Netizens decry DOH anti-pregnancy video

MANILA, Philippines – It’s a double whammy for the Department of Health’s (DOH) new infomercial, after netizens slammed it for its negative take on teenage pregnancy in a music video that sounded similar to a popular Korean pop song.

The 3-minute video posted on DOH’s Facebook page on Sunday, November 30 featured a cheering squad composed of boys and girls doing a routine that complemented the lyrics of the song.

The song talks about young relationships, sexual intercourse, and teenage pregnancy from the perspective of a teenage girl, a teenage boy, and an adult.

Boy:
Kung ako’y mahal mo
Surrender mo ang bandila
Ibigay mo na
Sagot kita, sagot kita

(If you love me / Surrender the flag / Give it up / I got your back, I got your back)

Girl:
Kung ako’y mahal mo
‘Di mo ko pipilitin
‘Di pa ko ready
Maghintay ka
Maghintay ka

(If you love me / You wouldn’t force me / I’m still not ready / Just wait, just wait)

In one part of the song, the adult voice warned the teenagers of the consequences of teenage pregnancy, calling sexual intercourse “sin.”

Adult:
Dapat naman magtapos ka muna
Dapat naman maghintay ka muna
‘Wag magkasala, ‘wag madapa

(You do have to graduate first / You do have to wait for now / Don’t sin / Don’t make a mistake)

The teenagers were also described as “gaga” and “bobo”:

‘Di naman ako gaga girl
‘Di naman ako bobo boy

(I’m not a silly girl / I’m not a stupid boy)

Aside from the cringe-worthy lyrics, netizens also pointed out the song sounded similar to Korean girl group f(x)’s song Rum Pum Pum Pum.

The video has since been taken down from the department’s Facebook page.

Here are some of the online reactions to the video a few hours after it was posted:

What do you think about the infomercial? Tell us in the comments section below. – Rappler.com