MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - Supporters of the controversial Reproductive Health (RH) bill have chosen a purple ribbon to symbolize their advocacy and reiterate their call for the passage of the proposed law.

The symbol will be formally launched in an event on May 11 dubbed "Day of the Purple Ribbon: A Gathering of Leaders and Public Figures for RH."

Prominent figures in politics, entertainment, and the academe are expected to attend, including world-renowned singer Lea Salonga.

"It's very apt that the color for the ribbon for RH is purple since it is primarily to save women's lives," said Beth Angsioco, national chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, in a press conference on Thursday.

"Politically, 'yan ang ginagamit ng kababaihan when we are trying to push for an issue."

RH advocates called the upcoming event their "one big push" for the bill, which they are confident Congress would pass in the third quarter of this year.

Without giving specific figures, RH Advocacy Network Secretary General Dr. Junice Demetrio-Melgar said a "majority" of lawmakers from both the House and the Senate will vote for the bill. "We are confident, kahit pagbotohan ngayon ang RH bill," she said.

RH supporters agreed that President Aquino's support was a big boost for their campaign.

"If there is anything required for such a difficult issue to finally become a law, it is the political will," said Ramon San Pascual, executive director of the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development.

"I think this time around we have the sufficient political will of the leadership that will make it a law."

RH advocates said they are focusing their efforts now on convincing more lawmakers to vote for the bill, since they are already confident of the support of majority of Filipinos.

Former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, the lead convenor of the Purple Ribbon for RH movement, urged congressmen and senators to listen to the people.

She said many politicians are afraid of supporting the bill because they think people would not vote for them during elections if they go against Catholic Church leaders.

"Dapat sabihan natin sila na hindi lamang mga obispo ang kailangan nilang katakutan," Cabral said. "Dapat matakot sila sa mamamayan."

Movie director Jose Javier Reyes called on his colleagues in the entertainment industry to support the RH bill and take part in the event on May 11.

Reyes argued that the RH bill seeks to provide a better quality of life for the growing Filipino population.

"Walang masama na dumami ang mga Pilipino kung kakayanin ng Pilipinas na bigyan ng wastong kalidad ng buhay ang mga Pilipino," he said. "Ang RH bill ay proteksyon ng mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng pagmulat ng kaisipan. Masama ba 'yon?"

According to Ben de Leon, president of The Forum for Family Planing and Development, the yearly population growth rate of the Philippines is currently 2.04 percent.

If this rate is sustained, the number of Filipinos in the country may reach 177.2 million in 30 years, he said.

"For as long as our population grows at this rate, there will always be an imbalance between the population and resources. It will be very, very heavy for the government to build the kind of development programs and projects that the government has planned," de Leon said.