"Amid the Valentine's Day celebrations in the Philippines, declining teen pregnancies among older girls contrast sharply with rising cases among those under 15. Images of romance and young love fill social media feeds, restaurants, and shopping malls across the Philippines. Some local groups also use the season to distribute condoms and awareness flyers. However, behind the festivities lies a more complicated reality as national data show a worrying pattern behind the romantic veneer."
"For many teens, these numbers reflect lived realities. Eman*, an 18-year-old from Santa Maria, a municipality in the Philippines' southeastern Laguna province, is the father to an 8-month-old daughter. He divides his days between childcare and working in a noodle house. Teens juggle work, school He said that he once dreamed of earning a diploma, but felt that he disappointed his father after becoming a father himself while still studying."
Valentine's celebrations in the Philippines feature images of romance and young love across social media, restaurants, and malls. Some local groups distribute condoms and awareness flyers during the season. National data show teen pregnancies among girls aged 15–19 have declined while pregnancies among girls aged 10–14 have increased. Many teens experience the consequences firsthand. Eman, an 18-year-old father from Santa Maria, cares for an 8-month-old daughter while working in a noodle house. He completed senior high but forewent college to provide for his child and described the pregnancy as accidental and unplanned.
Read at www.dw.com
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