Youth dominate anti-RH rally at SC

MANILA, July 10, 2013—The new face of pro-life activism in the Philippines is young and probably that of a student — as evidenced by the crowds of young people who gathered in front of the Supreme Court in time for the start of the oral arguments against the RH Law yesterday.

Of the estimated 800 people who attended the prayer gathering against R.A. 10354, majority were young people from St. Paul University, Manila, Don Bosco College, Mandaluyong, Siena College, San Sebastian College-Cavite, and the Rogationist Seminary.

90% youth

“Ninety percent of the participants yesterday morning were young people. This gives me so much hope… I’m very happy that many young people and students are here. They are the leaders of the future and they are showing it right now that they will really fight for life,” Filipinos for Life (F4L) president AJ Perez said in an interview.

According to Perez, who was one of the main organizers of the gathering in support of the anti-RH Law petitioners yesterday, the support of young pro-lifers shows that “the younger generation are also the ones who are most charismatic and most convinced in this fight for life.”

In a Facebook post, Perez expressed his commitment to the next set of pro-lifers.

“It is our duty to guide them until they become the best pro-lifers this generation has produced,” he said.

Good guy, bad guy

For another pro-life supporter, who was also at the rally, young people’s attraction to the pro-life camp is but natural.

“Youth hunger for information and to be informed. What they want is to be in the know. Especially, the detective story types where you don’t know who the bad guy is and who is the good guy. Often, the one portrayed as the bad guy is really the hero,” said Rogie Ylagan, a writer.

It can be remembered that one of the last petitions against the RH Law was filed by a group of students, led by Education major student John Walter Juat.

“A society guided by love cannot be hostile to the birthing of posterity. Hence, it may not impede conception, the starting point of progeny. Since the Constitution values progeny, necessarily, it protects the human faculties necessary for progeny and human generation,” their 50-page petition, calling for the junking of the RH Law, read.

Oral arguments are set to continue on July 23. [Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz]