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The Role of Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Asia - Pacific in Transforming The Lives of Prostituted Women in The Philippines
The Role of Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Asia - Pacific in Transforming The Lives of Prostituted Women in The Philippines
Joya, Jemicah M.
Magdangal, Maria Eliza A.
Narido, Arvie M.
Sagun, Jenifer H.
Tan, Carolyn J.
April 2014
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FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY
Nicanor Reyes Street, Sampaloc Manila
Institute of Arts and Sciences
International Studies Department
by: Joya, Jemicah M.; Magdangal, Maria Eliza A.; Narido, Arvie M.; Sagun, Jenifer H.;
Tan, Carolyn J.
Abstract:
Prostitution has been the subject of much public debate in the Philippines. There
have been transformations in the form and structure of sex industry in the country. It has
been complicated, sensitive and unresolved. Poverty and past experiences of women are
some of the main reasons why most Filipinas compelled to enter the flesh trade. However,
prostitution exists squarely within cultures of gender-based inequality. Feminists intend that
prostitution is a paradigmatic expression of male domination of women. Far from being
gender-neutral, prostitution is gendered to the hilt. The buyers are men whose goal is their
sexual pleasures. This study provides an emphasis on the issue of prostitution as a human
right violation against women, through the analysis of the life histories of five prostituted
women of Bagong Kamalayan Collective, Inc. under the Coalition Against Trafficking in
Women Asia – Pacific. It aims to promote awareness on women’s human rights and
support survivors of prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation. Furthermore, the
study characterizes the perception and substantial experiences of the survivors of
prostitution from being exploited to empowered women. It also aims to raise awareness not
only to the non-governmental organizations (NGO), governmental agencies but among
policy makers and the whole international arena as well. The importance of this study is
how the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Asia – Pacific motivates Women in
Prostitution to leave the said industry. CATW-AP is a human-rights based agency which
adheres to developmental initiatives in accordance to international human rights standards.
It is directed towards the promotion and protection of women’s right towards over-all goal of
gender equality. The result shows that majority of the respondents had experienced
violation against women rights before and during the period they are prostituted.
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Executive Summary:
Prostitution is the performance of sexual acts solely for the purpose of material and
emotional gain. Persons prostitute themselves when they grant sexual favors to others in
exchange of money, gifts or other payments and in doing so use their bodies as
commodities. Moreover, some prostituted women have some benefits when inside the trade
such as companionship. Therefore, they feel that they are not alone. Voices are being
raised to suggest that prostitution be accepted as commerce, a legitimate work for women
and a valid means for economic survival or empowerment. Pro-prostitution advocates as
such posit that women have the right to prostitute themselves.
However, human rights activists and feminists argue that it may be characterized as
an expression of sexual freedom or as a form of labor but reality shows it bears much closer
relationship to gender-based violence especially the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation
among women. The researchers focused on the role of a non-governmental organization
like CATW-AP in providing practical support to women affected by such acts of violence.
Additionally, the researchers also emphasized prostitution in Thailand in comparison with
the current status of prostitution in Philippines.
In this study, the researchers attempted to understand the Case Study on the Role
of Coalition Against Trafficking in Women–Asia Pacific in Empowering Prostituted Women
in the Philippines. Specifically, the study aimed: 1) to define what the prostitution means, 2)
to identify the causes of violence and exploitation to the survivors of prostitution in
Philippines during the period they are prostituted, 3) to determine the effects of violence and
exploitation to the survivors of prostitution in Philippines during the period they are
prostituted, 4) to distinguish the current international protocols regarding prostitution that
protects the victims of prostitution in the Philippines, 5) to characterize the current initiatives
done by Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific in the Philippines to transform
the lives of survivors of prostitution, 5) and to discover the policies that can be
recommended to Coalition against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific in the Philippines to
empower the victims of prostitution.
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This study is carried out to document the good practices, lessons learned, immediate
impact, challenges and recommendations of the programs of the Coalition Against
Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific’s (CATW-AP) in addressing trafficking and prostitution.
The researchers sought to determine how CATW-AP, through its programs and services,
has contributed in changing people’s lives, especially the lives of women by making the
Philippine government and its agencies, to fulfil its obligations to women in empowering the
latter to demand for their rights from and hold the former accountable.
CATW-AP’s feminist analysis of the issues of trafficking and prostitution which is the
selling and buying of women and children’s bodies creates the trafficking phenomenon,
wherein trafficking is the means to ensure the supply of women and children’s bodies for the
prostitution industry. It posits that any act of using women and children’s bodies for profit is
a flagrant violation of women/children’s rights as well as a system of violence against
women and children. Within this frame, trafficking is not limited to acts that constitute
physical force, but also include those that exploit vulnerabilities brought about by socio-
economic, political and gender inequalities.
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healing and empowerment. CATW-AP also sourced out funds for survivors’ groups to start
their own alternative livelihoods. CATW-AP’s work with survivors is unique because helping
survivors become social actors is a part of their psychosocial healing.
Survivors work with CATW-AP in raising their awareness on relevant social and
gender issues, equipping them with skills in analysis, problem solving, advocacy, and
documentation, and in organizing other survivors. Becoming social actors participating and
making a clear impact on the social events and policy contributes significantly to healing
because it helps re-establish positive self-image and connections with people. Sustainability
issues of the organizations set up by survivors were addressed by piloting livelihood
projects, for example, the cafeteria business for Bagong Kamalayan Collective, Inc.
recommendations include documenting the experiences of CATW-AP and the survivors in
organizing and case work and regularizing national consultations with the survivors.
In terms of the research technique and methods, the researchers have conducted an
informal and semi-structured interview with five members of the Bagong Kamalayan
Collective, Inc. under the Coalition Against Trafficking of Women in Asia - Pacific. The
researchers decided to use creative interview where different set of pictures were shown to
the respondents relating based to their experiences. On the other hand, the researchers
had an in-depth interview with the officer-in-charge of Coalition Against Trafficking of
Women in Asia – Pacific. The interviews were held on January 27, 2014 at Room 202
Philippine National Bank Building, Matalino Street, Diliman Village, Quezon City.
Descriptive, historical, documentary, and qualitative approach of research were adopted.
The Robotfoto, Dendogram, and Repertory Grid are used in the data gathering,
presentation, and analysis of data.
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attempts by governments to make prostitution a profitable market sector to protect each and
every rights of women’s that are involve in the said trade industry.
The research study recommends that the NGO and Philippine Government must
cooperate in order to improve and implement specific laws that protect prostituted women.
The government of the Philippines must pay attention for the protection of victimized women
and not stigmatize and marginalize them. The degree on how international law plays a role
on Prostitution must be given importance, such as CEDAW and UN Anti-Trafficking
Protocol. The Philippine government must review these particular standards of international
law and policies so that it can be implemented and enforced.
