Noli Me Tangere in the present day.

Malditera is pro-Reproductive Health Bill, which the Catholic church had been rejecting for as long as we can remember. The RH Bill is something that the country needs badly but the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) believes that it is a detriment to their pro-life sentiments.

It's not. The RH Bill is pro-life. It saves poor women from dying needlessly because of complicated childbirths and saves young babies from being thrown in the trash bin by parents who could not afford to raise them. It keeps families small and manageable.

The RH Bill is pro-life and pro-family.

Thought we were few, people who believe this very same thing. The Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country and the CBCP wields a lot of power over the government. Talks of excommunicating President Noynoy Aquino brewed, which led tourist guide Carlos Celdran to stage a protest during a Manila Cathedral mass. Quite the theatrical feat. Celdran wore a costume worthy of José Rizal's Noli Me Tángere while holding a placard with the words "Damaso" scribbled on it. Damaso was the corrupt Spanish priest in Rizal's aforementioned novel and was a symbol of the Filipinos' oppression in the 1800s.

Does Malditera agree with Celdran's actions? No and yes. No, because I believe in the sanctity of every religion. Spirituality brings a sense of healthy balance in people's lifestyles. This goes for ALL religion.

Yes, because it had to be done. He broke the silence. Someone had to do it. Now everyone is clamoring for the RH Bill. He was also quite accepting of his punishment, if his happy expression in jail is any indication. It takes real guts for someone to fight for his convictions in this manner.