Some 4,000 students from various schools joined the largest forum to date against the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill, the the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said. In a news release, the CBCP said the anti-RH forum, dubbed the "Kalakbay Patungo sa Kapunuan ng Buhay at Pamilya," was held at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila on Tuesday. The forum was part of the events for the celebration for the 43rd anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical "Humanae Vitae" (On Human Life) on July 25. The CBCP said the 4,000 included delegates from:
UST; St. Paul Manila and Quezon City; Ateneo de Manila University; De La Salle University-Taft; Lourdes School Quezon City; Letran College-Intramuros; St. Jude Academy; Cainta Catholic School; La Consolacion College Pasig and Valenzuela; San Beda College; St. Mary’s College of Quezon City; Philippine Normal University; Assumption College Makati; Technological University of the Philippines; and Santa Catalina College-Legarda. As evening approached on Tuesday, bells pealed in all parishes in Manila to commemorate the Hour of the Unborn. After the ringing of church bells, a procession began at the Santisimo Rosario Parish to España Avenue at 6:00 p.m., followed by a candle-lighting that stretched throughout the UST side of España. "The support of the youth is overwhelming, more than expected," outgoing CBCP secretary general Msgr. Juanito Figura said in an article posted on the CBCP news site on Wednesday. Several religious groups, like the Catholic Church, are against the passage of the RH bill which promotes both artificial and natural methods of family planning. The Catholic Church accepts only natural family planning methods. Worth more than condoms Zambales Representative Ma. Milagros Magsaysay, who attended the forum, reminded young women to value themselves because they are worth so much "more than a pack of condoms." She also spoke on the problem about maternal deaths, one of the reasons cited by pro-RH advocates why there was a need to pass the bill. Magsaysay said the issue about maternal deaths should have been addressed by an already existing law. “We passed a law already, but the government failed to implement the provisions of the Magna Carta for Women," she said. Prophetic encyclical Meanwhile, Renelyn Tan of World Youth Alliance Asia Pacific (WYAAP), gave an overview of the "Humanae Vitae," which she described as "prophetic." The "Humanae Vitae" was written by Pope Paul VI and issued on July 25, 1968. Subtitled "On the Regulation of Birth," the papal letter reaffirms the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church on married love, responsible parenthood, and birth control. The papal letter became highly controversial as it prohibits all forms of artificial contraception. - VVP, GMA News 
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