The researchers conclude that most of the women who are in prostitution have
experienced different kind of abuses that leads them to enter the flesh trade. These
experiences have become a catalyst for them to have different perception about being
abuse or not. They had a hard time to distinguish the difference between the two being
abuse and not. Furthermore, the researchers conclude that the local government of the
Philippines has weak efforts to curb the violence among prostituted women and
implementation of law about prostitution for the protection of the rights of the women in the
flesh trade industry. Also, the different international organization here in the Philippines are
having a hard time to protect this women because of the lack funding and awareness to the
people that are involve and not involved in the flesh industry.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The success of this thesis required the help of various individuals. Without them, the
researchers might not meet their objectives in doing this study. The researchers want to
give gratitude to the following people for their invaluable help and support. First of all, we
would like to thank our families for their never ending support and patience for each and
one of us. To Joya Family, Magdangal Family, Narido Family, Tito Nito, Tita Elsa and
Sagun Family, Tito Ricardo, Tita Marilyn and Tan Family, for letting us gate crash to their
respective homes while we write this thesis. If not for them, we would not be able to survive
all the challenges along the way. Second of all, our sincere thanks goes to our mentors,
Prof. Benedicto Mirabueno, Prof. Anna Marie Sopoco and Prof. Jerry Apolonio for guiding
and giving us the knowledge and meticulous comments in order to make our thesis
possible. The time they have lent to us will be treasured and we are deeply grateful for what
they have imparted to us. Also, to Prof. Marietta Dublin, we hope that you may finally have
the guts to stand up for your students as an International Studies Professor.We are truly
thankful to you for your decisions led us to the right people. Of course, we would like to
express our gratitude to our Beloved Adviser, Prof. Catherine Telan, for not hesitating to
accept us as your very first thesis advisees. Without her continuous optimism concerning
this thesis, enthusiasm, encouragement and enormous support would hardly have been
completed. She has been our constant companion through victories and hard times and we
know that saying thank you would not be enough.
We would also like to show our greatest appreciation to Coalition against Trafficking
in Women Asia-Pacific (CATW-AP) particularly, Ms. Jean Enriquez, Ms. Gie, Ms. Teresa,
Ms. Elsa, Ms. Princess and Ms. Clydie Pasia who were involved in this study from the start
and was a great help in providing all the data as we made them the subject of our study. As
researchers, we realized that though they are a small organization, their hearts were huge
as exerting their constant support in empowering women’s rights. Furthermore, we owe a
very important debt to the five survivors who had a little hard time to encourage to be
interviewed because of the sensitivity of their experiences.
Despite of the negative impact they have inclined to us, we still owe a great debt of
gratitude to the feedback offered by the Panelists, for giving highly competent suggestions
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and constructive comments for the improvement of our study which we led us to gain more
courage and motivational strength.
The researchers would like to thank IS1041 family, for the help and updates all
throughout the year, your block made us feel the love and belongingness as the “ATES” of
International Studies and to our 6th and “sort-of” member Sherina Bonifacio, we love you
She. Also, we thank the IS Department, to PH Carlo Gutierrez and Supervisor Arsenia
Jimenez for their concern and love to our thesis group.
Above all, we send our immense gratitude to our Almighty God who became the
source of our strength when everything seems not to go on our way. We praise you Lord for
we have successfully surpassed all the trials you have given us. To God be the glory!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page……………………………………………………………………………………...... i
Approval Sheet…………………………………………………………………………………. ii
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………….. iii
Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………………………… vii
Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………. x
CHAPTER 1
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………............. 1
Research Objectives………………………………………………………………………….. 7
Research Problem…………………………………………………………………………….. 8
Theoretical Framework……………………………………………………………………….. 9
Conceptual Framework………………………………………………………………………. 12
Research Paradigm…………………………………………………………………………... 14
Definition of Terms…………………………………………………………………………….. 18
CHAPTER 2
B. Types of Prostitution……………………………………………………… 24
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IV. Current Status of Prostitution in Philippines……………………………………….. 29
A. Organization Overview…………………………………………………… 36
B. Vision – Mission…………………………………………………………… 37
VII. Synthesis………………………………………………………………………………. 38
CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
Research Design……………………………………………………………………………...... 40
CHAPTER 4
I. What is prostitution……..…………………………………………………………….. 43
Place of work…………………………………………………………………… 44
The customers…………………………………………………………………. 44
Prostitution in Thailand………………………………………………………… 47
II. What are the causes of violence and exploitation to the survivors of prostitution in
Violence in Prostitution…………………………………………………………. 51
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The reason behind violence……………………………………………………. 51
III. What are the effects of violence and exploitation to the survivors of prostitution in
Effects of Violence………………………………………………………………. 55
Vices………………………………………………………………………………. 56
IV. What are the current international protocols regarding prostitution that protects the
V. What are the current initiatives done by CATW-AP in the Philippines to transform the
Membership in CATW-AP……………………………………………………….. 66
Programs of CATW-AP………………………………………………………….. 66
CHAPTER 5
Summary of Findings……………………………………………………………………………... 76
Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………………….. 77
Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………….. 77
References………………………………………………………………………………………… 78
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Appendices
A. Robotfoto
B. Repertory Grid
C. Dendogram
D. Transcription of Interviews
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
linked to human nature and therefore, it is natural. Prostitution is said to be the oldest form
of violence and most profitable way of earning money. (Talnar and Himcinschi, 2012)
services for food. (Murphy, 2007) Like other market setting, in prostitution, it demands,
creates and supply. Usually, men buy sex while women offer it. Therefore, prostitution is
of labor. But in reality, it bears a much closer relationship to practices of gender based
violence. (Leidholdt, 2003) Commercial sex workers are considered as women of loose
morals, without rights, and often times, they are routinely subjected to coercion and
violence. Prostitution is not viewed as normal job because they are dependent on selling
sexual favors; prostitutes are particularly prone to violence. (Bennett and Manderson, 2003)
The exchange of money in prostitution paves way for sexual harassment, sexual abuse and
sexual violence. (Raymond, 1998) In the context of globalization, the following are the
causes that escalate the violence against theprostitutes: 1) increasing political instability
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2) Rising income 3) and inequalities within and between countries. (Bennett and
Manderson, 2003)
of this phenomenon. (Talnar and Himchinschi, 2012) It is indeed important to review the
problem, nuances of such human rights perspective, the commitment made by states, and
what is happening in reality regarding this problem. (Coalition Against Trafficking in Women
Asia-Pacific, 2010) It is also necessary to emphasize the role of the non-state actors such
Generally, prostitution is viewed in a negative way and the person who prostitute is
condemned and marginalized. (Talnar and Himcinschi, 2012) Rebecca Foley‟s research in
Malaysia shows that female sex workers who attempt to prosecute men who have
committed violent crimes against them are typically charged for the illegal act of prostitution.
