in English” unless the wikipedia is a bunch of (*grapes*). Now what say you ms rosalindaL?
So he’s not a native english speaker, then it behooves them to actually understand what they are reading in english or better yet elocute in tagalog.
what he was doing was wrong but putting out lame excuses like theirs make it even worse.
RosalindaL.
So, are you saying…
– Sotto is not an American – he’s from a non-English-speaking country, ergo he doesn’t speak English. (The Philippines, for your information, has TWO official languages – one is Filipino and the other is… well, that one you say we do not speak.) So, Sotto did not fully understand what he copied from Ms. Sarah.
– Being a non-American/not fully understanding what you were saying or doing is an excuse for plagiarism.
– “Plagiarism” is an English word. We Filipinos do not understand it. Whatever rules surround it does not apply to us. The ethical rules that apply to Ms. Sarah do not apply to Sotto.
What language then did Sotto use to deliver that speech? If it was English, why the heck did he choose to communicate to the people in a language that none of the citizens, including himself, could (fully) understand?
Are you a Filipino? Why are you communicating in English?
The heck, why am I communicating to you in English – we can’t speak the damn language, right?
Are you still with me?
Rosalinda… Sotto did wrong. What do you want us to do, praise him? Defend him? LOL! We can’t do that when instead of apologizing for his misdeed he denies it. And then his minion (I refuse to believe that he is a lawyer – that the IBP has allowed him to practice law) aggravates the situation by showing arrogance instead of saying sorry – bringing us further shame. I can’t believe the chutzpah on this one for the ill-written comment he made. So unprofessional. It’s either he didn’t learn anything in law school (granted he attended one) or unlearned everything after passing the bar (if he truly did).
Doesn’t it disturb you that a man who openly deceives and continues to lie (and is unapologetic about it) holds a seat in our Senate? That a deceiver/liar shares the power to grant or deny the people the choice for reproductive health services? Or that this deceiver/liar fights the passing of the RH Bill for you?
BTW, are you for real or are you someone who’s just pulling legs pretending to be shallow and insipid just to get a laugh from the replies? If you’re the latter, you’re doing a good job trolling.
I think Rosalinda meant that plagiarism isn’t a big deal in the Philippines like it is here in America. Therefore, we shouldn’t crucify the Senator and his Chief of Staff since they aren’t Americans anyway.
…guffaws*
Emily, you don’t speak for me. I didn’t say or mean anything you wrote. But of course you know that, since the WHO trolls have taken over…
RosalindaL — so exactly WHAT are you saying about how being American relates to this issue, then? I’m really confused.
Rosalinda, your reasoning can be likened to that of an inebriated fool. Pray tell, what are you high on?
I am deeply insulted by saying that Senator Sotto came from a country that doesn’t speak English! Mind you, if you will… English is our second language and we are one of the best English speakers in Asia. I can assure you he can speak fluent English more than I do!
These people atleast is letting Tito Sen know that there are people who’s not gonna vote for him if he continues this lame acting job and delivering lame speeches to justify taking away “this choice” to our people. Oh, and about morality, if giving the people a choice for a better life (which for you means committing sins) immoral, then your “God” is immoral for giving us the choice to commit sin.
Oh and since your using these religious stuff to support your lame argument, I will do too.
Why not let us who believes that there is nothing wrong in deciding when we want to have babies, and having sex without the purpose of bearing a child is not a sin have this choice?
Do you know why He chose jesus to be the Messiah and not Lucifer? Because Lucifer did not want us to have the free will to choose the right. Lucifer wanted to force righteousness upon us and God did not want that. God wanted us to choose Him. So who are you and Tito Sen to take this choice away from us huh!!!!!!
First of all, Your post is not apologetic at all and second, I wish you used the right capitalization of the letters because I did have hard time reading it.
If you want to apologize to the blogger then just apologized without having lame excuses. It was a mistake to quote word for word the work of the author and claims you are quoting the source. Sen. Sotto made it look like the author not worthy of respect because he bypassed her work and went to her source.
Lastly, I am a Filipino and we are known for being resourceful specially when it comes to writing and Sen. Sotto and his writers we’re just lazy enough to even made a research on the author’s sources.
I am still anti-RH bill but please give the credits Ms. Sarah deserved.
Stop embarrassing yourself any further. I know you’re just a scapegoat for the “esteemed” senator. Well, I do hope he fires you all, you guys deserve it, a grade school student can paraphrase better than you.
Are you really the Chief of Staff? It appalls me how you can send a letter on behalf of Senator Sotto and not capitalize letters. :/
I am also appalled by the contents of your letter. As an attorney, I thought you’d at least be aware of the importance of intellectual property and proper citation of sources. Apparently, that’s not the case.
You did not merely “quote” Sarah’s blog. The definition of “quoting” implies that you attributed the source. Ex, according to so-so, I quote, etc. You plagiarized — you stole another person’s words and ideas and passed it off as your own, and even had the Senator deny it. And now you’re saying that there was no injury? You’re asking what you had done to deserve her incriminating words? Are you for real?! And you’re acting as if you’re doing Sarah a HUGE favor by eventually crediting her in the speech. You should’ve done that in the first place.
So you steal someone else’s words, don’t tell them about it, pass it off in the Senator’s speech, don’t attribute, deny it came from somewhere else, and when she finds out about it, you think she’d be HAPPY. I’m sorry, but I don’t get your logic.
The RH debate is indeed worthwhile. Which is why it amazes me why offices such as yours cannot properly prepare for it. If you properly researched on it and formulated strong arguments for it, why did you have to resort to cutting and pasting from other sources (without proper attribution, at that?) It reeks of being unprepared and uninformed and speaks volumes about the capabilities of your office.
It’s a shame this issue got sidetracked by the plagiarism issue… but I’m sorry, you brought it upon yourselves.
this kind of reasoning will not excuse Sen. Sotto…He even said on the interview with Karen Davila that, when they they make a speech they talked and discussed things about it..so he was not innocent after all….
and I hate the part when Sen. Sotto belittled the blogger saying…. “She is just a blogger”.
Exactly, I think the overarching issue here is that both Sarah and Dr. Campbell McBride are women. Senator Sotto and his staff do not really care about the accuracy of their attribution(s), because both authors are women. Their misogynist leanings are apparent in their desire to limit the reproductive education that Phillipino women receive. Evidently, Sotto and his staff want Sarah to be “a good little woman blogger” and just be happy that she is now being mentioned. Sorry Sotto and clowns, this is the year 2012 and plagiarism has consequences . . . even if the source was a woman!
