MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos woke up on Thursday morning with the news that the Reproductive Health Bill has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
As of 8:25 a.m., the hashtags #YesToRHBill and #RHBill are the fifth and sixth trending topics in the Philippines, respectively. On Thursday early morning, 113 members of the House voted in favor of House Bill 4244, 104 opposed it and three abstained.
The bill has been pending in Congress for 14 years.
Celebrities who have been very vocal in their support for the bill have hailed the House's vote.
In 2010, tour guide Carlos Celdran, who held up a "Damaso" white board inside the Manila Cathedral during a mass led by then Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and was subsequently arrested for pulling the stunt, thanked the "Virgin of Guadalupe."
In a comment on his post, he said "well, she (Virgin of Guadalupe) is the image of a pregnant Mary. I'd like to think she favored the bill."
Six hours ago, following the final tally of the House vote, Lea Salonga said "and just like that, my heart is filled with hope."
TV host Bianca Gonzalez also tweeted 10 hours ago that "it's not about just giving birth! It's about caring for the child and giving him or her good quality of life!"
Meanwhile, the hastag #NotoRHBill, although not among top trending topics, generated tweets criticizing the vote.
Twitter user @probably_no_god said "my tears fell when RG Bill passed in 2nd reading, but I completely tryst God's plan. It is not about religion, it is about faith."
Others, who said they are "advocates for life", are looking forward to the third reading and hope that some of those who favored the bill would change their mind.
Couples for Christ (@CFChrist) said "The laws of the Lord are greater than the laws of any land."