(Bennett and Manderson, 2003) In the case of the Philippines, even if RA 9208 was passed,
it does not automatically punish the offender of prostitution because when RA 9208 was
passed it does not automatically repeal the old vagrancy law. In most cases, they are
The purpose of the study is to promote awareness of women’s human rights and
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the lives of survivors of prostitution through their life experiences and histories. In
since they are the main actors. Women’s perception should further be known to NGO‟s
and policy makers in order for them to get a wider understanding of the phenomena as well
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BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
For so many years, prostitution has been the subject of much public debate in
Thailand and Philippines. There have been transformations in the form and structure of the
sex industry in both countries. It has been complicated, sensitive and unresolved.
Theprostitution, being the oldest profession worldwide, is also not new for Thai society.
Prostitution in Thailand has its roots in Buddhism that is the main religion there. (Keown,
2003) Prostitution in Thailand can be dated back at least to the Ayuddhya period (1350-
1767). The women were commonly slaves and were viewed as an object and forced to
serve her owners. Under the Ayuddhya time prostitution was taxed and legal by the
government, which may have been the starting point for Thailand to draw in state revenue
The clientele were then as now, both local and foreigners. Even under these times
there was a close relation between the sex industry, migrant communities and economic
development. Although, during the earlier times it was mostly the Chinese communities that
had a connection to prostitution, today there are other foreigners who have migrated and
increased, so did the sex industry, and was mostly located in the Chinese neighborhoods in
Bangkok. In other parts of Thailand, as Phuket, the sex industry was unfolded through the
growth of coal mining together with Chinese migration. Prostitution during that time did not,
however, involve only Thai women. There were also a large number of Chinese women
(Boonchalaksi and Guest, 1994). After 600 years of slavery, King Rama V finally abolished
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Thailand served as a rest and recreation place for US troops who visited the country
and also for those 70,000 combat troops stationed in the northeast. The Americans had
women in prostitution as girlfriends, openly walking around on the streets, compared to the
Thai and Chinese customers, who instead visited brothels. Even though the 1960s and
onward was the time when most laws were established with an intention to diminish the sex
industry, it was also the time when it expanded the most. (Boonchalaksi and Guest, 1994;
In the case of the Philippines, prostitution has started when the Spanish came,
theychronicled some pre-existing sexual practices by Filipinos which they considered lewd,
vicious and perverse. They observed that society did not value either virginity or
monogamous marriages. The Spanish chroniclers wrote that virginity was, in fact, believed
to be a hindrance to marriage and that to reach the place of eternal bliss, women must have
lovers. There were males who would even offer their services for initiating women to the
sexual act. Unwed mothers did not decrease their chances of marriage. Despite this sexual
There were laws which penalized illicit behavior between men and women, effectively
The Spaniards preached the values of virginity and chastity to the "natives" or
Filipinos and condemned their immoral sexual practices. However, they also failed to live
out what they preached. They carried out sexual relations with native women outside their
marriage resulting in the birth of many Spanish mestizo children. By the 19th century, casas
(native Filipinos) existed in Manila. The casas housed young virgins (usually daughters of
peasants sold to cover their parent's debts) to cater mainly to Spanish soldiers and officials.
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However, it is interesting to note that several prostitutes from Thailand and
Philippines had transformed their lives which are considered as one of the huge problems of
the two countries. What are the current initiatives done by the CATW-AP in the Philippines
to transform the lives of survivors of prostitution? What are the policies that implemented by
the CATW-AP in the Philippines to empower the victims of prostitute. These questions
Philippines.
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RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:
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RESEARCH PROBLEM
1. What is Prostitution?
2. What are the current international protocols regarding prostitution that protects the
3. What are the current initiatives done by the CATW-AP in the Philippines to transform
4. What are the policies that can be recommended to CATW-AP in the Philippines to
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THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Theory Definition
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- A set of social relations between men
which have a material base, and which,
Marxist Feminist though hierarchical, establish or create
interdependence and solidarity among men
that enable them to dominate women.
Theorist
• Nancy Cott
• Karl Marx
• Karl Kautsky
• Friedrich Engels
• Catharine Mackinnon
FIGURE 1.
This study follows the Marxist feminist theory which postulates the relative relation of
economics in gender. Marxism and feminism are theories of power and its distribution:
can be internally rational yet unjust. But their specificity is not incidental. In Marxism to be
deprived of one's work, in feminism of one's sexuality, defines each one's conception of
lack of power per se. They do not mean to exist side by side to ensure that two separate
spheres of social life are not overlooked, the interests of two groups are not
They exist to argue, respectively, that the relations in which many works and few
gains, in which some fuck and others get fucked, are the prime moment of politics. It
believes that the economic base, gender- inflected in this way, in turn, determines the
superstructure where are found gendered institutions and often misogynous or at least
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stereotypical ideologies of gender. The main function of gender ideologies is to justify
discrimination between sexes in general, the sexual division in particular and by extension,
the oppression of women in general. Given that everything in the superstructure is the effect
or reflection of cases found in the base, for Marxist Feminists, ideas about the respective
attributes and roles of males and females are entirely determined by those economic
factors.
As gender defined as the social construction of sex, that is, the interpretations
imposed upon the anatomical sex of human beings, resulting in certain qualities and roles
being attributed to and internalized by males and females. In other words, certain
conceptions concerning what it means to be male as opposed to female are ingested and
regurgitated in the beliefs and the behavior of both men and women. Of course, one is not
always consciously aware that one has imbibed and manifested such attitudes. (McKinnon,
1982)
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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
What is Prostitution?
FIGURE 2.
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In translating the theoretical framework into specific concepts that is used in this
study, prostitution serves as the premise of the study. (See Figure 2) The center of the
diagram indicates the set of core categories that will be explained through the Marxist
feminist theory. It also emphasizes the primary focus of the study as it centers on these
issues. Thus, the study will propose an adoption of policy assessed on both study’s premise
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RESEARCH PARADIGM
1. What is prostitution?
3. Current initiatives
Feedback Loop
FIGURE3.
0251678720
FIGURE 3.
Figure 3 shows the input of the research which comprises the following: 1) what is
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victims of prostitution 3) Current initiatives done by the NGO’s in the Philippines to
transform the lives of survivors of prostitution. Further, the process section of the study
infers on how the presented input will be acquired. In this study, in-depth interviews and
output section will be the policies that could be recommended to CATW-AP in the
Philippines to transform the lives of survivors of prostitution. The feedback loop is the
process wherein it allows adjusting the operation, according to the difference between the
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SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
makers of International Relations struggle to solve. Hence, they could implement better
measures and solutions arrived through the processes of learning. This study would
assume that lawmakers might give out policy outcomes from different perspectiveson the
a plethora or avenues for talks, forums of well-versed and experts to come up with effective
measures to this subject. In the academic aspect of being a scholar, this subject matter
would serve as a catalyst for a change in the youth sector and in the community in general
as well. It tempts to do such in order to resolve their immediate economic and financial
needs.
