?FRANKLY, MY DEAR. I DON?T GIVE A damn.?

These words from Rhett to Scarlet in the film classic ?Gone With The Wind? fittingly summarizes the attitude of most males to the Reproductive Health (RH) bill.

Why so? Because in this battle of the sexes, we men will (as always) end up on top.

Consider some of the main arguments the bill?s proponents are highlighting and anyone with common sense would easily see the tremendous advantages the bill would give to us men.

First, a woman would have greater control over her reproductive power, choosing when to be pregnant. What man would refuse such a gift? We can copulate with as many as we want, without fear of getting women pregnant. Of course, the bill?s women proponents claim they can enjoy the ?power? it would give them, but anyone who knows Anatomy (Biology 101) can see that men have the copulation advantage.

Second, the bill would allow a woman to ?seek her new identity,? be equal to men in many respects, by freeing themselves from the ?old-fashioned? roles of wife and mother, managing the household and child-bearing. What man in his right mind would refuse this? With more women becoming co-providers, men don?t have to work as hard. Heck, I know ?housebands? enjoying their days golfing and watching DVDs. Of course, wifey?s reproductive power means men can do other things while the wifey finds her identity in the office...wink-wink...

Third, having fewer children, RHers say, is a sign of responsible parenthood, good for the mother?s health, good for the economy and more humane. Again, who could disagree with such logic? Of course, fewer children means the woman can spend more time working, in or outside the home (her choice) or in an office, so she can spend more on the child or herself and for her partner (male or female, if she has one), who doesn?t have to work as hard.

Fourth, by opening the door to abortion, divorce and same-sex marriage, the bill will be good for our country?s economic development because a lower population would mean fewer of us dividing the economic pot. Of course, I agree, because in the Philippines the real cause of poverty is a growing population, the bad influence of religion, and the women who all these years have been abused by male chauvinists.

Unfortunately, these arguments are? ?stupid? is such a strong word, so I?ll use instead??counterintuitive,? which is probably why legislators, survey groups, and a few more people are supporting the bill. The silent majority who oppose the bill are too busy earning a living because they do not have financial support from foreign governments, pharmaceutical firms and pro-choice NGOs.

For countless generations in my family, the women have ruled the home (stated confidently with my wife?s permission), controlled their reproductive rights (ask any normal Filipino husband) and welcomed babies as signs of love. The bill wants to make women think ?to be like God.?

We know what happened the first time. Unless we act, it will happen again.

?MANOLING DE LEON,

Pinoy Pilgrim Global Foundation Inc.,

www.pinoypilgrim.org