Miss Int’l PH Mariel de Leon speaks up on contraceptives, RH issues

The beauty queen stands up for women’s reproductive health issues. Image: Screen grab from Instagram/@mariaangelicadl

Amidst criticism, Binibining Pilipinas International 2017 Mariel de Leon has been unafraid to voice her opinion on political and social issues hounding the country.

This time, the daughter of Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong took to Twitter to stand up for women’s reproductive health, starting with the temporary restraining order on contraceptives in the country.

Last 2015, the Supreme Court placed a temporary restraining order on the certification of contraceptives, barring birth control products from the country and its women.

Reproductive health advocates warned that the country could run out of contraceptives by 2020.

“What will you do when they’re all gone?” she asked. “Let’s take our bodies back.”

TRO on contraceptives. Birth control pills are slowly going away. What will you do when they’re all gone? Let’s take our bodies back.

— Mariel de Leon (@mariaangelicadl) May 17, 2017

She brought up a slew of hormonal conditions women face that only birth control pills are able to address:

What about women with PCOS, acne, severe dysmenorrhea, irregular period, etc.? — Mariel de Leon (@mariaangelicadl) May 17, 2017

According to the Mayo Clinic, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is a condition where small cysts grow in a woman’s ovaries. This leads to hormonal imbalances which affects fertility and can lead to more serious health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.

She also voiced concern on women having a choice in family planning:

What about our freedom of choice when it comes to family planning? What about women’s health?

— Mariel de Leon (@mariaangelicadl) May 17, 2017

De Leon tagged the Supreme Court Twitter account @SCPh_PIO in her tweets, but hasn’t received a response. She also called out those who claim to be pro-life:

You’re not “pro life” if you deprive women of something that’s good for our health and our future. — Mariel de Leon (@mariaangelicadl) May 17, 2017

When a pro-life youth group claimed that contraceptives were harmful, she retweeted a netizen’s response:

@mariaangelicadl 4/4 Hormonal contraceptives are not healthy, btw (i.e. cancer, blood clots, etc) And there are much healthier ways to treat PCOS and AUB.

— Youth for Life (@youthforlifeph) May 17, 2017

@youthforlifeph @mariaangelicadl Hormonal contraceptives are proven safe. A drug takes 10+ years to be released in the market. — Shee Manio (@shesheemanio) May 17, 2017

Netizens had mixed reactions, with some questioning her stand:

@mariaangelicadl @nems5669 So you’re pro my life not pro my baby’s life?

— Pilita Flores(AW) (@FloresPilita) May 18, 2017

However, she was also praised for being intelligent and brave:

@mariaangelicadl First time I saw a beauty queen expressing her thoughts on important yet divisive issues in the face of backlash. Kudos 2 u for ur courage!

— Lawrence Arboleda (@TheTrilipush) May 17, 2017

@mariaangelicadl @camiejuan what an intelligent queen!

— KERR. (@kerrquevedo) May 17, 2017

Recently, she drew flak when she opposed the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint dancer and blogger Mocha Uson to the Presidential Communications Operations Office. She has since deleted the tweets, but reiterated that she would use her beauty queen status to help bring change to the country. Niña V. Guno/JB

RELATED STORIES:

Bb. Pilipinas Int’l Mariel de Leon chooses to be politically outspoken, hits Mocha

Mariel de Leon to basher: ‘I’m not a copycat’

High court TRO on contraceptives slowly killing women, says DOH exec