Research. The result of this study can serve as references by other colleges
anduniversities who may wish to undertake similar scope in their respective school.
Through the given data, figures and approaches presented it will certainly provide concise
and clear-cut approach for further research on this matter. It would ensure moreaccurate
and defined framework of future studies on prostitution, which may lead through intensive
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SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study is focused primarily on the survivors of prostitution under Coalition against
Trafficking in Women Asia – Pacific. Using the method of in-depth interview, the study
explains the role of the said NGO in transforming the lives of survivors from exploited to
empower women.
This study will deliberately discuss four the programs conducted by Coalition against
Also, this study did not generally discern prostitution as a social problem, health
problem (AIDS/STD) and moral problem. Hence, this study views prostitution as a human
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DEFINITION OF TERMS
anotherperson's sexual gratification or pleasure, and for the monetary gain or profit of
others. (Philippine Commissionon Women, 2013) In this study, it refers to the Bagong
food. (Murphy, 2007) In this study, it refers to the form of sexual exploitation and violence
actual,against oneself, another person, or against a group or community that either results
or deprivation. (Tjaden, 2005) In this study, it refers to violence against women perpetrated
women,men and children who are being sold within the system. It reinforces the
subordinate status of the most vulnerable individuals who are more often, women and
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international human rights standards which is directed towards the promotion and protection
of women’s right towards over-all goal of gender equality. Essentially, it incorporates the
principles, norms and standards of the international human rightsinstruments that promote
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CHAPTER 2
The study of related literature and research work is very essential and important as it
provides us proper guidelines. In this chapter, itdeals with the current status of Prostitution
in the Philippines, the cause of entry, the historical overview and the legal approaches in
Prostitution. Included in this area were the overview of the CATW-AP, the vision, mission,
review.
activity. The degree of continuity between the earliest documented forms of sacred
prostitution, in the Middle East and contemporary Western secular prostitution is debatable.
It is clear, forexample, that in the great cities of Mesopotamia and Egypt around 3000 B.C.
with the Great Goddess Inanna (later Ishtar) she identified as a prostitute. The prostitute-
priestess of the temples still at the center not only of religious, but also political and
economic power, the status of prostitutes then was high. In other words, these early
prostitutes were far from being stigmatized compared to the contemporary women called
the end of the twentieth century. It is intended to inform and to stimulate discussion and
debate and perhaps “rethink” of sex work. The authors mentioned a number of social
theories that explains the sex industry, which consists of the following: 1) Socio-biological
xxxv
which explains female prostitution as a social imperative to accommodate the overpowering
male sex-drive. 2) Psycho or socio-pathological rationalizes the female sex work in some
milieu in which they were raised or interact. 3) Functional theory insists that all social
institutions through which sexual contact between men and women occurs are functioning
in some respect. 4) Conflictual theory emphasizes female sex work’s genesis in general
social conflict of one type of another. 5) Feminist theories draw on the concept of patriarchy
which depicts men’s domination over women in controlling female sexuality. 6) Discourse
analytic theories constituted in pre-eminent sexual discourses, which have their own
histories and conditions of existence. The purpose of the book is not to explicate or provide
critiques of specific theories mentioned, nor proffer an original theory or explanatory model.
Rather, it will suffice to elaborate on a few select – including neglected themes linking the
In the Philippine setting, Luis Dery’s journal of Philippine Studies, which entitled
Prostitution in Colonial Manila depicts how colonial policies of Spaniards and Americans led
Filipina women into prostitution. Spanish rule made Manila the center of its colonial affairs.
Colonial rule is generally "based upon the principle of rewarding political services to the
Government in power by the pillage of a colony." The policies enforced tended to foster the
exploitation and impoverishment of the colonial subjects. Eventually, poverty became the
permanent characteristic of the working class who largely comprised the Philippine
Manila by the nineteenth century was already teeming with vagrants, vagabond, and
displaced persons. In colonial times it was the only place attractive enough for the
xxxvi
impoverished and displaced persons to flock to. People sought jobs in Manila's hemp
presses, cigar factories, and other business establishments. The cigar factories
aloneemployed more than twenty thousand workers, mostly women. Those who failed to
tindera. Many of them became prostitutes as manifested in the courtrecords of the period.
Other factors accentuated the growth of prostitution during colonial times. Spanish
many cases, it was a major reason for men made destitute by gambling to induce their
According to Dery during the Spanish colonial period, Philippine society considers it
"mal costumbre" (bad manners) for a woman to go out of her home without a companion
especially at night since only cheap women do so. Society's worst opprobrium is reserved
for the prostitutes. This can be seen in the various names given to them. Their appearance
at night gave them the sobriquet Dama de noche (women of the night). They were also
called mujeres libres or mujeres publicas (free or public women), mujerzuela (cheap
women), or kalapating mababa ang lipad. At the extreme, they were called ramera (whore),
indicate that they did not pay their cedula personal to avoid arrest and imprisonment. (Dery,
1991)
The last years of Spanish rule saw the rise and spread of prostitution due to the
influx of thousands of Spanish soldiers brought from Spain to crush the revolution in the
Philippines. The coming of the Americans finally entrenched the profession in the country.
in the country. The presence of thousands of soldiers presented a golden opportunity for
enterprising local and foreign entrepreneurs and prostitutes. They followed in the wake of
xxxvii
the soldiers selling goods and services. The American soldiers needed most are liquor and
women. As a result, Manila's streets became scenes of brawls among drunken soldiers.
(Dery, 1991)
Clearly, the policies enforced by both Spanish and American colonial authorities
were intended not to suppress the profession and its practitioners. They could never be
suppressed, because the roots of prostitution in the Philippines are much deeper. They
strike deeply into the socioeconomic fiber of Philippine society. Colonial society remained
unwavering in its treatment and regard of prostitution and those who were reduced to this
degraded way of life. The colonial authorities' lack of attitude towards them, as shown by
the measures they adopted, only highlighted the lack of official concern for the prostitutes.
