Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:09:00 04/07/2011
FOR THE title of his first novel on the state of Philippine society in the 19th century, Jose Rizal chose the Spanish translation of a statement the newly risen Christ addressed to the first disciple to see Him after His resurrection from the dead, as she was about to embrace His feet in adoration: “Noli me tangere!” (Don’t touch me!) he told Mary Magdalene. And perhaps, by way of explaining his command, he added, “I have yet to see my Father in heaven.” (John 20:17)
Rizal, the doctor of modern medicine, used the phrase in an entirely different context. He was referring to the social cancer and ills inflicted by the Spanish colonizers on Filipino society then—the mere mention of which would make the whole socio-political body react in pain, even violently.
I write this under the title “Noli me tangere!”—to oppose all attempts, whether individual or corporate, public or private, local or international, promoting the use of contraceptives and other forms of birth control.
On behalf of the unborn child, the still-to-be-born Filipino people, I say: “Noli me tangere!”
Touch me not! Do not lay your hands on me! Let me be born! Let me face the sunshine on these emerald islands of Rizal’s dreams!
Why take it out on us? Why blame nameless Filipino people, including the unborn, for the current maladies afflicting Filipino society?
The proponents of the euphemistically labeled Reproductive Health (RH) bill are barking up the wrong tree! If they really want to free the Filipino people from poverty and misery, they must recognize that it is not the innocent, newly born or unborn Filipinos who are spreading these social ills; that what caused the cancer that’s sapping our society’s energy for growth is the exploitation of our land, resources and people by multinational corporations and carpetbaggers, with the help of their glorified local dummies; and by politicians whose main preoccupation is graft and corruption.
If during the time of Rizal, the exploiters were dressed in religious clothing, today’s ravenous wolves are disguised in the trappings of political democracy.
“Abort” the continuing neocolonial exploitation of our country and people! Now! Stop the glorified salesmen of condoms and abortifacient devices and technology, who are lurking like wolves in sheep’s clothing in the hallways of government offices and the corridors of business establishments.
Cherish the children! They are our future! As Rizal said: The youth is the hope of the motherland!
—ARIEL R. ALMENDRAL
a2almendral@yahoo.com
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