In the context of rapid economic development, people's living costs are generally high, and raising children has become a time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive task.
As a result, many families choose not to have children or use contraceptive methods to avoid pregnancy.
It can be said that the concept of "pregnancy equals birth" no longer aligns with the values of most families.
However, there is a country in Southeast Asia where the population generally does not use contraception and prefers to go with the flow, resulting in its population surpassing 100 million.
It should be noted that among Southeast Asian countries, only a few have populations exceeding 100 million, and the Philippines is one of them.
Currently, the total population of the Philippines has surpassed 100 million, and this high birth rate is closely related to its religious beliefs.
The Philippines was once a colony of Spain and the United States, and its culture underwent significant changes under colonial rule.
Today, the majority of the population in the country follows Catholicism, believing that life is a gift from God, which leads to opposition to artificial contraception and abortion.
As a result, we often see that Filipino families generally have many children.
In addition to the influence of religious beliefs, another key factor is the labor force issue.
In poor Filipino families, many parents believe that when their children grow up, they can become an important part of the household workforce, helping to share the family’s responsibilities and financial burdens.
However, this is not always the case.
Having too many children means higher living expenses to raise them.
Providing even the most basic education for children requires some financial resources, but many poor families lack such economic means.
This also means that from birth, these children face malnutrition and a lack of educational resources.
Education is the key to changing the fate of these children.
Without access to education, children may drop out early, making it difficult for them to find good jobs to support themselves and their families in the future.
This phenomenon exacerbates the vicious cycle of poverty, which contradicts the initial expectations of many poor families.
The rapid population growth also leads to unequal distribution of resources, especially in terms of basic infrastructure such as education and healthcare, where shortages have become the norm.
Excessive population growth has also led to an oversupply of labor. Many people are unable to find suitable jobs, losing opportunities to make a living.
To alleviate this situation, the Philippine government increasingly relies on labor export, especially the export of female labor.
This model not only provides a stable source of foreign exchange for the Philippines but also effectively eases domestic employment pressure.
These women working abroad are mainly engaged in domestic service, caregiving, and construction. The income they earn is often several times what they could make in the Philippines, providing economic support for their families and boosting domestic consumption, which promotes economic growth.
However, this model also has its drawbacks.
Many women work abroad for many years, leading to long-term separation from their families, which affects family stability. Meanwhile, the issue of left-behind children has become more apparent.
Without their parents around, these children not only lack care in their daily lives and health but also lack supervision and guidance in their studies.
This has led to some children experiencing both physical and psychological health problems, which also affects their academic performance.
Furthermore, Filipino parents generally lack awareness of providing sexual education to their children, which has led to many minors facing the challenge of early unplanned pregnancies.
Coupled with the influence of religion, the growth of the Filipino population shows no sign of slowing.
The Philippine government has tried to change people's views on childbirth through education to reduce the occurrence of social problems.
Although the country has implemented free basic education, the popularization of education in the Philippines still faces many challenges due to a shortage of resources, insufficient teachers, and inadequate facilities.
Ultimately, poverty is the root cause of this series of problems.
In recent years, the Philippine government has tried to promote economic development through tourism. As an archipelago country, the Philippines boasts unique natural landscapes, such as azure seas, vibrant coral reefs, and lush tropical scenery, which have become attractions for tourists from all over the world.
The development of tourism has driven the local economy, giving people more disposable income. At the same time, tourism has created many job opportunities, alleviating the family problems caused by labor export.
In the short term, tourism provides the Philippines with a viable path for economic growth.
However, the rapid development of tourism has also gradually exerted pressure on the environment. Therefore, strengthening the regulation of tourism and protecting the natural environment is key to ensuring its sustainable development.
From a traditional perspective, a high birth rate not only increases the economic burden on families but also hampers the overall development of children. At the national level, rapid population growth can lead to unequal resource distribution and affect social stability.
However, too little population growth could also hinder economic development and result in the loss of demographic dividends. Therefore, how to regulate population growth is a policy choice that requires careful consideration.
We should neither fully rely on natural birth rates like the Philippines nor advocate the DINK (Dual Income, No Kids) lifestyle.
Under the premise of having the financial means, having a moderate number of children and enjoying the happiness of family life might be a better choice.
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