(Dery, 1991)
acts solely for the purpose of material gain. Persons prostitute themselves when they grant
sexual favors to others in exchange or money, gifts or other payments and in doing so use
services for economic compensation in the form of money or needed resources such as
housing or food. (Murphy, 2007) While the legal definition of prostitution in the United States
typically refers to an individual‟s physical contact with another person or other persons that
value. (Tomura, 2009) Like other market setting, in prostitution, it demands, creates and
supply. Usually, men buy sex while women offer it. Therefore, prostitution is considered
xxxviii
B. Types of Prostitution
perspective shows that there are various types of prostitution (1) Street prostitution wherein
the client solicits along the street, park or other public places. (2) Brothel prostitution
wherein a brothel is a premise explicitly dedicated to providing sex. (3) Escort prostitution
wherein client contacts sex workers by phone or via hotel staffs. It is the type of prostitution,
which is relatively expensive because of the service provided at the client’s home or home
room. (4) Club, pub, bar, karaoke bar, dance hall wherein clients solicited alcohol vending
venues and serviced on site or elsewhere. (5) Transport (ship, truck, train), sex workers
may board vehicles to service the crew, pick up clients or passengers at stations and
terminals. (6) Other methods of solicitation through various media, including notice board
and newspaper advertisements, „sex worker catalogues‟ and internet via virtual brothels.
between “street prostitution” and prostitution in special places. Prostitution in special places
means the so-called profession are recognized and accepted by most societies such as lap
dancers, night club “entertainers”, hostess, etc. (Talnar and Himcinschi, 2012)
study made by the Crime and Justice Research Centre in New Zealand, there are several
those who are opposed to prostitution on moral, religious or feminist grounds. Jurisdictions
1.1 Prohibitionist – where all forms of prostitution are unacceptable and therefore
illegal. This is the approach taken in most states of the USA and countries in the Middle
East.
1.2 Abolitionist – a modified form of prohibition which allows the sale of sex, but
bans all related activities (e.g. Soliciting, brothel keeping, and procurement). Making these
carry out prostitution without contravening one law or another. The abolitionist approach
currently operating in countries such as England and Canada. Sweden is the only country
so far to criminalize the buyers of sex rather than sex workers. Then aim was to end
prostitution, rather than regulate it – since it was viewed as violence against women and a
barrier to gender equality. Norway and Finland are now considering this approach.
certain state specified conditions. The underlying premise is that prostitution is necessary
for a stable social order, but should nonetheless be subject to controls to protect public
order and health. Some jurisdictions opt for legalization as a means to reduce crimes
controls and conditions specified by the state. These can include licensing, registration, and
xl
mandatory health checks. Prostitution has been legalized in countries such as the
the USA state of Nevada, and many Australian states (Victoria, Queensland, ACT and
Northern Territory).
distinction is made between voluntary prostitution and that involving either force and
coercion or child prostitution, the latter remaining criminal. The key difference between
legalization and decriminalization is that with the latter there are no prostitutes-specific
regulations imposed by the state. Rather, regulation of the industry is predominantly through
existing „ordinary‟ statutes and regulations covering employment and health, for instance.
Unregulated regimes are regimes where some jurisdictions in prostitution are entirely
unregulated. A review of 27 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia found
this was the case in eleven of them. There are no reforms intended or legislative recognition
In the case of the Philippines, prostitution is criminalized. Article 202 of the Revised
“Article 202. Prostitutes; Penalty – For the purpose of this article, women who, for
money or profit, habitually indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, are deemed
to be prostitutes. Any person found guilty of any of the offenses covered by this article shall
be punished by arresto menor or a fine not exceeding 200 pesos, and in case of recidivism,
by arresto mayor in its medium period to prision correctional in its minimum period or a fine
ranging from 200 to 2,000 pesos, or both, in the discretion of the court.”
Notably, the above provision focuses law enforcement and legal sanctions
exclusively on the prostituted women while letting the customers and the pimps go
xli
unscathed. (Philippine Commissionon Women, 2013) Philippine society steeped in old
patriarchal thinking that women who are sexually violated “invited” the violations that were
done to them. Numerous legislators, government officials and law enforcers maintain the
thinking that women are to be blamed for the sexual violence, such as trafficking into
prostitution that they have suffered. (Coalition against Trafficking in Women Asia-Pacific,
2010)
Thailand has had three main legal statutes directly related to prostitution: 1) The
Contagious Disease Prevention Act of 1908, the act did not make prostitution illegal and
was only intended to control the public order and health effects of prostitution. The law was
abolished after the Prostitution Suppression Act was passed. 2) The Prostitution
Suppression Act of 1960 which is still in force, the intention was to suppress prostitution
through making it an illegal activity. Under the act, prostitutes and anyone else who is
involved in arranging or profiting from the act are liable for punishment. However, the
customer is not liable to punishment. The Entertainment Places Act of 1966 is designedto
control the operations of establishments which endanger the morals of the community. The
act also provides for the Social Welfare Department in Thailand to send prostitutes to
rehabilitation centers where they receive occupational training. (Boonchalaksi and Guest,
1994)
Besides these three Acts, it was stated in the Penal Code of 1956 that persons who
are convicted of procuring persons for prostitution or profiteering from prostitution can be
jailed and fined. Like in the Philippines, women in prostitution are convicted as well.
(Boonchalaksi and Guest, 1994) According to Sandra Neuman in her recent study of female
government efforts to curb it are weak. It is shown from their unofficial efforts to indirectly
promote prostitution, the police, military and government officials are also involved in the
xlii
sex trade, which really makes it a dilemma and discrepancy in the society. (Neuman, 2012)
Poverty is one of the main reasons why most Filipinas compel with the prostitution
work. Other than that depressed economy had resulted in a condition of seamless increase
to support their families as well as supply a steady flow of remittances from urban to rural
areas or from prostitutes working overseas. Women have been tricked into prostitution with
guarantees of decent job opportunities in the city or abroad or have been kidnapped and
then forced to work as prostitutes. Family expectations and problems are common factors
why many enter the prostitutionbusiness. Women, inparticular, are pressured to pay for their
sibling’s education or support a sick family member. Other aspects such as dysfunctional
families or constant abuse from parents have lead adolescents to leave their homes and are
In the 1998 study by the International Labor Organization, it was estimated that there
were at least 400,000 – 500,000 prostituted persons in the Philippines. In 2004, the number
xliii
2009 study, there were around 800,000 prostituted persons in thePhilippines. Prostitution
may be now the country’s 4th largest source of GNP according to the study of the
Women, 2013)
Therefore, more voices are being raised to suggest for the country that prostitution
be accepted as commerce, a legitimate work for women and a valid means for economic
the debates on prostitution are now more intense than ever, the opinions being pro and
against this phenomenon which demonstrates a way of living for many people. (Talnar and
Himcinschi, 2012) A lot of non-governmental organizations are now working for women’s
right to better their conditions in prostitution. According toAnnabel Fan, an American lawyer
about women as how they work as prostitutes, how they perform sexual acts, feign sexual
enjoyment and how to endure all kinds of bodily violation during sex. There is not a lot of
alternatives being offered, but rather to maintain the system. (Raymond, 1998)
Pro-prostitution advocates as such posit that women have the right to prostitute
commercial sexual transaction. The issue of consent of “personal choice politics” rests on a
western liberal understanding of human rights that elevates individual will and choice above
all other human values and above notions of the common good. (Hofmann, 1997)
entitled“Streetwalkers of Cubao” depicts how Women in Prostitution (WIP) interact with their
customers, pimps, hotel managers, police officers, live-in-partners, relatives, NGO staff and
fellow WIP in their day-to-day living. The Women in Prostitution pertains to the particular
WIP on one hand and to their empowerment on the other hand. The study seeks to inform
the WIP 2) Focus group discussion with officers and members of SINAG 3) A validation
conference with the community organization of SINAG in order to re-check the constructed
data. The generated conclusions of the study imply that communication through negotiation
plays a vital role in the lives of WIP. The survival of their profession rests on their ability to
communicate with persons whom they encounter on a day-to-day basis. Hence, the WIP
may succeed or fail in the negotiation process, but it doesn‟t change the fact that they
remain in an oppressed and exploited state. This stems from the fact that they are
commodified and treated items for sale. Furthermore, proponents and benefactors should
aim more relevant programs that assess the needs of WIP. (Muldong-Portus, 2005)
In Sheila Jeffrey’s book called The Idea of Prostitution is concerned with ways of
thinking about prostitution. The aim is to explain how feminist thinking on prostitution has
become so polarized at the end of the twentieth century. Some are defining men’s use of
women in prostitution as a form of sexual violence, there are others who seek to normalize
and legitimize “sex work” as a reasonable job for a woman. In the late nineteenth and early
twentieth century’s, feminist attitudes were much more homogenous. The feminist
determination to end prostitution was strong and internationally united in this period.
