MANILA, Philippines – A Catholic bishop on Friday morning could not help but kiss Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral as he approved of her suggestion that sex education should be taught at kindergarten level.
“Sa narinig ko sa kanya ngayon ay mukhang kami ay magkaibigang magkaibigan,” Archbishop Oscar Cruz, an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda.”
Cruz was reacting to Cabral’s statement that at the very early age of 3, children should already be exposed to “appropriate” sex education. She explained that sex education for children in kindergarten should not include sexual acts, but should satisfy their curiosity about their bodies.
“Dapat ang mga teacher at mga magulang handa na makasagot nang tama kung tanungin sila ng mga bata kung ano ang pinagkaiba nila sa kapatid nilang babae, bakit sila babae at bakit sila lalaki, at kung saan galing ang kapatid nila,” Cabral said.
She added that children, especially girls, should also learn that their private parts should not be touched by any other person.
Cruz, when asked for reaction, said, “I think I agree with that. When [parents] send their kids to school, the teachers take [their] place. So when questions of this kind arise, teachers will know how to answer and answer according to the inquisitive minds of the students.”
“I want children to be taught about the dignity of their body and nobody should touch it, and they should know what to say and to whom to say it. I even required all Catholic schools to give lessons on self-defense,” the bishop said.
Cabral and the bishop both agreed that sex education for children should not include topics like sexual intercourse or any other sexual activities.
Cruz clarified that what the Church does not want is sex taken apart from “the dignity of the human person.”
In the middle of their interview on “Umagang Kay Ganda,” Cruz said: “That is very good. I’ll kiss you for that” and gave Cabral a kiss on the cheek.
Meanwhile, Cabral said that topics about the consequences of sexual intercourse or any sexual activities should be taught to children right before they enter the puberty and menstrual stages.
She said there are cases when girls as young as 9 years old have their first menstrual period. She said girls at this age should already be taught how to avoid getting pregnant.
Boys, meanwhile, should also be taught how they can avoid getting a girl pregnant, she added.
College sex education
Cruz’s stand on Cabral’s suggestion goes against the opinion of other CBCP officials.
Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, CBCP spokesman, said the Church is disappointed with the health secretary’s latest statement.
“Nakakagulat. Di maintindihan kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin. Nakaka-shock yun, ituturo ang reproduction, safe sex sa kinder,” Quitorio said.
He said every topic, particularly sex, should be taught to students at a more mature age.
“Lahat naman ng panahon, may tanong, may tamang sagot. Di mo isasagot sa kinder ang para sa teenager. Malaking kamalian yun,” Quitorio added.
Father Conegundo Garganta of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Youth, meanwhile, said that sex education should be introduced to college students.
He said children aged 17 and above are more prepared for such topics due to their higher level of understanding compared to younger students.
“That is the time where we could say that the children are more mature to handle such topic,” Garganta said. –abs-cbnNEWS.com
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