I do not pretend to understand the socioeconomic issues in the Phillipines. However, I am a woman and a nurse, and I strongly feel that all women have a right to receive accurate education regarding the pros and cons of various methods of birth control, and that they should have the freedom to use that education however they choose.
“Filipina women.” Sorry, had to Google that one.
Hi Nicole,
Much better to use “Filipinas” or “Filipino women.”
Nicole,
Lol, let me share an insight about the Filipino man’s attitude that I recently realized. Between the sexes, the Filipino man is given priority. Both sexes strongly adhere to traditional role models that evolved in an island setting. The Filipina woman goes through several phase changes as she ages. From a Filipino man’s point-of-view, they are too-young, young, wife, mother, lola (grandmother).
I am a balikbayan, i.e., a Filipino who grew up in the Philippines and then lived in the States for 25 years and then returned. I was married to an American, a caucasian, and we have three daughters. One of the reasons behind our divorce was cultural. So it’s made me acutely aware and interested in these things.
I hope that helps you understand their attitude towards women.
However, I will point out that Hector’s attitude wasn’t directed towards women. No, he was just being a thief!
Are yo ureally an Attorney or just a texter? Better learn some manners Boy!
> forgive us our single trespass
You realize this “single trespass” can get the Senator impeached, right? See: plagiarism case vs. Assoc. Justice del Castillo
is this legit? what kind of people does Sotto have working for him?
its was legit. read my comment after his letter for the website. ***faaacccceeepalllmm****
it was too stupid to be true, unfortunately it’s true 🙁
I just read about it. And to think I defended the point that it was a troll.
To any other Filipino lawyers or aspirants: This is not an example of how you handle matters. You personally call the slighted person, send a formal letter, or, at the very least send an email.
Not this poorly worded, error-ridden apology.
Where do we line up for the refund of our tax money that went to Sotto and this… minion of his?
oh lord! 🙁
He can’t be a lawyer or a Chief of Staff. He doesn’t even know how to use capital letters.
A lawyer who does not know how to use capital letters, but seems to get it right in his sign off. Oh, the hilarity.
Sarah: Thank you for your post, and thank you for your wonderful blog! As a foodie with a passion for healthy options, I look forward to testing out some of those delicious recipes!
Atty. Villacorta, with all due respect, are you really an attorney? If so, you should know one of our most basic precepts — “IGNORANCE OF THE LAW EXCUSES NO ONE FROM COMPLIANCE THEREWITH”, ignorantia legis non excusat, even a first year, first sem law student would know about that but what’s even more galling about your “apology” to Sarah is how it is a sorry excuse for one. You can’t even stick to a simple sorry and be humble about how you blatantly plagiarized her article but even tried to justify it by even throwing in Rizal’s name in and FYI again, Rizal was born on 1861 not this century, where too many kids are starving! And even if there was no injury, as an attorney, you of all people know that plagiarism is against the law. SHAME ON YOU.
shame on you too for making this a venue for you idleness.
mr villacorta, so you cite a blogpost as expert opinion on something that will impact millions of filipinos? and all the while tito sotto is harping on his decision against RH bill is for the good of the country based on a blog post! oversight? hey you knowingly stole someone’s material. and now that you’re getting the flak, you have the nerve to ask for forgiveness (are you?). this plagiarism reflects your boss’s hypocrisy, remember his sanctimonious rantings on upholding public moral. Look who’s talking.
For a lawyer you clearly have very little to no grasp of basic logic. For shame.
Just reflects on his boss’s logic capabilities.
you’re now famous, and not in a good way. continue to dig your graves deeper.
I hope you are not really Senator Sotto’s Chief of Staff because not only can you not capitalize properly (i mean seriously you can capitalize your name but not your sentences???) but this is at best a stupid defense regarding the plagiarism matter.
Corrupt liar…err i mean lawyer. Instead of saying sorry, you would defend your thieving attitude with that lame excuse. Stop defending your wrongdoings. Corruption really changes people’s attitude. You guys are so used to defending your corrupt clients that it really shows
*double facepalm*
What’s your point about Jose RIzal being the 7th of 11 siblings? I am the youngest of 13 siblings and I support the RH Bill. Go on a 24 hour duty in the delivery room of Fabella Hospital and interview of the many teenage mothers there. Ask them why they’re having babies every year and they’ll probably give you a blank stare.
What’s your point about Rizal being the 7th of 11 siblings? I am the youngest in a brood of 13 and I support the RH Bill. Atty. Villacorta, has anyone in Tito Sotto’s staff gone on 24 hour duty in the delivery room of Fabella Hospital? Have you asked anyone of the many teenage mothers there why do get pregnant every year? Chances are you’ll get a blank stare
As a NICU nurse, I can tell you that even in America this is the case for some! Women in all countries have a right to reproductive education and a right to self-determinism!
Nicole, they already have access to reproductive education, and they have equal opportunities as well. What they don’t have is the privilege to use someone else’s money to fund their sex life.
Mr. andrew ryan,
i hope you have been to the philippines and maybe see what I have seen.
we do not have equal opportunities there. I finished my medical education in manila. 2 mothers to one bed in a maternity ward. 4 kids stuffed like little sausages in one bassinet to be delivered to their moms after we check on them. one baby sucking the other’s foot on the way to the ward. When I deliver babies I fervently wish that the kid gets a good education or a lucky break to make their lives better. and I pray harder that this kid does not grow up to be the person who will maul me in the street to steal my money.
people wash condoms to use again because they can’t afford to buy new ones. our househelp only takes the pill after sex because nobody taught her how it works. I told her she has other options is she cannot take the pill everyday. A lady comes every so often to have her STD treated because her husband does not want to be medicated for the STD he gives his wife. no, that’s not exagerration. that is the reproductive education access mr. ryan is talking about.
It’s not just supplying the condom and pill, it is educating these people who do not have the means to even google what needs to be done.
I am not back in the Philippines right now but I sure as hell go to the boondocks every time i visit home to educate people about their health. I inform them and not impose on them because that is one of the tenets of medical ethics — respect your patient’s autonomy
Guess what, Mr. Attorney, we know you’ve been paid to defend Sotto on this case. Of course, you are. You’re a lawyer after all. How does the opinion of a PAID person gives impact on what other people would think? If you want to defend Sotto, just go with your technical processes and technical et cetera’s instead of posting a comment in this blog. Remember, YOUR OPINION MEANS NOTHING AS YOU WERE ONLY PAID TO DEFEND THE ACCUSED. Your opinion on this matter was BOUGHT by Senator Sotto. Just do your paperwork. You can defend him elsewhere more formal, in court for example.
‘if you wish that you would also be credited with the contents of the book…” – are you insinuating that this blog and the book have similarities? Because the only way your phrase would hold water is if the blog plagiarized the book, or the other way around.