(Jeffreys, 1997)
theTraffic in Persons in 1949. Since the late 1960s, radical feminist theories have analyzed
which can be bought and sold, into a sexual slavery that lies at the root of prostitution and
forms the foundation of women’s oppression. But in the last two decades the ideas of many
Some representatives of prostitute’s rights groups have even argued that prostitution
represents sexual liberation for women. The language of work, choice and sex has also
been adopted by some feminist theorists and academics who profess to have been
form of beneficence given to women. It will enable them to exercise their free will and
assure them the “right to prostitute”. Though radical feminists and anti-violence feminists
continue to maintain that prostitution is a crime against women, it has become increasingly
difficult to express the view that prostitution must be brought to an end. (Jeffreys, 1997)
prostitution” needs to exist in the heads of individual man to enable them to conceive of
buying women for sex. This is idea that women exist to be so used, that it is possible and
the way that prostitution is thought about. Jeffreys argues that prostitution is a form of male
sexual violence against women, consistent in its effects upon theabused women with other
forms of violence. Moreover, Jeffreys suggested that the most useful way to combat the
human rights. This approach will target men who abuse women and those who profit from
xlvi
this abuse while decriminalizing and giving practical support to the women who have been
expression of sexual freedom or as a form of labor, but reality shows it bears a much closer
relationship to gender-based violence especially the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation
among women. (Leidholdt, 2003) Prostitution has much in common with other kinds of
violence against women, what incest in the family, prostitution is to the community. Incest,
sexual harassment, verbal abuse, stalking, rape, battering and torture are points on a
continuum of violence all of which regularly in prostitution. (Farley and Butler, 2013)
rape throughout the period they are prostituted. They also describe the act of being
prostituted as rape-like sex acts that are unwanted, violating and assaultive. (Leidholdt,
2003) The exchange of money in prostitution serves to transform what are actually sexual
harassment, sexual abuse, and sexual violence into a job known as commercial sex work, a
job performed primarily by racially and economically advantaged women in the so-called
first and third worlds, and by overwhelming numbers of women and children who have been
Trafficking in Women, on her Journal of Trauma and Practice, it is well established that
sexual abuse is a precondition for prostitution. Studies reveal that between 55-90% of
prostituted women have histories of childhood abuse. (Leidholdt, 2003) Studies show that
early experiences of childhood sexual abuse provide training in emotional distancing which
can be re-enacted during the sexual activities with the clients. As stated by many women,
early childhood sexual abuse makes it easier to engage in prostitution. (Murphy, 2007)
being gender-neutral, prostitution is tendered to the hilt. The buyers are men whose goal is
their sexual pleasures. (Leidholdt, 2003) Philippine Commission on Women stated that
prostitution thrives in Philippine society because of gender inequality and lack of respect for
women’s rights. It is clearly manifested on the false notion that women are inferior, sexual
objects and commodities while men are superior, decision-makers and owners of
properties. (Philippine Commission on Women, 2013) In Thailand, the view that men are
sexual predators and that their sexual appetites must be satisfied if the virtue of “good”
study in rural Thailand. For example, a Thai senior police official argued that sex crimes
would increase if brothels were banned. He was quoted saying“the rate of rapes and other
sex-related crimes might sky rocket if these men find no place to satisfy their sexual
foundation forming social, cultural and spiritual life in Thailand. Based on that, male
Buddhist Thais are supposed to join the Buddhist monkhood while this opportunity is not
given to women because of their lack of karma. Although by entering prostitution, a woman
can use the income as a means to support the family. Therefore, earning merit and climb
the karmic ladder and might be reborn as a man. (Neuman, 2012) Women’s role in Thai
society also helps explain the supply of women available to work in the sex industry. A
number of researchers have drawn attention to the deeply-rooted cultural expectation that
Thai daughters contribute in any way they can to support their parents. (Boonchalaksi and
Guest, 1994) According to the deep rooted Buddhist concept of BunKhun “debts of merit”,
the children owe their parents not only respect and gratitude, but they should also give them
assistance with money and labor. Entering prostitution can fulfill traditional obligations of
xlviii
being providers and dutiful daughters who can create a tolerance for getting work and
including Thailand, the nature of the relationship between a man and a woman he buys is
that, the woman gives up the right to say no since she is paid. Whatever the man wants, the
man gets. (Farley and Butler, 2013) Hence, women in prostitution may be used in any way
the buyer desires exposing them to breach of rights, coercion and sexual violence. (Bennett
and Manderson, 2003) Women survivors in the Philippines like those of WHISPER (Women
Hurt in Systems of Prostitution Engaged in Revolt) in the United States have known the acts
of prostitution as intrusive, unwanted and often overtlyviolent sex that women endure. In
fact, the work of prostitution, mostly consists of submitting or carrying out the client’s sexual
personhood since they are experiencing physical abuse and psychological abuse. (Bennett
and Manderson, 2003) Researches proved that women in prostitution had clinically seen
overwhelming fear, pain and to deal with systematized cruelty that is experienced during
prostitution. (Farley and Butler, 2012) “Prostitution in Five countries” shows that physical
feelings, clinical depression, dissociative disorders and post traumatic stress disorder.
