It is quite alarming. Within the last week only, five babies were reported in the news to have been abandoned in different places in Manila. Only one was found alive and the rest were found dead. What’s happening?
A couple of days ago, one newly-born baby was found in an airplane comfort room. Luckily he was still alive and was immediately brought to the hospital. The possible mother was recently traced and denied of doing the abandonment of the baby. Another baby was found in a ship, also in the rest room, but was already dead. The mother was also traced and admitted the crime. She said she got scared when she accidentally delivered the baby while urinating. Quite an excuse.
Yesterday, two fetuses were found in two different churches in Manila. One was found along the one of the seats in Manila Cathedral. One was found along the entrance of Quiapo Church. This morning, another fetus was found along the streets of Catmon, Malabon.
As a nurse, I am pro-life and so it is disheartening to know that there are some people who can just decide to take away innocent lives. I tend to think that there must be serious problems with the coming of that baby. I know that there are some therapeutic reasons for terminating pregnancies, but other than those reasons, I feel that taking away the baby’s right to live cannot be justified by whatever problems there can be, be it poverty or marital issues. If only the baby could talk to defend his life!
There are other means to solve unwanted pregnancy problems. Institutions like Norfil Foundation can help mothers who are in this situation. They take care of the pregnant mother until the baby is delivered. And if it has been decided that the mother can not take care of the baby, the agency looks for a foster parent for the baby.
Life is sometimes a joke. I know lots of couple who were wishing to have even one baby. Yet there are others who does not want them and decide to take away their baby’s life.
I wish that people who decide to abandon their babies realize that it is a very big mistake to refuse this special gift from Above. I believe that all babies are unique and special. Although it may not be obvious when the unwanted baby is born, but his value as a gift will unfold when he is also regarded as unique, special and very much wanted.
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picture credits: mobshare.in, news.pinkpaper.com
sad to hear that. i feel for the unborn babies.
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Hi JOHN! I do too.
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Hi Nelson,
I was drawn to your blog via google, following a horrendous revelation from a friend of mine who works in a call centre in Manila. Last Sunday, a dead newborn baby was found in a shower room in the call centre. To date, I understand this story has not been reported in the press.
My friend’s initial reaction was similar to yours, condemning the mother for the deed. Researching the subject, I am horrified at the number of similar instances, such as referred to in your blog.
It’s encouraging to learn from your blog that there are agencies that look after mothers who find themselves in this position, maybe through no fault of their own (e.g. victims of rape). Given the number of instances that you refer to, occurring in such a short time, along with the, so far, unreported incident that I know of, I wonder how many babies are being killed.
I understand that, politically, this is a sensitive issue in the Philippines. Your new president, I understand, has looked to introduce legislation to reduce the birth rate, attracting strong opposition from the Catholic Church.
My take on this, as a Christian, observing from the UK, is that there are probably many incidents of unfortunate women getting rid of their unplanned babies due to the perceived disgrace that they face, should it be discovered that they have given birth to an illegitimate baby. I’m also guessing that these women are probably unaware of the agencies, or the agencies can’t cope with the sheer numbers. These observations are purely subjective and I am open to being corrected.
There also seems to be an absence of compassion to these unfortunate women. Again, if I have got this wrong, I would love to hear to the contrary. I can understand the anguish of those who are unable to receive God’s gift of a child. I am fortunate to be blessed with four children and four grandchildren.
Thanks for the opportunity to share my, potentially controversial, views.
God bless you,
Paul Forrest
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HI PAUL, Thanks for sharing your opinion. I also feel that some women are unaware of the agencies that could support them and they felt they didn’t have much choice. It’s true that there is a tendency to judge the person immediately for committing this, but I believe they are just victims of situations which lead them to decide what they did. They need help, not condemnation.
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Yeah..nakakasad talaga ang ganitong event..haysss..napanuod ko rin yung sa Plane..disheartening talaga..bakit may mga ganung tao no?
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OO nga eh, di natin malaman kung bakit naiisip nila un. Bahala na si Lord 🙂
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ang dami na talagang incident nyan dito sa atin at sobrang nakaka alarming na. Super kawawa ang mga inabandonang babies 😦
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Haaay, sana mabawasan na ang mga ganitong incidences. Nakaklungkot 😦
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I believe these are the unwanted babies – either resulting from rape or from teenage pregnancies. That’s a reason why I am pro-RH bill. Even if I have to be pro life as a nurse, how can you be pro-life if more babies are dying as a result of unwanted pregnancy? Just my opinion though.
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kakaiyak nman tong post na to…pero totoo yan, may mga parents talaga na kaya ng kunsensya nila na i-abandon ang baby nila, nakakatulog kaya sila?…kakaawa lang yong babies…
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c Lord na ang bahala sa mga walang konsensyang ina 😦
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…at the bottom of these immoral acts, RH Bill is what the govt sees as key to these social dilemmas…
RH BIll will surely be legislated….but, personally, I DOUBT, the bill can put a halt to social problems (poverty, population…)
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kz kun ako ang tatanungin..ang pangunahing problema ng ating bansa ay hindi kahirapan, hindi, ang pagdami ng populasyon, hindi ang kawalan ng trabaho….KUNDI ANG TALAMAK NA KORAPSYON…na ang salaping para sa mga nasabing suliraning iyan sana napunta e nappunta sa mga pulitikong…hayz…tlg namang nkakainit ng ulo….
happy birthday na lang uli, nelson….out napo ako:)
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I liked your article is an interesting.
thanks to google I found you
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