At least 10 percent of the 100 million Filipinos are unmarried teenage mothers from age 15 to 19. And this single moms phenomenon is rising, making the Philippines number one in Asia in teenage pregnancies and single moms.
Most Single Moms Don't Care About Becoming Pregnant
I have the privilege of interviewing many single moms, and I noticed that for the college graduates, ages 23-26 is the average age bracket where one becomes a mother but not a wife.
One time, a confident single mom asked me this question: "How to determine a serious lover?"
At first, I pretended to be an expert on the subject. In reality, I didn't know how to answer her. Grappling for words, I said, "well, sex is man's greatest interest in a woman, loving or even marrying her is just second."
"If that's the case," she replied, "then it is tough to determine if the father of my child is serious about our relationship."
"That's why," I added, "a long engagement period (at least a year) is encouraged rather than engaging a sexual relationship with a man who's but a stranger to you."
I tried to explain to her that sex is supposed to be sacred, and marriage holy for they are God's. But, it seemed she wasn't interested in listening, for she was already apprehensive of losing her boyfriend forever.
The Single Moms Phenomenon
is Unstoppable and Will Continue to Rise
I believe that the single moms phenomenon will continue to invade the marriage-first-before-pregnancy culture because society as a whole is quite permissive about it. I think we, parents, have to help our daughters bear a godly perspective about life, marriage, and family.