(Leidholdt, 2011) Bias, indifference, social isolation is most common social attitudes
xlix
VI. Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Asia – Pacific
provide practical support to women affected by such acts of violence. Their role has been
critical, especially in poorer nations and communities where few government resources
women. (Bennett and Manderson, 2003) One of the most prominent organizations which
fight violence against women and trafficking is a Coalition against Trafficking in Women
accordance to international human rights standards which is directed towards the promotion
and protection of women’s right towards over-all goal of gender equality. Essentially, it
incorporates the principles, norms and standards of the international human rights
instruments that promote gender equality, particularly, CEDAW. (Balanon and Barrameda,
2007)
an international document which lists the rights of all girls and women. It is an international
agreement which adheres to bring equality between girls/women and boy/men. CEDAW
says all discrimination against girls and women must end. (United Nations Children's Fund,
2011) Coalition against Trafficking in Women Asia Pacific initiatives focused on promoting
women’s human rights and assisting victims of trafficking, prostitution and all forms of male
violence against women and girls. Its chapter in the Philippines has the largest membership
in the region compared to other member countries in Asia. (Balanon and Barrameda, 2007)
A. Organization Overview
The First Global Conference Against Trafficking in Women, attended by over 500
women from different countries in New York in October 1988, launched the CATW. In 1989,
l
the Coalition was granted Category II Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic
and Social Council.The Expert Group Meeting on Sexual Exploitation sponsored by the
UNESCO Division of Human Rights and the CATW was held at the Penn State University,
Pennsylvania, USA on April 1991. The meeting produced the Penn State Report, which
contained a draft of the proposed Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Sexual
Rights Conference on Trafficking in Asian Women” held in Manila, Philippines gave birth to
the CATW – Asia Pacific. On June 26-29, 1998, CATW convened a regional meeting in
Dhaka, Bangladesh, with the theme: Organizing Against Sexual Exploitation”. The was
attended by 104 participants from all over Asia, coming from the NGOs directly working on
January, 1999 also in Dhaka. This was attended by 250 participants from Asia, North
America, Latin America, Europe and Africa. It reaffirmed the common perspectives on
sexual exploitation, especially of women and children. Over the years, the Coalition in
partnership with its networks, initiated programs to promote women’s human rights and
assists victims of trafficking, prostitution, and all forms of violence against women in the
Asia-Pacific region.
B. Vision-Mission
li
To promote research on the causes, patterns and impact of prostitution and
trafficking women;
exploitation.
exploitation
Trafficking in Women Asia – Pacific has four main programs which seek to protect women:
study focuses only on the program which empowers the survivors. To fully serve the
survivors, CATW-AP initiated the pilot project, Support Program for the Empowerment of
all aspects of empowering them. This support system is translated into a matrix of services
that respond to the particular needs of survivors that include: 1) counseling 2) legal
services 7) referrals to job placement agencies and 8) repatriation and rescue services.
have been ravaged by the sex industry. The trauma that they have suffered cannot be
lii
trivialized by calling prostitution “sex work”. They assert that punishing the buyers and
prostitution. Australia and New Zealand are proud of their anti-trafficking programs, but their
states have either legalized or decriminalized the sex industry, thereby increasing the
demand. They challenge social movements to make prostitution a central issue. They
challenge anti-globalization and peace activists not only to combat trafficking, but also
prostitution and the global sex industry. Survivors and feminists in CATW-AP resolve to
continue their work in supporting the empowerment of prostituted women and children and
in advocating for alternatives. They will continue to challenge all attempts by governments
2006)
VII. Synthesis
Purchasing Sex in the 1990’s similarities in this study is that it intends to inform
andstimulate debate and perhaps “rethink” prostitution as sex work or a form of violence
against women. Its difference is that the book discussed six major theoretical perspectives
Manila only depicts the historical accounts of prostitution during the Spanish and American
colonial period. This study includes discussion of historical background of prostitution in the
Philippines but it doesn’t emphasize the effects of colonial policies among women and
prostitutes particularly.
made by the Crime and Justice Research Centre in New Zealand elaborates the legal
liii
approaches in prostitution by different states, this study adopted the approach of what is the
legal status of prostitution in the Philippines but it doesn’t include other types of legal
frameworks.
similar to this study since it has a feminist approach in prostitution. Women in Prostitution
(WIP) are considered as oppressed and dehumanized by their perpetrators. The difference
prostitution and trafficking. The evaluators adopted the rights based programmingframework
and women’s rights developmental approach framework. Meanwhile, this study uses a
liv
CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
Research Design
of research.
This descriptive research includes fact-finding inquiries of different kinds. The major
purpose of this descriptive research was to discover the state of affairs and its existence in
the present. The main characteristic of this method was that the researcher had no control
over the variables; he/she could only report what had happened or what was happening.
(Young, 2011)
Historical research like documents, remains, etc. to study events or ideas of the
past, including the philosophy of persons and groups at any remote point of time. (Young,
2011)
On the other hand, documentary research refers to the analysis of documents that
research method was used in investigating and categorizing physical sources, most
important for the ethnographer, to provide a “rich vein for analysis”(Hammersley and
Atkinson, 1995).
attempts to gain understanding of the underlying reasons and motivations for actions and
lv
establish how people interpreted their experiences and the world around them. It had also
provided insights into the setting of a problem, generating ideas and/or hypotheses. (Center
The participants of the study were limited to five members in the field of prostitution,
including one expert from the Coalition against Trafficking in Women Asia-Pacific, and five
All of the women rescued by the organization were involved with the field of
deeper discussion between the researchers and the participants of the study.
Permission was sought from the participants who were the five women rescued from
prostitution and one expert from the Coalition against Trafficking in Women Asia-Pacific.
The researchers used robotfoto, dendogram, and repertory grid for the gathering,
Robotfoto was used for the profiling of the participants of the study. Dendogram is a
qualitative tool that was used to categorize significant statements in preparation for data
analysis. (Silvermann, 2010) Repertory Grid is a data analysis tool for qualitative inquiry
The researchers had recorded in-depth interview using voice recording. The voice
recording interviews were deleted after the presentation and analysis of data.
CHAPTER 4
lvi
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
This chapter introduces and analyzes the data accumulated from the focused group
discussion with the survivors of Bagong Kamalayan and an in-depth interview with the
volunteered to be interviewed despite of the sensitivity of the topic. The focused group
used creative interview wherein a different set of pictures wereshown to the respondents.
The photographs served as guide topics wherein the respondents shared their experiences
based on what they saw on the pictures. The researchers also conducted an in-depth
interview with the Education, Training and Organizational Development Officer of Coalition
against Trafficking in Women Asia – Pacific. Out of the three main staffs of the coalition,
only one granted the researchers an interview due to their respective hectic schedules.
The interviews were held on January 27, 2014 at Room 202 Philippine National
lvii
Q1. What is Prostitution?