The senator did not did it himself? Has anyone on his staff get fired for this? Otherwise, Sotto has to take command responsibility
Are you for real? First, why did you reply here when you should have sent a private message or an e-mail instead? That’s more appropriate, isn’t it? Second, why do you still sound sarcastic despite the fact that it was your staff who plagiarized the blogger’s entry? Your arrogance is showing and it’s making us, Filipinos, more ashamed. Third, is that how lawyers write nowadays? You do not even know how to capitalize letters. Last but certainly not the least, why did you insert your stand on the RH Bill when the main issue here is “plagiarism”? The RH Bill in the Philippines does not concern the blogger. She minds her own business and I hope you do your own also. So, stop copying!
I hope you are not really Sen. Sotto’s Chief of Staff. Otherwise, you should be fired.
Let me inform you of what’s wrong with this so called “apology blog”…
But first I have to introduce myself, I am a 22 year old freshmen Law Student in USA.
Enough said.
Now, here…. First, if you really are a lawyer, you will not response in such manner of using a so called “apology blog”… for someone in public position, yet representing someone who in an officer of the government should have the smarts and the humility to come face to face with Sarah for a personal, heartfelt apology… I am sure you can afford to go at where Sarah’s residence, especially at your status. However, if you “can’t” afford it, as a lawyer who solemnly swear to upheld the law (Philippines), I think a public apology towards Sarah would be somewhat “suffice” enough. But then I guess, and I have a feeling you are not what you claim you are.
Second, you have the “audacity” to offer Sarah credit? and as you said, “let this be your affirmation. I can do it and by this message, I am doing it. Hope it satisfies you.”….
Wow!!! even a freshmen law student can do a better bribe than what you are offering Sarah, and I doubt she will take any bribes from the likes of you… And I believe that Sarah will never take any bribe or what so ever from anyone.
Third, continues… “But if it does not, what would you want us to do”… Horrible!!! simple horrible… This is open for interpretation, the first interpretation that came by my minute brain, that you are making it sounds like Sarah will take you on for this bribe passage… Shame!!!
My second interpretation, that she would ask you for a public apology…. oh, wait!?! You are a respected lawyer, you are smart, you’ve done her wrong, if its apology that you are inclined to do in the first place, you wouldn’t have wasted your time posting this blog of yours here, rather… you have gone through television and done so completely heartfelt. But you didn’t.
Finally, you said: “What have we done to deserve your incriminating words”… ok, what you are about to read is sooo not a lawyer attitude… DUHHHH!!!!!!
Do you even know what incriminating means? before you answer that, answer this… did you or did you not mention and admitted publicly that you used her blog? Once you answer this, it should also answer your question at the beginning of this paragraph. Yet again, DUHHHHH!!!
Please, chief of staff, office of the senator Sotto… Do not use filipino heroes as an example of you arrogance.
Thanks to you many filipinos tried very hard to raised our flag that took many decades of completion, yet you yanked it down in a few seconds…
Quite a filipino you are MR. CHIEF OF STAFF, OFFICE OF THE SENATOR SOTTO.
Lol! That was a back-handed apology.
If they “thought you would be happy about it”, then they had prior knowledge that this blog was lifted.
Lol! That was a back-handed apology.
If they “thought you would be happy about it”, then they had prior knowledge that this blog was lifted & purposely twisted its meant intent.
Women have the right to knowledge & choice.
Atty. Villacorta, you should realize that your response here reflects your intellectual and ethical sensibilities. Regardless of how great this debate is, it is by no means an excuse for you and any of Senator Sotto’s staff to act DISHONESTLY.
Furthermore, you have no right to reply in such a demeaning and belittling manner, claiming that her protest to YOUR plagiarism is a trivial issue (“don’t deflect the debate to this matter of plagiarism. it is so out of sync in this great debate”) while stating that she should be flattered for being plagiarized by your people (“we tought you would be happy about it.”). There is nothing pleasant or fair about having your words and ideas STOLEN from you.
Lastly, to act so hurt and defensive in the manner (“what have we done to deserve your incriminating words… who would you like to crucify for this oversight?”) is simply inappropriate for a lawyer, especially one who works for a lawmaker. Please at least have the dignity to respond like a responsible adult and not like a whipped child sniping back at the person rebuking him.
No wonder Sarah finds your response lame and doesn’t feel better about it.
Atty. Villacorta,
It’s good that you’re an attorney. You will understand what I’ll say:
The act of an agent (in this case, an employee), is the act of his principal or employer. He and he alone must claim responsibility for it. He refuses to do so; instead, he tries to muddle the issue with more lies and lame excuses.
From the way you sound, you seem like a decent, honorable person. You may want to consider resigning, instead of defending the indefensible. I’d be severely embarrassed if I were you.
Wow, how arrogant of you, mister.
I am against the RH Bill. I am on the side of Senator Tito Sotto. But I am definitely against plagiarism.
I have been a blogger for years. I studied journalism back in college. I can easily point out what’s plagiarism or not. Mr. Villacorta, you have just put to shame Sen. Sotto with what you did. Sincerest apologies should be in the offing – to the owner of this blog, to the public, and of course, to your boss, Sen. Sotto.
And let this be a lesson to all politicians: do not rely too much on your staff writing your speeches. This kind of problem has happened many times before.
This is a non-apology! Why are you so arrogant???
This is the most arrogant, self-righteous and insincere apology I have ever come across. I never knew an apology can ever be this offensive! Mr. Villacorta, emotional blackmail only works for small-minded people. You are not talking to children or illiterates!
lezel / Hector Villacorta
You don’t know what you doing guys! you are working in a circus with the greatest actor. Go back to law school and learn how to quote/cite your sources and tell ask your teacher how to do it right. Yes blogs are meant to be shared but not to be stolen. Imagine blogs having the same content, the internet would be a big pile of garbage.
Identify yourself by using a gravatar to add to your trolling credibility
Please don’t bring up that Rizal example because Jose Rizal came from a RICH family. His parents could afford to have 11 children and send them all to good schools. Your argument there is invalid.
But you could have reconstruct the the statement attributed to dr campbell-mcbride and still drive the message home. Sen. Sotto delivered that speech so he is responsible for it. and since you are the head of the staff of the good senator, You are equally responsible for the error, isn’t it? and to think that you have your own staff makes me squirm here. That you all guys are doing a SLOPPY WORK! You use the word “oversight” to trivialize the mistake? I don’t think we, the netizen are not deflecting the issue or the debate. We are just reminding you that readers and watchers are not fools as you might think.
