The best thing that has happened over the last two days in Congress is that Speaker Prospero C. Nograles has declared that he will commission women members of the House of Representatives and the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. to conduct “all-women” district consultations on the Reproductive Health bill. He said that he will maintain “cold neutrality” in the bill, and that he is publicly neither for nor against the measure until he has listened to “all sides.”
I have reservations, though, about what he said — that since women are the ones directly affected by the measure, “Let’s hear it from the women themselves.”
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Sure, women are the ones directly affected by the measure — in terms of women being the ones who conceive, carry on pregnancies through the full term, and give birth — and so experience the dangers of unplanned and too-frequent pregnancies. They are the ones whose wombs and vaginas suffer wear and tear from too many childbirths. And they are the ones who know the harsh reality of having too many children the family budget can ill afford.
Yes, it would be good for them to tell the women members of the House and the Congressional spouses their problems — and I hope their voices will be heard and conveyed to the House who will vote for or against the passage of the Reproductive Health bill. I hope the spouses will listen with their hearts and minds, and not to how a vote for the bill will affect their husbands’ or wives’ chances of reelection in the next polls.
I am distressed by the remark of the Speaker — well-meaning that it is supposed to be — about only women from Congress conducting the district consultations. Perhaps in our culture, that is acceptable — i.e., having heart-to-heart talks with women about women’s problems.
But male representatives should listen to their female — and male — constituents — and not just to bishops and priests who condemn to hell those who do not practice Natural Family Planning and the Basal metabolism technique. What is most upsetting is that the Pro-Life force brands the bill as espousing abortion, which HB 5043 — authored by Rep. Edcel Lagman, a Roman Catholic, says is not. In his sponsorship speech, Lagman said, “we must open our minds to the import and merits (of the bill) and reject contrived criticisms, expose barefaced lies, refute malicious innuendoes and resist menacing threats. We must not fear to legislate because it is courage which is the handmaiden of good and vital law.’’
Which is why I think male legislators, too, should listen to what their constituents think about the bill.
I certainly would like to be present in one of those consultative meetings.
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One of the nicest places in Quezon City to get lost in is the Manglicmot bonsai garden at Village B inside the University of the Philippines campus. What brought us there was the celebration marking the 58th birthday of former University of the Philippines president Emil Q. Javier, a choice made by his wife Alma. “We’ve always celebrated Emil’s birthday in Los Banos, so for a change, we’re holding it here,” Alma told us.
Seated inconspicuously among the guests was Modesto Manglicmot, salt-and-pepper hair, modest as his name, a 1953 UPLB agriculture graduate with agronomy as his major, who spent many years teaching gardening, physical fitness and other subjects at the JASMS school in Quezon City. Modesto began collecting materials he picked up along beaches and roadsides, and developing them into bonsai trees in the '70s — a habit that still fascinates him to this day.
His good friend Emil Javier, then UP president, invited him to move his collection to the UP campus, and, with negotiations arranged by Prof. Martin Gregorio, and talks with UP president Dodong Nemenzo, the collection was finally moved to its present site in April 2000.
From his first bonsai called calyos, or streblus asper, Modesto has developed 400 bonsais which are neatly arranged in a 6,000 sq.m. lot greened and cooled by numerous giant trees. Some of the bonsais are hundreds of years old, and indigenous, including kamagong, kamuning, tsaang gubat, balete, bignay and Philippine holly. Only five are from abroad like bougainvilla, ficus from Taiwan, Chinese holly, and junifer from the US. The stunted plants are raised on clay pots, in fascinating formations, shapes and sizes, each piece a thing of beauty crafted by Manglicmot’s hands. Some of them have won prizes in shows and, said Manglicmot, are “priceless.” He turned down an offer of P1.5 million for a tree. Besides, he cannot sell any of his works, he said, as every single piece has been donated to the university.
He named a bonsai after his wife Neneng, made from bantegui, or pempis acidula, which he picked up in a field in Batangas. The plant was a winner in a bonsai show, but being sensitive, died a slow death.
Long retired from teaching, Manglicmot does some occasional landscaping. His wife said her husband spends the whole day at the bonsai garden. Two large tents have been built — with Manglicmot’s own money — which are rented out for P10,000 for weddings and gatherings. One-half of the rent money goes to the university, the other half to Manglicmot for maintaining the garden. To one’s surprise there are huge ferns in containers around the garden, nourished by organic fertilizers — nor are they for sale.
Manglicmot once attended a five-day session with a bonsai master who is a member of the Japan Bonsai Society in Tokyo. “I could not speak Nippongo. Nor did the teacher speak English. So I learned new techniques by actual practice. I learned a lot, but to my surprise I was not charged for attending the course because I am a member of the Philippine Bonsai Society.” In turn, Manglicmot enjoys sharing his knowledge and love of bonsai, and gives free lessons to starters and even seasoned bonsai lovers every Saturday at the garden. People are welcome to see the garden for free. For security, a guard makes sure no one steals the trees — especially now that I have revealed their value and location. Interested students may call the celebrated gardener at 0906-245-1167.
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My e-mail: dominimt2000@yahoo.com