First, let me extend a very warm welcome to the many new Filipino readers that have discovered this blog in the past 24 hours. My husband is from Australia, so I do get down to that part of the world on occasion and I hope to visit your beautiful country at some point in the future.
It is great to have you here, although the circumstances of our meeting are, to say the least, unusual.
It seems one of your esteemed Senators, Tito Sotto, plagiarized a blog post I wrote on February 23, 2011 entitled How The Pill Can Harm Your Future Child’s Health, lifting entire sections of the article basically word for word that was delivered in a speech to the Senate Floor regarding the possible passage of the highly controversial Reproductive Health Bill.
What’s worse, Senator Sotto is denying the charge of plagiarism, saying in an interview with ABS-CBN:
“Why would I quote the blogger? I was quoting Natasha McBride.”
Nice touch Senator. Â You almost had me convinced you were a nice guy with the tears and all.
Many of your citizens have emailed me assuring me that was a put on, and I’m starting to think they are right.
A thief is a thief, Mr. Senator. Â Denying it doesn’t get you off the hook; it just makes you a lying thief.
On the bright side, I am thrilled that your lapse of moral judgment has brought much-needed attention to the fact that the birth control pill can have devastating consequences to a woman’s long term health and possibly those of her children and even grandchildren.  Gut dysbiosis is a serious condition that has multi-generational consequences that women need to be educated about and completely aware of before making the very personal decision to use them.
It was indeed brave of you to take this controversial position. Â Kudos to you for that.
By the way, I am truly sorry for the loss of your son.
As the mother of two sons myself, I can only imagine the pain and devastation you have felt from such an experience.
While this has been a highly charged and hopefully enlightening experience for all involved, it’s time now to set the drama aside and get back to fighting the good fight by continuing to educate people about how their food and pharma choices affect not only themselves but also those they dearly love.
And although my attorney will likely try to persuade me otherwise, for now I’m moving on as I’ve got work to do.
Women of the Philippines: I am terribly sorry my blog was used and twisted against you. You deserve the choice to use The Pill if you want or need to based on your particular circumstances. While I want you to know that this choice has health consequences as does the decision to use any pharmaceutical drug, I in no way would ever condone taking this choice away from you! Â Mabuhay!
a whole bunch of traitors you all are- YOU VOTED FOR THE GUY..and sarah, please, it’s not like you’re not enjoying the attention
Excuse me, I’d rather vote myself – an engineering graduate and a topnotcher than these mascots. By these mascots, I’m referring to: Miriam Santiago, Tito Sotto, Lito Lapid, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla Jr. — they are no different from Ronald McDonald and Jollibee.
@ Nate … that’s funny because your vote for yourself will be the only vote.. great job their top notcher we are very impressed with your credentials.
Here we go.
Senator Sotto- Plagiarized Parts of his Speech
His brother- used the storylines of “Lastikman” and “Gagamboy” without acknowledging anything, taking it for his own. 🙂
I was reading Frank Hilario’s blog(creattitudesonline.blogspot.com) and according to him Sen.Sotto made his attributions on certain editorials, newspaper column pieces…and other reference materials or literature of experts in the field of science and law with regards to the speeces he delivered in the Senate… I kinda agree with him..so how is it plagiarism? I am not a supporter of Senator Sotto..but im just saying…read his blog maybe it can help ease your anger.And to Sarah, correct me if i am wrong, but the purpose of your blog is to share information on relevant issues right?…i beleive that is exactly the case here.
Someone copied/stole your idea without permission. When confronted with about it, they, instead of apologizing, insulted and belittle you instead.
If the good Senator only did the right thing and apologize to Sarah in the first place, this would have been a non issue.
Gina, the issue here is that the senator plagiarized Sarah’s blog. He used her exact words in one of his speeches without quoting her. Any listener would have initially thought that those were his words when they clearly were not. THAT is why it is a very clear case of plagiarism. Sarah’s blog shares information but that does not give anyone the license to steal her words. I say this with all sincerity: Please do more research on plagiarism and try to seek out reputable resources. I am saying this because it is very surprising that many people still do not seem to be aware of what constitutes plagiarism and thus, continue to commit the same mistake.