. . . remember, rizal was the seventh child of 11 children of teodora alonso and francisco mercado . . .
Attorney Villacorta., for your sake I sure hope Sarah Pope took up Filipino History during her school years.
atty. villacorta, i think you and your staff should do the right thing and resign. plagiarism is a serious offense. you know that from your thesis days when you were still a student, right?
your a lawyer, so you know the law. plagiarism is a cause of action in a legal suit. right? so why defend it?
the topic here is plagiarism, and not the Bill that you and your master are opposing. if you want to fight the RH Bill, go ahead, but please, do it within the bounds of what is legal, moral, proper and fair.
i do not know if Tito Sotto is getting his staff from Eat Bulaga, because you guys are really funny.
Sir, the fact that Senator Sotto has you in his staff; that you have decided to move forward in this manner (with a blog comment, really?); that you and your team allowed Sen. Sotto to read plagiarized matter; that you and your team did not guide him to immediately own up to the mistake (the denial has been documented); worries me to no end.
My concern is specifically on Plagiarism and on Lying: our honorable senator is lying about where the documents came from and you wish that swept under the rug? This is why our country suffers, sir. Because we suffer fools like what you, your staff, and your boss represent in this situation. And we do not have a moral compass.
Shay Te
Filipina
CdO City, Mindanao
Atty Hector Villacorta, THIS is plagiarism:
Rizal: Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay daig pa ang malansang isda.
Blogger: Ika nga ni Rizal, daig pa ng malansang isda ang taong walang pagmamahal sa sariling wika. Kaya mahalin natin ang sariling wika.
Plagiarist: Ika nga ni Rizal, daig pa ng malansang isda ang taong walang pagmamahal sa sariling wika. Kaya mahalin natin ang sariling wika.
I hope you get it. I don’t know how you became a lawyer, you don’t even know how to capitalize. My unsolicited advice: Consult professional writers, authors, etc on whether or not you committed plagiarism. Congratulations, you just put your boss into deeper sh*t.
Mr. Villacorta:
Are you sincere in your apologies or not? You’re remarks here reek of arrogance. You failed to attribute lifted content and the Senator is also liable for the actions of his staff. It is what you call command responsibility. Just say sorry and strive to correct this oversight among your ranks. No need to be arrogant.
There can’t be any more argument at this point of the hoopla that Sotto did plagiarize and therefore lied when he declared that he did not. But how can an “honorable” man such as he lie? A senator to boot. What are we to make of this affair? Sarah cannot possibly lie because she’s the one being plagiarized–of course. But how can Sotto lie when he is an “honorable” man? Somebody made a fool of himself over this matter and it cannot be Sarah. So it must be Sotto. But how can an “honorable” man lie? As for you Villacorta, Sotto picked his henchmen right. He tells you to take the rap and you do. What is this nonsense you spout that Sarah may have been slighted because she wasn’t given credit as a source? And this childish spiel about unborn children?!? You, I and every Filipino knows what matters here is that Sotto lied. And you bear the noble title of “Atty.” Shame on you. Persuade, cajole or beat up Sotto to admit that he lied so you can cleansed yourself of the stink you contributed to this mess. This matter will immediately end once Sotto admits that he lied.
Uhm, excuse me? Are you really a lawyer? Why can’t you properly capitalize words in each and every beginning of a sentence? Now that says a lot about the Senator’s staff are like… especially how they write!
Honestly, Tito Sotto’s Legal Team, if they really have full grasp of the law, should know the rules of plagiarism. Should we bring out Copyscape and other plagiarism checkers to show you guys that the speech was lifted from this blog? It wouldn’t hurt to admit is simply say that Sarah’s thought pretty much mirrored what he thinks his cause supports. Denying everything makes him more of a crook which lessen his credibility as a person and as a government official.
Here’s the Copyscaped speech, blog post and book of Dr. Campbell-Mcbride. They need proof, here it is. 69% hits. *facepalm*
http://i50.tinypic.com/2zz4vlx.jpg
It was lifted from the book? Seriously? Here’s a comparison of the speech, the blog of sarah and Dr. Natasha Campbell-Mcbride’s book. Copy paste pa! Hindi man lang nageffort magreword.
http://i50.tinypic.com/2zz4vlx.jpg
Lawyer, Chief of Staff, but can’t even use proper capitalization, except on his name and title. Wow.
Naku po ATTORNEY. Balik ka sa Grade 1 at matutunan mong magsulat ng tama. At the end of a full stop, CAPITALIZED ang first letter of the word! Haynakupzz! lolz!
*rolls eyes*
Why would she even remember Rizal? She’s American. Why would she even know who our national hero is? Do you know who the heroes are of other countries? Do you remember all of them? (Besides, Rizal came from a family of means).
And you even have the audacity to ask her not to deflect the debate to the matter of plagiarism??? As if she’s the one who did wrong? *shakes head* Who used plagiarized words on this “great debate” anyway??? It was by your own doing that you made a debacle out of this “great debate” as you call it.
Do not hide behind the importance of the RH bill debate so as not to take responsibility for your actions. The subject of the debate is a separate issue. Step away from that. The issue here IS the plagiarism. Don’t you realize that what you really seem to be asking Sarah is to let matters slide so you will not have to be held accountable for your actions? Let you have a free pass? That is SO not right.
Even if Sen. Sotto did not lift the words himself, he still has responsibility over what his staff did. I agree, you do not have to tell him to admit to something he did not do. But he certainly does have to admit to what his staff did and apologize because your actions reflected on him and embarrassed him.
By posting this comment here you have only made matters worse. But I for one, am thankful that you did. So as the Filipino people who have read it and been embarrassed by it, can apologize on your behalf.
Atty villacorta is a graduate of wanbol university.Ms Tapia was his teacher,the escalera brother saw the potential of villacorta so they asked him to join them.
Pareng Hector:
The message of your tone smacks of condescension and falsehood. It isn’t difficult to read between the lines and realize that this person really doesn’t mean it.
There’s no need to dig deep anyway since your message made it abundantly clear that you felt you really had no need to apologize since you were just trying to paraphrase a technical paragraph from Dr. Campbell-McBride.
Baloney! This is what you really did. You found this blogger’s post and then you may have proceeded to this blogger’s source, which was Dr. C-M. But chances are, Hector, that you didn’t go to this blogger’s source. You just made it up. Palusot mo lang iyan pare.
Abogado ka pa so ang ginagawa mo ay ginagamit mo iyong pinagaralan mo para sa kaguluhan. Gingugulo mo ang usapan at ibinalot mo iyon dahil nahihiya ka at nahuli ka. Masamang ugali iyan ng Pinoy.
