THERE is a running "sarcasm" within some social groups, the reason why most teenagers today got engaged to premarital sex and later become parents, because there are no more anime programs shown on public TV networks.
In earlier decades, TV networks used to program more airtime on children's shows and anime, usually in the morning that would run from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.; and in the afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., and sometimes in the evening after local news at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Beyond 8 p.m. were the start of rather crappy soap operas.
But eventually it changed over time, enter the Asian telenovelas that would compete then the Mexican shows, that would soon find its doom starting 2003 because of South Korean production houses' domination.
Most of these foreign soap operas dubbed with Tagalog voices have romance as its major theme, some flirting with subtle sexual attractions. And perhaps, this may be the reason why some people observed and connect the growing incidence of teenage sex and pregnancies to these.
But there's also a drawback with Anime, while it covers themes on romance and friendships, it also depicts violence due to action scenes, some older generations would also link this on why youths of today are violent and commit crimes.
These may simply be tips of the iceberg, of course, teenage pregnancies today are not the first time recorded in history. There were accounts that even date back to ancient civilizations suggesting young girls as early as 12 to 14 were already mothers.
But maybe, and why not? Finding factual correlation on Anime shows to less sexual activities may become a win-win solution between astate who wish to distribute condoms in schools, and some civil sectors who are against it.
May this article spark interests for future researchers in linking whether Anime on TV has a direct or indirect influence on teenagers especially in "blocking" their interest to engage in sexual activities that may prevent the rise of teen pregnancy.
It may sound ridiculous, it's like linking Pluto to life on Earth, but then again, why not? Everything is interconnected as what musician Joey Ayala suggested, "Ang Lahat ng Bagay ay Magkaugnay."
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Mocha Uson, who is known for her sultry image and a political supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, was recently designated as member of Movies and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
On her social media page, she disclosed her first salary as member of the board for "transparency" purposes and it showed a total amount of P60,500, with the assumption that is already tax reduced, and it's one month's worth.
In a state-run university, a faculty with a designation of professor may get at least P50,000 per month. But before a faculty reaches that rank, a faculty will start at least P22,000, and one must have a Master's and Doctorate degrees to improve their ranks.
Not only that, faculty members are expected to publish researches on top of their instruction in classrooms. This is also true to public elementary and high school teachers who are striving hard to improve their ranking status and later improve their salaries.
And there also government workers, who may not be as loud as Mocha, that have been in the government service all their lives - in full obedience - whoever sits in the administration. They work hard and earned hard, and some are still on "Job Order" status albeit abaccalaurette degree earned - and they only receive a measly salary grade from P8,000 to P19,000 monthly less the taxes and insurance.
The parallels of government service are not equal.
(Nefluczon@gmail.com)