“Women’s health” and “reproductive freedom” are two of the biggest misnomers out there. Artificial contraception (and abortion) are definitely NOT healthy for a woman’s body! And I have women tell me all the time they wanted more children, but their husbands wouldn’t let them have more!! That is not freedom. Artificial contraception has caused enormous social turmoil (increase in divorce, acceptance of pornography and abortion, just for starters.) The world has always had prostitution and pornography — but not to the extent that you see it today. It has become mainstream, thanks to the Pill and our “free sex, no regrets” attitude. (50% of abortions are attributed to failed contraception.)
“Adam and Eve After the Pill” is a fascinating look at this topic.
Did you know, all Christian religions (not just Catholics) were vehemently against artificial contraception until not so long ago. The mention of it was taboo in the years just before most of us were born. Margaret Sanger (that “champion” of the Pill) was an outspoken racist who wanted to use birth control to keep minorities, the weak, and others who she considered inferior from reproducing. She and Hitler were mutual admirers (no joke).
Oh, yeah, and our water is filled with artificial hormones because of the Pill. There is no getting it out of the water system. There is absolutely nothing good about the Pill.
NFP is the only way to go.
for a troll to get me to reply, you got guts.
Your testimony on women wanting more children but the husbands won’t let them may come down to different reasons depending on where you are living now and the financial burden of a big family. Your accusation on artificial contraception being the faults of those things you make mention of is dead silly considering you can attribute other issues such as economics, the lack of a recognizable family structure in some communities and what not. The free sex/no regrets attitude certainly comes from the lack of education for young people regarding sexual education and things to take away from their distraction. If there is someone to blame for that its the parents AND the government for keeping things the way they are.
And your margaret sanger to hitler correlation is the icing to the cake of your trolldom. Seriously, that is the weakest shit I have ever read.
Do the rest of the Pinoys a favor and if you are a female, NEVER procreate. I would have to deal with your ilk 50 years down the road to help contribute bringing the glory of a lack of education and mediocrity to the nation.
No to plagiarism, No to the bad things included in the RH Bill(there are some good in it)….NO to everything that’s wrong.
Hi Sarah, I’m from the Philippines. Pardon our senator’s stupidity including his staff. You made a right point that you should’ve been credited by him when he included some excerpts from your blog in his speech. This senator is not a lawyer nor a college graduate if I’m not mistaken. He’s a kind of popular and became a politician coz he’s a comedian. Yes you heard it right a comedian. Some politicians here in our country are just the biggest jokes and scums of the earth.
Again, apologies in behalf of our stupid senator. I hope i shed some light to your concern on why this stupid senator of ours reacted like that.
Does this make her a comedian too?
The pro-rh senator Pia Cayetano is also guilty of plagiarism. Not only that, she is now covering up her tracks by adding footnotes to her former speeches. Her speech was down in her website last night. How’s that for integrity?
Tito Sotto never stopped being a comedian. It seems like his staff picked up his penchant for comedy.
Iskwelang kwela ‘to dito’y enjoyable
konting aral lang konting bulakbol
dito nang lahat, madaldal at bulol
dito na nga, Iskul Bukol
Tito Sotto’s (and his staff’s) initial reaction when exposed to this shows you how some politicians think of their position. It is best illustrated by the late Jose Avelino, himself a senator “serving” under Elpidio Quirino.
http://www.hotmanila.ph/ESP/2000/avelino0300114.htm.
I encouraged you to read the above.
Some highlights
– “What are we in power for?” – Jose Avelino (then senate majority leader) about the on going investigation regarding his moneymaking activities
– “I am no saint…but when public opinion demands an investigation, we have to go through the formality of ordering one.” – then President Elipidio Quirino