Here’s what I said; You’re a lawyer and you have used your skills to create confusion. You are muddying the topic because you are ashamed that you were caught. This is a bad habit of Filipinos.
You know what plagiarism is, Hector. You are not going to get crucified. In your mind, you feel that much embarrassment but you know what, pare, a simple apology would have sufficed.
Blogger,
I am sorry. We had a momentary lapse of judgement. Being the chief of staff of one of our senators, I should have been more professional, not to mention, ethical. I screwed up. This is not my boss’s fault. This was mine. Please accept my apologies.
Think about it Hector.
Okay….. I cannot believe that Atty. Hector Villacorte actually writes as if he’s text-messaging! Oh the shame! The shame! The shame! Can’t even capitalize his letters properly! Sighs. Philippines is a hopeless case.
atty villacorta, that was the most insincere and arrogant “apology” i have ever seen. you did not own up to doing wrong, you made excuses for it. it makes me sad that you underestimate your fellow filipinos so much, you can even think we will just let this go.
You call this an apology?! Really? It’s as if you are telling the writer of what you stole to be thankful that you stole it and your tone is pretty arrogant at that. If I were you, I’d apologize PROPERLY and stop with the self-righteous bull. It does not mean that just because you feel your cause is for good that stealing someone else’s ideas justifies it.
Thanks Mr. Tito Sotto and Mr. Villacorta for motivating me to write a new blog entry. 😉
http://choyzee.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-senators-speech_20.html
one step forward.. ten steps back… in two words: BULL SH**!
…and to think our TAXES are paying for these people’s salaries, allowances, lavish lifestyle, etc.. the “benefits” that we, legitimate workers and tax payers, don’t even have.
#FACE PALM#
Sarah, it is nice that you have noticed my country… 🙂 but yes, it was at a unusual circumstances. i learned a lot from your blogs in the past 24 hours, especially the 6 reasons not to get a vaccine for your kids part.
Dear Sarah,
We are so ashamed of this. Sorry for having comedian senators, action-star senators, etc senators.
E.D.
We have the same problem in the United States E.D! As I said on my FB page, Senator Sotto’s behavior in no way reflects on the integrity of the Filipino people for whom I have great respect and admiration.
Thank you Sarah for being respectful despite what happened. He is an actor copying western movies and now a senator copying blog post without permission for his speech.
I couldn’t agree more. 🙂
I read esteemed senator and almost choked on my cornflakes. Feanne below is right by the way. The RH has nothing to do with promoting birth control pills. It’s about the right to health education, something Sotto has proven that our country desperately needs.
Yes, I understand what you are saying. I used the word esteemed as I was trying to be respectful even though it has become obvious by Senator Sotto’s handling of the situation that he does not deserve it.
Classy. We would all do well to follow your example. I think the best defense against dogmatism is education and this incident served the purpose of leading more people to your very insightful and informative blog.
Who said something about setting the drama aside.
Who said something about setting the drama aside.
You’re not being disrespectful by lashing out the word “THIEF”..that;s just too heavy a word to say for something done as if the senator committed a crime. Do not be TOO RIGHTEOUS even though your name is POPE.
The blogger was disrespected first, and SOTTO is not just a THIEF, he’s a LIAR, BASTARD, IGNORANT, A**HOLE, F*CKFACE!
Haha you’re dead SOTTO!
dear Gel, Senator Sotto committed a cyber crime which makes him a thief and if it was because he was not aware of it, ignorance to the law spares no one. Including you with the name of gel…
You are as classic as Moose.
Your comment is completely dull. Plagiarism is stealing someone’s work, idea pretending it’s your own when it’s not, specially without asking permission and not citing it.
This is absolutely embarrassing. This “senator” must learn that Not everything on the Internet is free. Copyright laws were here ever since. Plagiarism has been always a bad practice if not a crime. People share their opinion and thought for others to benefit as far as freedom of speech, but as a lawmaker you should be one of those people who would rather advocate for taking responsibility alongside your freedom. Sadly, you manifest the ugly face of our political system by not being humble enough to accept your faults but use your power to try make the wrong right! Shame on you.
PS. …and copy pasting an entire paragraph(s) without even referencing is a work of an idiot.
I understand the need for sex education..let it be as it is..we need not have a law or the Tax payers to finance it…It logical to have sex education being in our schools and the contraceptive education be in 18 years and above and also before getting married. I am also looking at a survey of the street children in Metro Manila and they have rejected the fact of using contraceptives ,,a fact that would burn the RH Bill itself…For these people to have somebody who love them back is ac accomplishment and to have real sex in a luxury..I do not think it will be right for the government to sit in the middle of this… I have two Girls in my life..my wife and my child just 7 years old…i hope their future will be safe..
The issue is “Are you in favor of R.H. bill irregardless whether Senator Tito Sotto’s copying of ideas translated into Tagalog?” What Sen. Tito Sotto had said is right.RH bill is not a solution to poverty and corruption in Philippines. RH bill will only benefit the U.S. pharmaceutical drug companies. RH bill is an escape goat reason of Philippine government as if it is doing something for the welfare of Filipinos . What the Filipinos needed from its government are that the Philippine government must produce good jobs with benefits for its citizenry and the Philippine government must provide good K-8 education with free internet technology based online education reducing the amount of years we spent in ELEMENTARY study from 6 years to 4 years only. Filipinos are brilliant multi races.
Pedro, Pedro, hey Pedro, you’re out of order. We are discussing about plagiarism that Sotto committed..the RH bill is set aside for the meantime.
Well atleast Maam, Ur helping On the prevention OF RH BILL, OR of Using Pills which according to you very harmful to a women’s health. You’re Blog Did move mountains.
No, fool. Read closely. She wants to defend women’s rights to choose whether or not they want to use it.
She just wants people to know there are possible side effects.
K, please get the point first — before you try to make your own point.
Thank you Sarah for taking the time to respond to this issue.
While I have my own reservations on the safety of hormonal contraception, I wish to emphasize the fact that the RH Bill is not about promoting hormonal contraception. It’s about giving everyone the chance to be educated, and to have access, to adequate reproductive healthcare and education. I also wish to emphasize that this access is direly needed in a country where so many people are living below the poverty line, and are hard-pressed to even feed themselves at all.
I agree with you that we need to educate people regarding their food and pharma choices. In fact, it puzzles me as to how Mr. Sotto could miss the fact that his case actually highlights the need for more education.
By the way, here is a kind and reasonable letter to Mr. Sotto, regarding the RH issue, coming from a mom who’s also lost a child:
http://pssst.com.ph/dear-sen-sotto
I agree Feanne. The key point is Education.
