The documentary 22 (Bente Dos) vividly depicts a huge
poverty-stricken family living in a socially ill and economically deprived
Baseco compound in Tondo. At a glance, the family seems to be enjoying a home
imbued with filial attachment, generosity and gratuity, patience and sympathy,
and heroism. Later on the movie flick unraveled the several family problems –
meager income, failed relationship, too much dependence, and unfinished
schooling… all of these were associated with their big family. The mother (Mrs.
Cabañez) of the family can be quoted saying: “Hindi naman namin alam iyang family planning na iyan. Wala naman sa
aming nagsasabi ng tungkol diyan.” On the other hand, the father (Mr. Cabañez)
was saying that it was the result of his fidelity to her wife that they have
many children rather than committing the grievous sin of adultery. Moreover, the
film was successful in showing one of the realities of having a huge family but
did not give its viewer an opportunity to assess the other side of the coin. I
know a family in our town who had more than twelve children and yet managed to
succeed in their family life economically, socially and spiritually. The film
did not give us either even a glimpse on the realities of having a small
family. Nonetheless, some issue are predominant in its theme – unawareness on
family planning, a huge family, irresponsible parenthood, and poverty.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
states that the union of man and woman in marriage is a way of imitating in the
flesh the Creator’s generosity and fecundity. [2335] In marriage the physical
intimacy of spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual communion. [2361]
…The truly human performance of intimate and noble union of spouses fosters the
self-giving they signify, and enriches the spouses in joy and gratitude. [2362]
The conjugal love of man and woman thus stands the twofold obligation of
fidelity and fecundity. [2363] Both man and woman give themselves definitively
and totally to one another by the virtue of fidelity. [2364] Likewise,
fecundity is a gift for conjugal love naturally tends to be fruitful [2366]. A
particular aspect of which concerns the regulation of procreation. [2368] From
the encyclical letter of Pope Paul VI on the Regulation of Birth, the then
Supreme Pontiff underlined that the conjugal love requires in husband and wife
an awareness of their mission of responsible parenthood. He stresses out, too,
that responsible parenthood means knowledge and respect of the function of
biological processes, that responsible parenthood means that necessary dominion
which reason and will must exercise over instinct or passion; that responsible
parenthood is exercised, either by the deliberate and generous decision to
raise a numerous family, or by the decision, made for grave motives and with
due respect for the moral law, to avoid for the time being, or even for an
indeterminate period, a new birth; and that responsible parenthood also and
above all implies a more profound relationship to the objective moral
established by God, of which a right conscience is the faithful interpreter. [1]
Furthermore, in view of birth regulation, the soon to be Saint John Paul II
made it clear in his Apostolic Exhortation on the Christian Family in the
Modern World that when, instead, by means of recourses to periods of
infertility, the couple respect the inseparable connection between the unitive
and procreative meaning of sexuality the are acting as ministers of God’s plan
and the benefit from their sexuality according to the original dynamism of
total self-giving, without manipulation or alteration.
In the case of Cabañez family, it is
apparent that the couple has adhered to some of teachings of the Church although
failed on some. Yes! They may be big but Mrs. Cabanes chose life over death
through abortion. Yes! They are many, but Mr. Cabanes has remained loyal to his
wife and has been avoiding infidelity since they got married. They have
submitted themselves fully to their partners and allowed their union of love
bear much fruit without manipulation or alteration to avoid new birth. This was
evident in the manner they narrated their story with openness and comicalness.
However, the couple has failed to consider responsible parenthood in their love
affair especially on the aspect of birth regulation – a baby is born after
another. Nonetheless, the couple must not be grilled on the aspect of morality
here. We know for a fact that it is NOT just to subject an ACT of MAN to the
evaluation of morality.[2]
Since the couple lacks knowledge on family planning and of their faith, an
essential quality of human act is lacking, making their act an act of man;
hence, we cannot subject the couple to the evaluation of morality. Further, the
conception of a child, the moral object in this case, is never immoral. The
consequence is quite favorable too for they live in a not so good environment,
so to speak, and their union is exclusive to their spouses and done naturally.
Although the intention might be not that of pro-creation, nonetheless, they did
not had any ill-intent in doing so. Numerous number of children and birth space,
per se, do not pose any problem for me, neither education nor poverty; but the
real problem of the family in the film is their lack of understanding and
appreciation of their faith. The circumstances could have been different, even
if they have many children, had they been informed and made to understand their
faith. Ramon Garcia de Harro enumerated in his paper, The Moral Foundation of
Family Planning, the principal means of assuring good moral married life. These
are: a faithful and positive presentation of Catholic Doctrine, recourse to
grace, ascetic commitment, and adequate pastoral help.[3]
A bit of religiosity was caught in a scene showing a rosary, though. But, there
is not much spirituality involved in the married life of the couple. These are
the things which were never made obvious in the film; something the Church
authorities must ponder on, especially on the first and last means. It is time for
the church leaders and workers to be more pro-active and exert more effort in
partaking in the new evangelization. Before another family resorts to
contraception, we must be one in our ways in spreading our doctrine to the lay
men and women. Twenty-two is indeed good to go should love reign in the family.
Love that stems from faith and serves as an expression of their true faith in
God. We have heard of many stories of dysfunctional and unhappy family which
are considerably small with one or two children. We can say, therefore, at one
point family size and its spacing do not guarantee any economic, social, or emotional
advantage for the family should there be no love at all. More importantly, so
long as they do not see themselves made by God and for God alone, eternal
happiness they will never achieve in their family, in their community, and in
the country at large.
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