REACTION PAPER: I WITNESS DOCUMENTARY: KABUWANAN NI NENE BY SANDRA AGUINALDO

The documentary discusses about the early pregnancy cases of young people today. There are
three (3) young women from Happy Land, a crowded, volatile and disturbed village in Metro Manila and
a teenager who just gave birth at the Fabella Hospital were interviewed by Ms. Sandra Aguinaldo about
their life and experiences on early pregnancy.
The first one is Ann, age 15 who was first seen in the video while giving birth. It is noteworthy
that it is still unknown and is not well-prepared because nurses and doctors were teaching and guiding
her with proper breathing. She was happy because she gave birth to a healthy 8.9 lbs baby boy. After
being discharged from the hospital, she was welcomed home by her mother who wants and still wishes
that she finished her studies.
The second one, Angel who is 13 years old and living in with 19 years old who earns by collecting
trash and recyclable items. They had their relationship when she was only 10 years old. She got
pregnant but lost the baby. Angel is an only child. Her father was imprisoned while her mother had
abandoned her and left her to her partner. She told Ms. Aguinaldo that she was sorry for not able to go
to school. She was no longer accepted at school because she got pregnant and the school was full. She
dreamed of being a doctor and because of her early pregnancy she was missed schooling and playing.
The third teen in the documentary is Angel's friend Andrea, 13 years old and is currently seven
months pregnant. She has four siblings; her father is janitor while her mother does not work. His 17-
year-old partner earns by collecting trash and recyclable items and they only live in a tricycle.
Ms. Andrea Aguinaldo noticed that Andrea does not fully understand nor even thinks about
what lies in their future when she gives birth. She is only satisfied with her current situation. She did not
learn about the RH Bill, contraceptives and sexual education at school. She only learned it from her
friends. Eventually the documentary showed that they were accompanied by Ms. Aguinaldo to undergo
her first ever ultra sound and then went home to the tricycle parked in a dark alley.
The fourth young lady interviewed by Ms. Sandra is also a patient, lying in an adjacent to Ann’s
bed at the hospital named Grace who is 14 years old. She is the youngest teen who just gave birth at the
Fabella Hospital. Grace regretted her early pregnancy as she missed going to school.
I learned in this documentary the outcomes of those teens who did not listen to their parents'
advice. Those young teens repented and regretted because they have lost the opportunity of studying in
school and other things that teenagers at their age usually does. I gained more knowledge about the
facts of life like:

1. The Commission on Population is the government agency responsible for reducing the rates/numbers
of early pregnancy or teenage pregnancies.

Data mentioned in the documentary are as follows:

a. In the year 2011 there were 203,000 cases of pregnant women
b. In 2014 it rose to 209,000 cases
c. The youngsters who gave birth to Fabella Hospital last year had a total of 1,230 with age ranging from
14-18 years old
d. In 2012, there were 610,000 abortion cases in the Philippines

2. Health effects of early pregnancy are:

A. high risk pregnancy or complicated pregnancy
B. high risk pre-mature labor
C. high risk caesarian - because the body / pelvis are not ready for childbirth yet
D. pre-eclampsia or hypertension in pregnant women
E. anemia
F. malnutrition
G. hemorrhage

3. Reasons of early pregnancy:

A. Early, inadequate and misinformation in sex education or it is learned in the wrong way
B. those that are not guided by their parents because they are busy at work; parents are separated
C. social media
D. Internet - youth can easily access the adult website

4. Impacts of Early Pregnancy

A. Loss opportunity to study in school
B. Different or negative views of their social status
C. Possible problems in the future like what they will do if the baby got sick, they have no money
D. Health effects
R. Being mocked or they are the usual topics of other people

5. Different types of contraceptives

A. injectibles
B. pills
C. bud
D. condoms
E. cycle beads

6. Early pregnancy (teenage pregnancy) is also known as adolescence pregnancy

7. Due to unwanted pregnancy, abortion cases increased. According to a representative of Fabella

Hospital who was interviewed by Ms. Aguinaldo, their most frequent patients at the Post Abortion Ward
are those who have been taken abortion pills/medicines and undergo abortion outside the hospital.
There are a lot of cases where abortion threatens their lives; almost killed them and others die due to
damaged ovary or severe hemorrhage.

8. The documentary states that early childhood pregnancy affects the country's economy as well. There
is a so-called inter-generational poverty or situation where mothers who experienced early pregnancy in
life and their child encounter the same fate. As a result, the economy has lost around 30 billion. The
urban poor suffers more as it is difficult for students who have dropped out of school to land a good job
and end up not being able to give their children a good life.

9. The documentary also discussed about the RH bill in which the age of consent referred to (aged 15-
24) the family planning knowledge is not accessible to those who need it the most (youth aged 15-19).
While rape law states that those with age 12 or older who agrees to have sex and will not be considered
rape or exploitation. So there is a need to change the age of consent in the RH Bill.

With the data mentioned in the documentary, I agree with what Sec. Briones to include
Comprehensive Sexuality Education in the K12 curriculum which is between the ages of 10-11 or those
in grade 5 that they can learn properly on this topic and that they will be aware of the effects of early
pregnancy. This is better instead of having the kids to learn inaccurate or incomplete information from
their friends, on social media and the internet.
 We might find it irritable for those unending sermons we hear from our parents but for me, I
believe that those are reminders for our safety and benefits. So it is best if we listen to the advice of our
parents.
This documentary is an eye opener not only for me but for all the youths. It showed us the
effects of adolescence pregnancy individually, socially and in economics.
As what we have learned from our Aralin Panlipunan and ESP subjects in school, that family is
the basic unit of our society. Each family member has a role to play and as a teen, we must obey and do
our share of responsibility in the society. And at the moment, is to learn, to study and abide social,
school, government and spiritual laws.
The family is the reflection of the presence and love of Christ in our world. Young people are
passionate about seeking love because many families are losing it. So we must resurrect Christ in our
homes, for the sake of all of us. It is worthy to have a good relationship with God to guide us in our daily
lives, with every decision and the paths we will take. Because of His guidance and love, we can be safe
and protected from bad elements.