Rene Josef Chiong Bullecer, M.D.

Director, Human Life International, Philippines

AIDS Prevention Via Abstinence: A Philippine Experience

Whether we like it or not, AIDS is a unique disease because, as a deadly pandemic spread mainly through promiscuous sexual activity, it threatens some of the most cherished modern norms concerning sexual liberation.

For nearly three decades now, AIDS has been used as an excuse to ensconce the norms of the sexual revolution in international law, and to establish these norms as new universal rights. Repeatedly, the UN claimed that AIDS is spread especially among the less developed nations today because of a lack of human rights recognition for “vulnerable” populations—women, children, prostitutes, and the so-called “men who have sex with men” or plain homosexuals

The History of HIV and AIDS in the Philippines

The first known case of AIDS in the Philippines was confirmed May of 1984. As of September 30, 2010, 26 years later, the Philippines has only had cumulative cases of 5,715. 590 have died while, 955 suffer from full-blown AIDS and the rest are HIV-positive.

One wonders why, in a country of 96 million people, we only suffered this number of cases, when in fact as early as 1992, WHO/UNAIDS predicted that by 1998 to 2000, Philippines would have at least 80,000 cases of AIDS.

Research groups, funding agencies, foundations, pro-condom advocates and media were puzzled as to why in the entire continent of Asia, the Philippines consistently has one if not the lowest cases of HIV/AIDS cases when in fact all the ingredients of an epidemic are present.

Thailand's first case of AIDS was diagnosed in 1985; one year later than the Philippines. But as of May 2010, Thailand has over 620,000 confirmed deaths due to the terminal stage AIDS with over 1,200,000 HIV cases in a country of 67 million people.

By the way, for your information, Thailand was the first country to fully implement the ICPD’s Reproductive Health agenda as early at 1998. Twelve years later, their Population Growth Rate or PGR went down to 1.3% with a Total fertility Rate now of 1.92% which is below the replacement rate. All of this despite the fact that Thailand is more economically well-off than the Philippines.

The answer is: in 1989, the government of Thailand imposed a policy of 100% condom use. Use condoms anytime anywhere, use condoms correctly and consistently. But what happened after two decades, they reaped what they sowed.

Back in the Philippines, challenged by the growing pressures from population control propagandists with their multi-billion dollar foreign-funding agencies, last July 1993, I presented my formula and program before the eyes, hearts and ears of the 90-member bishops of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, CBCP begging for their support in the campaign against AIDS.

After my 30-minute presentation, I was able to convince them of the urgency for the Catholic Church to have its own program to counter the government's "ABC" program which is "Abstinence, Be faithful and Condoms as a last resort". Thanks to God, they all stood up, saying, “Yes, doctor, we will support you with all our prayers”. That very day, AIDS-free Philippines, the only abstinence and chastity-based non-government organization and the official anti-AIDS program of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, was born.

The following day loaded with excitement, as I returned home to Cebu. Sitting beside me in the plane was a Franciscan priest. After I told him everything, he smiled and asked, “That’s great Dr. Bullecer, but how much did the bishops give you?” Innocently, I replied, “All their blessings…” The priest said, “What?... how can you convert blessings into money, how will you run the program all over the country and how will you counter the multi-millions of the pro-condom advocates?”  My faint answer was, “Father, honestly I forgot to ask that, but anyway, God will provide”.

I’m so proud and happy that my direct boss, whom I also serve as personal physician, is the 79 year old but still very strong and dedicated Archbishop of Cebu, His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal. He provided me with office space and salary for my staff nurses.

So, for 17 years now, I have been traveling around the country, cities after cities and islands after islands, preaching the real dangers of AIDS and the untold dangers of condoms. I deliver the same message, “Let’s fight against AIDS” and sell one product - ABSTINENCE. My personal slogan is, “Trust me, I’m a Doctor”.  As you may know, Philippines have 7,100 islands during high tide and 1 thousand more during low tide.

In 2000, a high-ranking officer of the World Health Organization, Asia Pacific Region came to my office saying, “You know Dr. Bullecer, I’m so surprised, whenever I go in the Philippines, different groups of people say they know you and heard your lectures on AIDS, amazing. May I help you?  He continued saying, “I could fund your program with an initial budget of four million pesos and a nice Mitsubishi car at your service. But, of course you must be with us, please help us, do incorporate condoms in your campaign”. First, I was speechless, but I said to him squarely, “Sorry Sir, but I cannot accept that”. He replied, “Anyway, if you change your mind, here’s my calling card."

In 2001, I sent project proposals to 5 different Europe-based Catholic funding agencies asking for their financial help. Three responded positively saying they were willing to fund our nationwide anti-AIDS program. To my great surprise, however, these three so-called Catholic funding agencies imposed a condition: I had to promote condoms as one of my alternatives aside from abstinence and faithfulness.

One of the directors said, “Come on, Dr. Bullecer, you’re a doctor of medicine, right? May I ask you, after giving talks, seminar after seminar on AIDS prevention via abstinence, faithfulness etc., can you change a person’s behavior overnight?” I said, “Of course not, sir, maybe it will take weeks or even months."

