PANEL DISCUSION

(Teenage Pregnancy)

KARYLLE: Goodmorning ladies and gentlemen. Welcome for today’s panel discussion. My
name is Karylle Labaclado, your moderator and of course it is always a pleasure to have you
joining me this morning. We are going to discussed about this very serious problem for us to
be alert and be aware. Teenage pregnancy. A situation of pregnancy which involves female
adolescence in the age between 13 to 19. I’m sure most of you know maybe a person under
the age of 18 who had already a child. So what are we waiting for? Let us all welcome, our
guests for today!

The Teen Age Mom: Mommy Edelyn Semeniano

The head of Department of Social Welfare and Development: Sir Martin Panilawon
The Doctor of Psychology degree: Diane Grace Joyce Asis, PhD
The Strict Parent: Papa Daddy Darwin Salinasan

KARYLLE: 3 lucky audiences can pick one of these guests then they can ask something about
them related on Teenage pregnancy. Okay, Are you ready?

ALL: Yes!
KARYLLE: let us start, Yes Augustin.

AUGUSTIN: How can the problem of teenage pregnancy be addressed in our country?

MARTIN: I can say that the teenage pregnancy in Philippines is still alarming. There are a lot of
reported cases regarding with this issue since the past few years until now. The number of
teenage pregnancies is on the rise. More Filipino in the range of 10-14 years old got pregnant.
And according to the most recent National Demographic and Health Survey .One in ten young
Filipino women age 15-19 has begun bearing.8% are already mothers and 2% are pregnant
with their first child. The youngest record mother was a 13-year old girl. And there is one thing
that is undeniably obvious here. This is an issue that we need to solve fast

KARYLLE: Thank you sir. For the next question, a student named Kristena from SMNHS will do
the honor.
KRISTENA: Mommy Edelyn. As a teenage mom, how challenging it was for you when you
found out that you are preggy at such a young age?
EDELYN: It was difficult. Me and my partner were not fully aware of our actions and I didn’t
know that I would become pregnant at such a young age. Upon learning that I was pregnant at
the age of 14. Yes. Only 14. It was unplanned. I experience a wide range of emotions, from
being shocked, depressed and disappointed to constantly worrying about my future. My
boyfriend dumped me for he is afraid of responsibility. And I was afraid of the consequences it
brings if I’m going to tell my parents. But eventually they learned about it. It was not easy .I
still remember their faces when they found out. It’s like “This can’t be happening “I can see
the disappointment in their eyes because I know that they have many dreams for me but what
did I do? It takes a long journey for them to absorb and accept what happened to me. And I
thank them for supporting me even though it is hard.
KRISTENA: Does it even cross to your mind to abort the baby?
EDELYN: And Yes I did consider aborting my baby. But I am thankful that my love and guilt is
greater than anything. I know in my heart that this baby is a blessing from god. Actually, there
she is. Hi baby girl!
VEBSLYN: Mommyyyyyyyy! I want chocolatesssss
EDELYN: All I can say is do not lose hope. There is a lesson for everything. Just trust God.

KARYLLE: Aweeeee. What an inspiring story. Oh Kenneth! Our last lucky audience

KENNETH: Ms. .Diane, for you what is the best advice you could give in order to lessen and
prevent more teenaged pregnancy in happening?
DIANE: There is no easy or short cuts around it but base from all the stories my patients
consulted to me I can say and conclude that the best advice I could give in order to prevent
teenage pregnancy is conducting a Comprehensive Sex Education in school or homes as early
as the child can already understand about the real things happening in this world. For example
is teaching them what good touch and bad touch. I believe that it is important for the youth
whether it is a boy or a girl to learn something about Sex Education as part of their
development because it aims to give the knowledge, attitudes, skills and values to make
appropriate and healthy choices or decisions which is also designed with the intention of
reducing teenage and unwanted pregnancies.
Okay lets us be open minded in here. Ideally, children will get all of the information they
need at home, from their parents. One’s attitude reflect on the people whom he/she is living
with as he/she grow up.
MARTIN: As a parent, I get the point of what our psychologist is trying to say. And somehow I
agree to her. One’s attitude reflect on the people whom he/she is living with as he/she grows
up. I believe that it is our responsibility to develop and mold the personality of our children. It
is our duty to build them as a respectable and a decent person. To be honest I really believe
that somehow we, as parents, has a huge contribution to blame why this kind of problem is
happening. We became negligent on our responsibility .I am saying that whatever our child’s
future is, it is because of us. We are the responsible for providing sound knowledge and moral
training as part of their development. There future is in our hand.

KARYLLE: By having all these problems to deal without a fully developed maturity I know that
it is so hard. And I hope that we are able to help you in some ways by conducting this
discussion with our guest. Once again I am Karylle Laclado. Have a good day.