If we’re honest, our society sexualizes children from an early age—sexy dances at events, skimpy outfits on noon-time shows, online porn, sexting. In the absence of proper education, all that young people have, in this already hypersexualized world, are unreliable sources for information: peers, myths, or unvetted internet content. For example, myths such as “jumping after sex prevents pregnancy” offer a false sense of security and put young lives at
Puerto Princesa City, Palawan – Roots of Health (Ugat ng Kalusugan), a Palawan-based organization dedicated to empowering women and young people through sexual and reproductive health education and services, calls for the full implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) nationwide. This appeal comes in response to ongoing campaigns by groups such as Project Dalisay, which, according to Roots of Health, misrepresents the content and goals of CSE. “Without
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Dec 2024
Lighting the Path in the Fight Against HIV
In a world where stigma and misunderstanding often overshadow compassion, Jap stands as a beacon of hope. As the HIV Program Coordinator at Roots of Health (ROH), Jap has dedicated his time to educating communities, conducting screenings, and providing support to people living with HIV (PWH). His journey is not only a testament to the power of empathy and persistence, it also highlights the crucial role HIV workers play in
Marcus Swanepoel I’ve been looking at the HIV numbers here in the Philippines, and it’s both alarming and frustrating that they’re mostly ignored by the media and government departments that should be addressing the issue. HIV is the silent stalker that is coming for the Filipino youth. The epidemic, once described as “low and slow,” has transformed into the fastest-growing in the Western Pacific. From just four new cases per
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Nov 2024
Roots of Health showcases innovative ASRH programs at the National Conference on Family Planning 2024
We’re honored to have shared our innovative approach to family planning and adolescent sexual and reproductive health at the 3rd National Family Planning Conference in the Philippines. From the I CHOOSE campaign, to our young couples’ communication workshops and our Astig ‘Pre program for men and boys, we’re driving creative strategies to promote health, well-being, and gender-equity. These programs equip young people with the skills to discuss consent, sexuality, and
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Oct 2024
Celebrating 15 years with Roots of Health
Roots of Health Executive Director Ami Evangelista-Swanepoel (2nd row, center) with the Roots of Health Team during the 15th year anniversary celebration in Puerto Princesa, City. As I reflect on the past 15 years with Roots of Health, I am filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible impact we’ve made in Palawan. What started as a dream has blossomed into something truly transformative. We’ve empowered women and young people,
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Aug 2024
Press Statement: Let’s Teach Children Consent
Atty. Lorna Kapunan was right to enlighten Senator Robin Padilla on marital consent during the recent Senate hearing on sexual harassment, stressing that both spouses have the right to refuse sex, even within marriage. While this may seem like common sense, many Filipinos share Senator Padilla’s view as shown by our analysis of the 2021 Young Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS5) by the University of the Philippines Population Institute. Over
Amina Evangelista-Swanepoel Published on Rappler, July 29, 2024 In his 2024 SONA, President Marcos called public school teachers the foundation of our educational system and national learning recovery. He announced benefit packages and upskilling programs for teachers to improve Filipino learners’ literacy, problem-solving, and critical thinking. The President and newly-appointed Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara must not forget teachers’ professional development in implementing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) to
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Feb 2024
Cultivating Strong Roots Together!
We’re Growing our Roots Together! 2023 was a year of growth for Roots of Health as we moved towards expanding our roots and going further in addressing systemic challenges related to teenage pregnancies and HIV! This was not an easy feat especially in the context of new government leaders, rising inflation and media misinformation. The best way of going about it was to have our stakeholders – government workers, teachers,
Puerto Princesa City; February 14, 2024 – Valentine’s Day took on a new dimension for students at Palawan National School as they delved into PAD-ibig Diaries, a groundbreaking initiative merging menstrual pads with illustrated diary entries to foster open dialogue about sex and relationships. Four hundred female students from grades 7 to 10 were treated to limited edition menstrual pads featuring vibrant diary entries about the female anatomy, puberty, crushes,
