As teenagers enter a world of relationships and move towards adulthood, their lives appear to follow certain sequences like: “Sex-Parenthood-Marriage” or “Marriage-Sex-Parenthood” or “Sex-Marriage-Parenthood” or “Sex-Parenthood-No Marriage”. Do they make a conscious choice of which sequence they will follow?  Are they told what would be the optimal sequence for them?  Do traditions, culture, religious values play a role in helping them decide? 

It is increasingly apparent that Pinoy teenagers today, are in a particular life-sequence not out of choice, but out of circumstance. And, they find it constricting, frustrating and disenchanting -- young lives unable to dream; young spirits crushed by responsibility; young hearts full of confusion and regret.

One of the deepest, most universal human aspirations is to have a healthy, loving relationship with a special person and to enjoy a happy family life.  Yet, teenage experiences rarely propel teenagers towards fulfilling this aspiration.  Teenagers are either uninformed or misinformed about what it takes to build healthy relationships especially during teenage, and they fast-forward growing up by getting sexually active without the emotional maturity that should accompany such behavior.

Just being knowledgeable about preventing a pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease or using contraceptives, doesn’t exactly prepare one for a sexual relationship.  Teenagers need to know themselves, who they are, what they want out of life, what gives them joy, what inspires and motivates them, what makes their spirits soar.  Till then, they are not emotionally mature.