TEENAGE PARENTS: Tuguegarao City’s Most

Vulnerable Minors

A study conducted by:

Baloloy, Darrel Valencia
Bueno, Orlando David
&
Español, Jale Ann Alvarado

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I. INTRODUCTION

The old Filipino tradition of marriage before full moon comes with
its modern version of marriage after a honeymoon. Worse, teenagers
are most likely to engage to the latter.

This paper will serve as an eye opener for the present generation
who hurdle twice the battle than the past generations of
conservativeness. Due to many pressure, less attention, and other
factors contributing to their unwanted growth, these children have
had, and will always have the most vulnerable state among any other
age group.

Tuguegarao City, as the most progressive city in the Province of

Cagayan was once a peaceful municipality of dreams. Our elders used
to tell tales and stories of old kalye comercio having Spanish like
structures and Kalesas as mode of transportation in roaming around
the municipality. Despite their wrinkled skins and blurry vision, is a
clear past of cherished youth. They said it was so perfect until the start
of war. Indeed, only war between military troops and New People’s
Army (NPA) caused trauma to some. But today, as we relate our elders’
simple yet comfortable life, to this very ambitious era, we can conclude
that traumas due to various aspects kill teenagers not only on the
outside, but on the inside driving them to vulnerability.

Seventy percent of Tuguegarao City’s population which is

equivalent to 107,451 teenagers roam around the city everyday. Most
of them wearing their respective school uniforms and some are either
members of the labor force or the league of pregnant women.
Saddening, but it is today’s reality in Tuguegarao City, alone.

On the Philippine setting, one in ten young Filipino women age

15-19 has begun childbearing: 8 percent are already mothers and
another 2 percent are pregnant with their first child according to the
results of the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).

According to the 2002 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study

by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) and the
Demographic Research and Development Foundation, 26 percent of
our Filipino youth nationwide from ages 15 to 25 admitted to having a
premarital sex experience. What’s worse is that 38 percent of our youth
are already in a live-in arrangement.

It is quite alarming that with the increase of mortality rate in the

Philippines, comes the increase of all expenses necessary to keep a
family safe, comfortable, and well nourished; but with their incapable
physical and mental state, would teenage parents survive a life of child
rearing?
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There are three (3) main focus of this study:

1. Education – which aims to determine the differences of their

academic status before and after being a parent.
2. Socioeconomic – Sources of income of teenage parents.
3. Work – Determines their working conditions as teenage parents.

The teenagers’ Socioeconomic, Work, and Educational status after

their chosen path. This study adopted gender sensitivity as to balance
and weigh the stance of both male and female into being teenage
parents.

The observers used different methods to approach the three (3)

target subjects, two of the were female and one male. Subjects A, B,
and C’s profile were kept confidential but some important informations
were gathered by the observers with their express consent.

II. SUBJECTS’ INFORMATION

The following are a brief description of the subjects’ information:

SUBJECT A
 Female
 Impregnated at the age of 17
 Graduated in a public school (Degree Holder)
 Currently, she is a Job Order employee of a national agency
 She chose to be interviewed personally and transcription of
such interview is hereto attached as “Appendix A”

SUBJECT B
 Female
 Impregnated at the age of 16
 Graduated in a public school
 Currently, she is a Job Order employee in a Local Government
Unit
 She chose to be interviewed personally and in a question and
answer form “Appendix B”

Subject C
 Male

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  Father at the age of 18
 Graduated in a public school
 Currently, he is a full time musician
 He was interviewed via online messenger, screenshot
(Appendix C)

III. ASSESSMENT

SUBJECT A

An Alpha Female like A who was born out of an average family

failed to escape the vulnerable side of every teenage parent. Visible to
many, her round big tummy then became the root of her anxiety. She
said her baby was her prized possession even after so many issues
sprung against her being a mother at age 17. She did not discontinue
going to school even with all the students’ eyes prying to the depths
of her whole being.

After her graduation, she was able to make use of her talent as a
singer as endless appointments swept her into more perseverance.
According to her, that moment after she gave birth to a bouncy little
boy and her pursuit to make her baby comfortable made people admire
her all the more. Today, she was able to find a job and continuously
lives. “Hinayaan ko na iyong mga nasabi ng tao saakin dati.
Nagpapasalamat nga ako kasi dahil sakanila, mas nagging matatag
ako.” – Subject A

SUBJECT B

Belonging to a wealthy family did not exempt B from being

discriminated not only in school, but until today. She tried to be
independent and kept her rich status as a secret. Her humility towards
her socioeconomic status made her a low profile individual. Originally,
she is from Calayan, Cagayan and she gave birth to a pretty little girl.

Now, her parents are taking good care of her child and she goes
home every weekend to see her. She said being a single mom does
not mean the society should regard you as an unwanted persona. Her
passion towards public service made her believe that she is destined
to be in the public service and that someday, she wants her baby to
see her as the most influencial public servant.

SUBJECT C

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 Of the three respondents, Subject C, the Male teenage parent was
the least vulnerable but drastically the most self-sacrificing among all
respondents. This is mainly due to our social norm wherein the male
tend to be physically capable to find any type of work available in the
society.

At a very young age, Subject C stopped studying to provide measly

amount for his family, but eventually continued due to his belief that
education is his key to a sweet success. Indeed, regardless of sexism,
or feminism, even with the advent of so many gender sensitive
programs available to all especially to C, he was not able to escape the
judgmental eyes of the public.

IV. CONCLUSION

Despite their differences as to age, sex, and socioeconomic

status, these teenage parents was not able to escape the harsh reality
and judgment of society.

With the proper guidance and care, the observers believe that
the youth, despite the mistakes they committed in the past, still have
the right to live normally, and be granted the life just like normal
teenagers.

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APPENDICES