Excuse me but I would have to point out an omission that in the Philippines, we already have that freedom to choose contraceptives. Any drug store will fill a prescription of OCP’s and you can walk into any 7-11 convenience store to get condoms. Nope this Bill is a foreign funded lobby to institutionalize contraception and to control the population of the poor who are considered by this government as a burden to it’s social security coffers.
Yeah, they’re offered OTC and in convenience stores, but the price is a bit steep for the Class E market.
what we fail to focus on is the fact that this bill will also be our country’s declaration as a state policy that we need RH education, among others. it does not merely put into legislation the use of condoms. this can be the basis of succeeding laws that will promote women’s rights and the family.its not just about pills, and condoms. it is also about us putting into official words the need to help and educate the citizenry regarding reproductive health
Women’s rights and access to info on family planning are in fact in a law already. Please do a research and read the Magna Carta for Women and you can see that most of the provisions of RH Bill are already there, it just needs to be implemented. We also have Anti AIDS law already. So actually, the only thing unique about RH Bill is the promotion and distribution of contraceptives to the poor because they do not have money to buy them.
Thank you, you made my point!
Sect 13 number 3 of the said Magna Carta specifically provides for one of the aspects of the RH Bill. yes i have done my research Maam. And no where in the RH BIll version of either house does it say that people will be FORCED to use a specific or if at all any contraceptive. what the bill aims to do is to provide an OPTION that is sanctioned by the Gov’t. It did not say that anyone who does not accept such options will be prejudiced. If you want to follow the CBCP in saying that this option should not be taken, then don’t. You are not forced to. So, I really do not understand why you want to stop an enabling law that SUPPORTS a declared and existing policy when it is not commanding and neither is it obligatory.
Hey, being an anti-RH Bill does not necessarily mean being anti-contraceptives as well. I am actually pro for all the contents of the RH Bill BUT I think that creating another bill is unnecessary because most of the provisions of RH Bill are already in a law that includes education in reproductive health.
Proper and strict implementation is what we need. Family planning is actually in a law already, but why are they saying we are still overpopulated? Passing a law is not the mere solution. Passing and implementation are.
They can’t implement the existing laws properly, they can pass RH Bill but we have no assurance that it will not suffer the same.
Enigma:
The Magna Carta for Women is a general law, being that yknow, ‘Magna Carta’ literally means ‘Great Charter.’ It actually provides that specific laws such as the RH Bill be legislated in order to address specific needs of women. When you say that we just need to properly implement it, passing the RH Bill is one of the ways by which the Magna Carta is implemented. It is not redundant nor is it a separate bill that provides for existing laws – it makes it more specific and thus strengthens it. Also, the RH Bill provides for reproductive health needs of men that the Magna Carta doesn’t address, such as condoms (yes we forget men are usually the ones who wear them) and vasectomies if they so wish. So really, the argument that Magna Carta exists therefore RH Bill is not necessary is not valid.
Implementing means putting a law into practical effect or actually carrying it out, not to create another bill out of an existing bill. As I said, they can pass the RH Bill and then what? What I am actually trying to point out is that we have existing laws that are lacking of proper and strict execution. Magna Carta of Women was supposed to lessen the statistics of dying mothers/babies due to maternal problems but it didn’t. That is why I think we do not need another law, what we need is to amend the existing laws (correcting loopholes, if there are any; adding provisions that it lacks) and implement.
Actually, if the RH Bill is passed and the problems still persist, they could create another bill out of RH Bill and the story goes on…
Enigma: You keep citing the Magna Carta but you can’t even get its title right. It’s the Magna Carta OF Women, not the Magna Carta FOR Women. That law was made by women through their own initiative. It was not made FOR them.
I actually corrected it already with my last comment. Please read before you point something out. Also, the bill was supported mostly by women (for obvious reasons) but there were male authors of the said bill that’s why you were wrong when you said that that law was made by women and not for women because it is a law FOR women. You just based these claims on the title’s usage of “OF” instead of “FOR”. But anyway, initially citing the title wrong does not make my point wrong. Likewise, pointing the error of others does not make your arguments right.
So you subscribe to his delusions then?
I am of the female persuasion and I live in the Philippines. Until I was 25(ish), I didn’t know of my options for contraception. I haven’t heard of anything at all at that time – it was not discussed during any of my high school sex ed classes. The only thing discussed there was condom use. And high school being high school, the condom was shortly made into a balloon.
You know how I heard about contraception? The Trust Family Program commercials. That showed me that hey, there’s these things called contraceptive pills that I could take if in case I get sexually active and did not want to get pregnant! And the outcry from all the anti-RH people then!
I am of the middle-class. You’d think I’d know where to get these information – but since it was not discussed, I didn’t know. If I were sexually active then, how different my life would’ve been! I would have been miserable if I got pregnant then.
Now, let’s go to the poor of our society. You think this is population control? A family who can’t feed one kid, let alone 10, shouldn’t be informed of their options in taking care of their family? This is not promoting just medical contraception, this is promoting all methods – including natural family planning methods. This is informing people that they have a choice in raising their family, that they don’t have to live in squalor if they think ahead. Imagine the difference having three kids instead of ten would make on a 100 peso budget.
Yes, you can buy condoms at most convenience stores (was that Alabang issue ever resolved anyway?). You know how much they cost? Around fifty pesos? You think that’s affordable for a family of 10 living on 100 pesos a day?
Honestly. Grow up. Look around you. The poor do not need to live like that. They deserve a chance to improve their lives, that they don’t have to be poor anymore. They deserve better, and this bill will be a stepping stone in achieving that.
So the solution is make the condom free and sex education – what is the syllabus then. This a brilliant idea – the people of Africa has been supported and funded heavily by these so-called pro-choice. Oh! I guess that was then another reason came up… what is next?.. oh.. As the most intelligent creature crestion according to the concepts of darwinism… I think it is becuase… hmmm … global warming? ahaaa- unknown disease…. i’ll talk blog and make sure I get money for this….. blah blah blah.. all about money, funding… isn’t it what you doing right now? You say im a christian bigot then what are you…. the saint? the modern day christian or the most developed brain? When will you all stop? If truly you are helping the world then why is it still the same as before, It didn’t change,
I don’t even…
Where does your bigotry even come to play? I didn’t even point out your religious views.
Let me put it this way:
As a Roman Catholic YOU are not allowed to use contraception by your church. YOU are required to come to mass every week, take communion and perform confession.
I am not Roman Catholic. I should have access to the items that I believe are helpful to myself. You do not dictate what I can and cannot do. We are a secular country, not a theocracy.
Did you not study your history? A lot of changes has been made in a hundred years!