"You see, now, for the meantime, you are waiting for that person to change his behavior or lifestyle, what will you offer, your saliva?”, he said in a scolding voice. I replied that, “it’s true, sir, that there’s no magic bullet to change a person’s behavior, but with truth from what Church teaches regarding sexuality, coupled with factual information campaign and the healing grace of God, miracles will happen”.

A month after, the chief executive of  another international Catholic funding agency called up by long distance saying, “Hi, Dr. Bullecer, we got your project proposal, it’s nice, well prepared, however, there’s something lacking, we can’t find the word condom in it." I replied, "We don’t promote condoms, ma’am”. Then she said, “Oh, please tell your cardinal to be lenient about condoms, promise, we will send you the money you need for your nationwide campaign”. I told Cardinal Vidal about it, he said with an angry voice, “Even a single cent, do not accept it”.

By God’s grace, we survived in this fight despite the fact that we don’t receive millions from abroad; only the very limited special assistance from Human Life International.

In 2004, I had a debate with the undersecretary of the government’s Department of Health on Condom Issues. He asked me, “Dr. Bullecer, you’re a physician like me, I wonder why you never promote condoms even as one of the options in the fight against AIDS." My answer to him was,  “Sir, there are only three reasons why I don’t promote condoms, not because I’m a Catholic like you but because of the three reasons. Number one, show me any label of condoms that says their product can guarantee 100% protection against HIV/AIDS. There’s none. In fact, in one made in England product it says 'this product may help reduce the transmission of HIV'. Second, many researchers have shown that condoms' real-world success rate is 92%. Can you imagine, you have 8% chance of getting infected with a deadly, incurable disease? If you were on an airplane and the flight attendant made the announcement: 'Enjoy your flight, but we have to inform you that we have 8% chance of crashing.'  Would you take the risk? No way, because it’s a matter of life and death. Remember, condoms only protect what they cover."

Third, show me any country that, after promoting condoms, saw their rate of HIV infections decrease. Just one country. There are none. You see, why do we have to copy and promote a failed method which is proven to lead to more and more infections?

Further, I said, “What you and UNAIDS are advocating is wrong. Safe Sex? There’s no such thing as safe sex. You better use ‘safer sex” which means, one still got a chance to be infected anytime no matter how many condoms one put on. With regards to HIV, if both partners are certified HIV-free, that’s safe sex. But if one is not sure, then that’s “safer sex”, meaning, be prepared to meet the consequences”.

Six years ago, BBC World Report called up in my office. The reporter had read a report from the New York Times, saying that the very low number of AIDS cases in the Philippines puzzled a lot of researchers, and they asked me why that was.

My answer to him was, “You know, all pro-condom funding agencies are not happy we do not have 50,000 or 100,000 cases of AIDS. Even our government and dozens of so-called anti-AIDS non-government organizations for the reason that because the forecasted epidemic did not happen, the fund in millions of pesos were either halted or transferred to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam etc. But the real reason why we in the Philippines still do not experience what Thailand experienced is because, first, we have a very high literacy rate, meaning most of the people already have the basic information about HIV and AIDS. Second, because of our unique Filipino culture and tradition, we still respect the sacredness of marriage; we have a very high regard for our parents. Third, 81% of the 92 million Filipinos are Roman Catholics. We know there is heaven and there is hell. We are not Buddhist, Hindu, Toast or Atheist. Most of us still fear GOD and obey His commandments. And thirdly, majority of our young people in this country still do not believe in the efficacy of condoms as protection against AIDS.

My dear friends in the Lord, what is the Philippines today? To quote our beloved Pope John Paul II when he greeted the dozens of Filipino bishops during their Ad Limina Apostolurum in the year 2002 said, “My dear, dear bishops from the only most Catholic country left in the world today”. This simply means, being the most Catholic country left in the world today, we expect all kinds of weapons of mass destruction are aimed towards us. Not only condoms, which is designed to make our people promiscuous, but all sorts of temporary and permanent contraceptives to make our culture perish in the next two decades like what currently is happening in Europe, Canada, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, and South Korea among others. They are facing a great threat  – ageing population. I feel terribly sorry for these countries.

We know that the world’s AIDS epidemic has been used as a cudgel against Christianity, especially the Catholic Church. The Church’s unwavering stance against condoms allows the failure of the international safe sex campaign to be blamed on the Church, as the only institution that has thwarted all their hidden plans and dreams.

Our Lady in 1985 said to Father Estephano Gobbi, “The triumph of My Immaculate Heart will begin in the Philippines”. Wow, what a promise made by Our Blessed Mother, Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Grace, who appeared in the Philippines, and who in 1948 told us to pray for China.

We pledge to continue this battle, following St. Ignatius of Loyola who said, “Fight without counting the wounds.” We will fight and count the number of souls we saved from the dungeons of hopelessness, despair and total misery brought about by the death peddlers via condom propaganda.

By all means and at all costs, we must insist on promoting and defending only what is true while pursuing the belief that we cannot compromise truth amidst the black propaganda which I believe is designed not to stop the spread of HIV but to push their own agenda: controlling population.

May Our Lady, Healer of the Sick be with us all in this crucial fight for truth and for life. Amen.