Something to Be Ashamed of?

Nancy rubbed her belly. She had spent the last few months trying to hide her “condition” from her mom and the rest of her family. She sighed. Her close friends told her that this baby was a blessing from God. If that were true, then why did she feel so ashamed and so full of regret? Why did she entertain thoughts of getting rid of the baby?

She had five more months to go before giving birth. Even now, she was overwhelmed by many questions: Should she stop school? Should she and her boyfriend find a job? Never mind if they didn’t like their work—as long as there was money to feed the baby. Would her boyfriend even want to find a job and be a father? Would her own family want to provide for the baby—let alone love the baby? Would they blame her for her actions? Would they blame her boyfriend for ruining her life? Did he ruin her life? Was this all her fault?

These were heavy questions for a twelve-year-old. Nancy closed her eyes and cried herself once more to sleep.

Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay

Statistics: Tough Stuff

Early this year, there was an uproar in many Christian circles regarding the Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE). It stirred deep questions that remain relevant today: Just how far is too far when it comes to the kind of education we want to give our children and teenagers on sex? Is it enough for them to simply understand biology? What are the essential topics beyond the “birds and the bees” that require sharing?

The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) sounded the alarm last March on the rising number of pregnancies in girls aged 10-14. In 2023 alone, there were over 3,300 cases of these young pregnancies; the youngest recorded case being an 8-year-old girl who gave birth at age 9 (see CPD Sounds Alarm on Rising Pregnancies among 10-14 Age Group | Philippine News Agency, 2025)). Compound this problem with rising cases of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and we do have a matter of concern. In fact, when 2024 ended, the Department of Health (DOH) estimated approximately 215,400 individuals living with HIV in the country, with 96% of the newly reported cases in the fourth quarter acquired through sexual contact (see HIV & AIDS CONTINUUM of CARE, n.d.).

Image by Mo Farrelly from Pixabay

This disturbing reality of early pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases should not only stir up the government, but also the Church into action.

Wait Muna

If Nancy were taught by both family and school to “wait muna” when it came to romance and sex, things may have turned out differently for her. Perhaps she would experience the celebration of a child coming to earth, or the certainty of knowing that a community surrounded her with support and love. This scenario should challenge the Church. Where is our voice in these matters?

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

It would be good if we, as a people, stepped up and passionately advocated Godly principles in relationships and romance. We could start with ourselves and become examples, showing our youth that waiting on God for a romantic relationship is not outmoded; that sex at the right time and the right person is still a delight; that purity is not corny in this modern world. We could highlight romance and childbirth as beautiful, important realities that ought to be celebrated.

Because of this, THE PUSO MOVEMENT developed a book entitled The Love & Purity Notebook: WAIT MUNA edition. This book is an essential guide specifically for the Gen Z crowd—for youth like Nancy with their tech-savvy mindset and unique language. It can be used at home, in school, and in youth groups like church.

The pages of The Love & Purity Notebook: Wait Muna Edition tackle relationships in a fresh way. The book is not afraid to talk about sex and the responsibilities that come along with a relationship. It raises the standard of one’s purity, challenging the norms of romance and conquest. It tackles the pain of regret in premature relationships, but also gives us a glimpse of the joy in the right kind of relationship when done at the right time. It is a book that places God in the center of one’s life, allowing youth to see that waiting for a spouse can be such a productive and special time.

The Love & Purity Notebook: Wait Muna Edition launches at PUSO MOVEMENT’s Love & Purity Fest happening on May 8, 2025, from 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig. We believe that beyond the book, the phrase “Wait Muna” becomes a campaign that raises a standard of purity necessary in this generation. Tickets are on sale now, and you can find them here: https://puso.ph/, together with other information.

It’s time for us to be a voice in romance and relationships and to live counter-culturally, embracing a life that WAITS on the Lord for a marriage partner. Stories like Nancy’s should not be commonplace if the Church moves in society with concern and power.

Shall we take up the challenge? We are here at such a time as this.

References:

HIV & AIDS CONTINUUM OF CARE. (n.d.). https://pia.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/HASP-Q4-2024.pdf

CPD sounds alarm on rising pregnancies among 10-14 age group | Philippine News Agency. (2025). Pna.gov.ph. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1246696

Janina Rivera

Janina Marie Rivera is the author of the book, A Night Bird Sings of Blindness and Fear and has co-authored the devotional, Dawns, published by OMF Literature. She is a contributing poet in the books Joyful Light and Whitmanthology: on Loss and Grief by Various Authors. She is the Editor-in-Chief of One Voice Magazine.