It’s really sad that most of us, Filipinos, still clinging to this infamous institution after almost four centuries of deception. Does anyone really read history or even the BIBLE?
The bill is not for the people who can afford contraceptives. It’s for the general population who are below the poverty line. Obviously, if you can’t see this fact, then you are surely only thinking about yourself and the people like you, but not about the millions of Filipinos who don’t have enough to pay for health services themselves.
What’s the point of freedom to choose if you can’t follow through with your choice? The key problem here is accessibility and those things you’ve mentioned are definitely not accessible to all. Do you know how much the cheapest condom available in 7-11 cost? As Theresa said, the price is too steep for the poor couples who actually need it. Plus you can’t just take any pill, there are literally dozens of contraceptive pills and women must know which suits them more. Some women have irregular menstrual cycle so they can’t go for the calendar method and some men have hair trigger orgasms that would make withdrawal a hard choice (literally!). Some people are allergic to latex, etc. Most poor people don’t even know why they get pregnant. Most men won’t even consider vasectomy. And the poor can’t just go and buy condoms on a whim. This is why we need the RH bill. To give those who want to plan their family the choice to do so. No one will stop you if you want to have a dozen children you can’t feed.
Regardless of who is funding the RH Bill ( and whether true or not), the ISSUE here is whether WOMEN’s REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE is being given enough attention by the government. given the alarming statistics directly related to this. This is real issue and the PRIMARY CONCERN of the RH BILL. The rest of the issues that have become controversial are just consequences of this and if needed, must be discussed thoroughly to reach a COMPROMISE.
How can there be FREEDOM of CHOICE, if the “ignorant” poor DO NOT EVEN KNOW THE CHOICES?
No one knows about it, that’s why we need this bill. I dont want to attack the church, but since you brought up a little bit of “conspiracy theory-ish” argument, I will bring a little bit of it too. The church is against any form of population control because it’s bad for business. Less babies means less baptisms (hard to find a church that offers free baptisms), less people means less donations, less women getting pregnant means less couple getting married (we all know that one of the common reasons couples get married is because the girl gets pregnant, and you cant get married without paying).
I’m sorry, but this post makes no sense to me. We are basically being told that the pill is poison to our bodies and can, in fact, hurt future generations, but we should all have the right to continue to use it – according to our circumstance and promote it? Really? It’s poison, physically, emotionally and morally – why in the world would we promote anything of the sort? How about promoting abstinance? Yes, there is such a thing as abstinance in marriage. Abstinance means I chose you and you chose me, not because you can give me pleasure, but because you are so perfectly and uniquely made and I love you. Abstinance is not a dirty word. It is the only thing that can save us from ourselves, married or not. Dominion over our senses is one of the most freeing and edifying gifts given to us… Ask any athlete. Why is it that when it’s monsanto, we scream from the roof tops that we should not participate, period! It’s evil, it’s wrong, it’s so bad for you and all your generations, but when it comes to “S.E.X”, we can’t touch it, even when it means life and death? WAKE UP PEOPLE! Contraception is an evil for the body NO MATTER your circumstance. Period.
“Abstinance”…oh please. Before you comment on the evils of contraception, take the time to learn about the evils of improper spelling and bad grammar.
Dont be a smartass tg. You know what she meant.
I agree. It shouldn’t be considered a woman’s “right” to hurt her children.
All drugs are basically poison and you can’t force everyone to practice abstinence in their OWN bedrooms. I really like how Sarah clarified her position and that she respects the choices of everyone on whether they want to take the pill or not as long as they are informed of the risks. BTW, there are existing scientific research that says that masturbation and other sexual activity reduces the risk of prostate cancer (depending on a man’s age). I think I’d rather lower my chances of getting prostate cancer, thank you!
It is not strictly limited to the pill, or haven’t you read the bill in the first place?
And abstinence, yes, let’s look at the current statistics of teen pregnancies in the Philippines, why don’t we? 53 births per 1000 women aged between 15 to 19. FIFTEEN TO NINETEEN! That’s hormone central! You remember yourself in high school? How you cried over the littlest thing, became giddy at the thought of your crush liking you back? And said crush just looking to score?
You’d think they would use their brains, no? But teens don’t look that far ahead, they aren’t informed of the consequences, they don’t know what waits for them at the end of that road. I’ve had a friend get pregnant and drop out at 18.
Heck, it’s not limited to teens. I also have another friend that certainly isn’t prepared for motherhood get pregnant – she and her husband are both unemployed. They’re in their mid-to-late twenties. They live in the gratuity of the husband’s family. If they ever lose their favor, what do you think would happen to them?
This is about choice. My choice may not be your choice, but let the choice be made known to everyone.
We have so many laws already that are waiting for proper and strict implementation. RA9710 Sec. 17 already addresses the problems that RH Bill seeks to solve. If the government can’t even implement the existing laws, what makes the RH Bill different.
Link to RA9710 by the way —>
Enigma, that has been raised soooo many times already, but the pro-RH always set it aside and pretend they don’t hear (or read) anything when someone mentions that fact. Most pro-RH have either been blinded by the authors that the bill is “for the poor,” or are fed up by the moral champions from religious factions, which leads them to continue supporting the bill.
Many think that the poor people need to be educated when there are actually a lot of programs for information dissemination, but these Class D and E citizens are either too lazy to attend/listen or are too busy trying to find ways for themselves to get by on a daily basis.
There are a lot of volunteer nurses and doctors running around the metro and the provinces trying to provide medical help, and medical education, which includes reproductive health. They can do that and they are doing that. Why? Like you said, the Magna Carta for Women already has such clauses that have the same direction as the RH bill.
The only BIG thing added in the RH bill are the provision of contraceptives. Actually, if they remove that part, I’d probably be okay with the RH bill. Rather than dividing the funds and efforts into providing contraceptives and educating people, they should just FOCUS the efforts into making the information dissemination stronger and easier.
Oh, lastly, the RH bill would spare no one – even private organizations will have to follow. What about the rights of these private organizations to follow their own mandates and constitutional right to follow their own values (as long as they don’t go against the law)? I guess these are the things that most pro-RH fail to consider since they’re pretty much being the champions for the poor.
Before I end, I’d like to applaud Sarah for the classy response to the plagiarism of Senator Sotto’s camp.
Let me guess. “Magna Carta of Women”
Can you guess what comprises a family? What comprises the sexually active population? Did you know that there are these beings called men that actually also need access to reproductive health? Access to these information should not be limited to women alone. The women should not be left alone with the burden of trying to manage their families.
The Magna Carta of Women enshrines women’s rights. The RH bill enshrines everyone’s rights to proper reproductive health education. There is a difference.
