Responses to Combat the Problem of Pornography

• Movies, MTVs, television programs, and advertisements must be strictly regulated and censored. A big share of the blame for the deterioration of the moral values of this generation is to be blamed on advertising and the current trends of movies and TV shows.

• Whatever message the advertisement puts across greatly influences the consumers. To a great extent, the fans pattern their lifestyle after the one modeled in the ad. Most advertisements have purveyed decadent values, which have brought about dissipation of life in countless instances. The moral epidemic which we are experiencing now is caused by consumerism which treats women (sometimes men), sex and pleasure as consumer goods.

• Empower the Video Board to penalize bus companies whose drivers show pornographic films during trips any time of the day, regardless of who the passengers are on board. While these drivers cater to a few indecent passengers, they cause the chagrin and discomfort of many especially women and men whose sense of decency is unimpaired, and moral abrasion to minors who, even if exposed to obscenity only once, will suffer moral and intellectual development setback.

• Strengthen the law that would incriminate theater owners showing X-rated films, tabloids and magazine vendors selling pornographic literature and many beer joints or night clubs which present bold dancers to attract customers. This also includes applying punitive measures to Internet service providers that present violence and pornography in the information network.

• Ban beauty contests in noontime and prime time shows. These contests give young people the idea that in order to survive in this highly com petitive world, all that they need are good looks and a beautiful physique. Thousands of Filipino students do not intend to finish schooling because they think that they would earn more money and help their parents if they bare more skin, dance and pirouette before foreign audiences in high-class nightclubs here and in abroad.

It was noted that in most beauty contests, whatever purpose it serves, contestants are treated no less than a potter's flower vases or a couturier's creations displayed on a rack for everybody to scrutinize and to purchase. The product that has the most features that please the eyes is often chosen. Persons are persons. They are not objects of pleasure.

• Write a resolution to implement a dress code for TV performers; it has been noted that many of them appear on TV scantily clad; very often they wear body hugging suggestive attires.

• Ban the implementation of the Sex Education Modules in both public and private schools because many of the items/lessons are tendentious and may lead to students' desensitization about sex and lose of respect for it.

• Parents should also play significant roles in censoring the reading and viewing materials of their children by setting standards that focus on human dignity and the sacredness of human sexuality.