Wow abstinence? Tell that to the Catholic Priest.
From the looks of it your just another one of them bigots. Give us poor the freedom to choose. It’s our family that gain or suffers with our choices not yours. If you don’t want to use contraceptives fine with me, but don’t prevent a bill which gives us the freedom to choose what we see is best for our family.
Us Poor? Really? You have access to internet? Cell Phone, maybe? Cable? I’m sorry, but that does not put you in the poor category. None of those are necessary for LIFE – they are extras. If you can afford all of those luxuries AFTER you feed your family and raise your children, then you have a right to talk. But if you have all of those luxuries and CLAIM to be poor – No! Your priorities are way out of whack! THAT is not poor… BTW, the poor, deserve respect, dignity and Truth – they do not deserve to be used, abused and thrown in the trash – RH does the latter.
hey rosalindal, do u know what are u talking about here? if there must be a person who shouldn’t be given a chance to use a computer for the fear of giving pointless, misleading comments, it must be YOU.
Oh, how sweet, I get my own author post – nothing gives me more pleasure than to know that the devil is so uncomfortable, he targets me directly – ALEJATE SATANAS!
Keyboard warrior on the loose here….
you are obviously so out of touch with the realities of the poor people in our country. try to talk to some of them and live in their squalid shanties where both parents sleep with all eight kids on the floor, where children do not eat for days and turn to rugby to forget their hunger, where teenage girls are sold to prostitution to help their families get out of the rut….i could go on and on but that might affect your sensibilities too much.
btw, the post does not say the pill is all-evil, it just points out some negative effects that may or may not happen. it is not an all-or-nothing situation, and it that light, it does make sense.
Is this a joke? Do you really think that enough education will keep people from having sex? The teen pregnancy rate in the Philippines is extremely high and while there is no formal education on the subject, we *were* taught to practice abstinence. It doesn’t work.
Please tell rapists to practise “abstinance” please, please, please do. Please tell impoverished women who are saddled with 10 children to refuse sex when they’re so completely and desperately financially dependent on their men. Men in the Philippines see sex as their god-given right. They demand sex and expect women to give it to them. If they can’t have it, they have no qualms about looking for sex elsewhere. That is reality. Please stop living in a bubble. Have some empathy. If you were poor with ten children you can’t feed, and your man tells you if you don’t provide him sex, he’ll leave you and your children to fend for yourselves, would you feel the same way about abstinence?
You are making my case for me. Think about what you’re saying. You are advocating for the pill so that women can be used and abused without consequence. With the pill, the woman becomes an object to be manipulated and used at the whim of the male – so what you’re saying is that a woman should be given free contraception so that she can be raped more consistantly, used and abused and treated like a blow up doll? Just because a woman is given a CLASS 1 Carcinegan, the pill, to eliminate children, does not mean that the woman will be treated any better – the only difference is that there will be no evidence of the act. Why is that better for women? The rapist is not going to stop just because she is on contraception, as a matter of fact, the rapist is more consistantly active because of the contraception. There are many studies that show that men stray more when the woman is on contraception, than when she is fertile. This is why so many step-fathers sexually abuse their step-daughters at a very young age – his wife is no longer fertile and he and his hormones long for fertility – that is how the human male is created – to procreate. Instead of being in lockstep with ignorance, read and understand the ramifications of what you are suggesting.
You’d rather women be raped WITH consequence. Wow.
So not only is a woman raped, she also has to care for the rapist’s spawn. Yes, that’s what every woman wants.
So, you’re acknowledging that women and girls are raped constantly, and you acknowledge that there’s no incentive for men to stop raping women and girls, but you seem to think that making women and girls suffer triple-fold — first the rapes, then the pregnancies/births, then watching their children starve — is some kind of charity? Women and girls being physically brutalized by rape and childbirth, and starvation, are not punishments for rapists! They’re additional violations and humiliations for raped women and girls.
If women want to raise their rapists’ children in poverty, the availability of birth control won’t stop them from exercising that choice. But it will help women and girls who, for example, don’t want to give birth to their own brothers and sisters, products of their fathers’ rape.
Is it not enough for you that they’re being raped? When they end up pregnant, it’s not as if the pregnancy offers them a way out of households where they’re being regularly raped and assaulted. Instead, it keeps them desperate and dependent, and it introduces even more potential victims into the picture.
Making victims suffer MORE is not now and never will be a solution to victimization. If women and girls being forced to give birth to their rapists’ children were some kind of discouragement to rapists, rapists would use condoms when they raped women and girls. Men aren’t thinking about children one way or the other when they rape because, no matter what, it’s the woman’s body and the woman’s responsibility.
If you actually gave a damn about women and girls, you’d be advocating for women and girls to be believed when they say they were raped, WITHOUT them having to suffer the additional violation and humiliation of pregnancy and childbirth to “prove” what happened to them.
please tell me you failed Logic 101, please tell me you failed Logic 101, please, please!!! If not, I’m gonna hunt down your Professor shove what you just said up his behind…
If I know, ROSALINDAL is just copying and pasting some useless information from the web. I think this is not a human being…Are u a human being Rosalindal? neither she is a ROBOT since Robot do not have wrong spelling of words and wrong grammar! Get lost u ugly, fat ROSALINDAL!
RosalindaL, you sound sweet and naive. Abstinence is an option, YES. That it is the best option, NO. Before you propose such a mechanism, please read up on reports and interviews of our fellow Filipinos who do not have access to education, who do not have regular jobs, who are more concerned with trying to make sure they get by everyday — these are the ones who said they would appreciate knowing and having more options. The RH Bill promoted this education mechanism, and gives people a clearer grasp of how they can be responsible for things. For you to twist Sarah’s premise that since taking the Pill can be hurtful, therefore why even consider it, is very limited.
I suggest you read the Bill before you make your argument, ma’am. After reading the whole Bill, then by all means, voice out your argument. You are being blinded by the definition of evil when you do not really know what evil really is.
LOL, abstinance. Goodness. This blog has spell check. You should have at least corrected the spelling before hitting the submit button.
Where are you from? The Suburbs? Abstinence? Really????? Fuck off!!!!! Feeling virgin!!!!!
Dear ignorant one, the point of this post, lies in the fact that every single thing you pop into your body has a potential side-effect! Do you take biogesic? Did you know it has the potential to kill you? Same potential in the pill! The day you refuse to take a biogesic for a fever, will be the day I stop taking my BC pills!!!!!
ABSTINENCE in Marriage? Absolutely Absurd!
I have to agree with Feanne on this one. It’s not to promote but to educate us about it esp. those who belong below the poverty line.