“Ayun, kapos sa pang gastos kaya napadpad ako sa ganun. Second year
“Ako impluwensya ng kaibigan. Syempre, wala rin kasing pang gastos. Tulad
”Ang pinaka rason ko kung bakit ako pumasok kasi gusto ko ng company.
Lumayas ako sa amin, 16 years old ako nun kasi na-rape ako pero ayaw
at kausap. (A3)
“Pera. Kadalasan nasa kalsada din ako dati kasi ayaw ko sa bahay,
“5 years.” (A2)
lviii
“10 years.” (A5)
“Sa street kami, dun sa Cubao. Hindi kami sa beerhouse. Nakapasok ako sa
Beer house pero waitress lang ako dun, walang ano.” (A1)
“Ay ako nag-waitress ako sa club. Tapos pag may customer at kailangan ng
“Takot ako sa mga bar dati kasi naisip ko, bakit kaya sumasayaw yung mga
sa akin. Ay magiging ganito rin pala ako. Naintindihan ko rin kung paano.
Pero hindi masaya dyan. Kahit malakas kita mo? lahat ng gusto mo mabibili
inuman. Eh hinipuan ako ng amo ko, sinampal ko. Nainis ako eh! Sabi nya
inom lang tapos hinipuan ako. Yun pala, mas matindi pa dadanasin ko
ngayon. (A5)
estudyante.” (A3)
lix
“Customer ang namimili sa amin. Pero pwede naman tumanggi.” (A1)
“Kung ayaw mo, hindi naman sila namimilit. Pero kung kami naman ang
“Minsan diba wala rin tayo karapatan mamili pag kailangang kailangan.” (A4)
“Pero kasi pag yung customer, astig tapos malaking mama. Mukhang
“Mahirap din kasi yung kahit kanino saka bigla ka lang sasama? Patay ka.
1.6 Naniniwala po ba kayo na kung walang prostitusyon ay mas tataas ang rate ng
“Yun ang dapat nating kwestyunin kasi ang sinasabi naming sa mga lalaki,
tao o aso? Saan ba sya nagmumula? Dun pa rin yan sa thinking na they are
entitled to use women’s body para pag parausan. Oo aminin natin bilang
babae, tayo rin ay nagkakaron ng sexual urge, syempre lahat ng tao may
libog. Pero syempre may control yan, may tamang oras at tamang lugar para
dyan. Mas importante na dapat may respeto tayo para sa isa’t-isa. Yun talaga
up ang rape kasi ang tingin namin sa prostitusyon ay paid rape eh. Kailangan
talagang kwestyunin yung mga lalaki kung bakit may ganyan kayong
thinking? Bakit may ganyan kayong mentality na may right kayo at meron
kayong privilege para gumamit ng mga babae anytime na gustuhin nyo. Ang
put it plainly, ang isang malaking katanungan sa mga lalaki ay ang utak nyo
Damn, wala na ba kayong ibang maisip sa buhay nyo kundi sex? So yung
ganung kaisipan, ganyan ba kababa yung tingin niyo sa sarili niyo? para yun
lang ang isipin niyo maya’t-maya. So yun kaya yung work namin sa Coalition
meron kaming young men’s camp na tinatawag. It’s a three day camp
siya nangyayari. Nag-invite kami sa FEU, yung batch nila Tyron Mesario. So
sila three years ago sumali sila. Isa sa advocacy namin sa camp ay i-revisit
hindi mo uugatin yung problema kung paano sila pinalaki. So yun, kailangan
nating kwestyunin kapag may nagsabi ng ganun. Automatic agad yun sex
object ang tingin niya sa babae para anytime na gusto niya wala siyang
nakuhang babae na, parang lahat kasi ng bumibili ng babae kadalasan ayaw
ng girlfriend nila o kaya yung asawa nila ayaw ng wala condom dun na nag
hahanap sila ng ibang babae. Or kaya may nabasa sila sa mga pornographic
materials, nakita nila siyempre ikaw yung girlfriend, ikaw yung asawa
gagawin mo sakin yan. Syempre gagawin niya gusto niya i-try yung
napanood niya. Bibili siya ng babae sa prostitution para gawin yun. Kung
kung anu-ano ang ginagawa. So ganun kalala, ang sabi nga namin siguro
pornography is the idea that leads to prostitution. Parang kung may theory
may practice. So siguro yung pornography siya yung theory that leads to
lxi
prostitution diba. Pwede rin kasi tignan yung ganung anggulo Kasi
lang iikot. Eh very violent siya. Ang problema kasi ng pornography, violence
yan eh. Aminin natin yung nakikita sa mga porn bilang babae, di naman
blow job mo ko. Sino ba naman ang mag-e-enjoy nun syempre marami
sa Thailand?
“Sa Thailand kasi legal eh. Parang siya yung Red-Light District ng Asia. Pag
lalapit na sayo yung mga tao, aalukin ka. Meron silang menu na iaabot sayo.
Hindi lang mga babae ang nakalagay dun sa menu, meron din kung ano yung
pwede mong ipasok sa ari ng babae. Merong banana, merong ahas, para
siyang show. Ang graphical kasi masyado kung i-ku-kwento, halimbawa yung
saging ipapasok tapos ilalabas ng pwerta yung mga ganun para siyang show,
so ganun katindi. Tignan niyo kung gagawin pang legal yung prostition ang
dami-dami pang abuses ang magaganap. So nangyayari rin yan dito sa atin
may mga toro-toro dito satin, may mga live shows alam na natin yan. Tapos
harap-harapan din ang prostitusyon dito pero mas malala lang sa Thailand.
Kahit may kasama kang asawa, yung mga bugaw talgang aalukin ka at wala
workers doon. Kasi kami hindi namin tinatawag na sex work ang prostitution.
May push factor at merong mga taong kumikita sa kanila. Kapag sinabi mo
nila na hindi trabaho yan. Hindi namin i-re-recognize na trabaho yan bilang
tao ikaw ay uunlad meron kang mga benepisyo, meron kang opportunity.
Pero dito sa prostitution wala, wala kang pagunlad kahit kalusugan mo nag-
Ang lakas kasi ng sex workers group na illegalize na lang yan gawing
trabaho kasi halimbawa doon sa mga bansang legal ang prostitusyon, pag
lumapit ka sa gobyerno para mag tawag ng call for work or call for job
prostitusyon. Ang tanong namin sa mga babae, gusto mo bang ganyan din
ang mangyari sa mga anak mo? Ang kalimitang sagot nila, syempre hindi.
Pag ganun ang tinanong mo, mapapa-isip sila na oo nga noh? Yung mga
Kasi yan ang nangyayari sa atin dito. Yun yung sinasabi nating second
tungkol doon at may na-identify na meron nga. Isang mag-anak na yung mga
lxiii
babae ay nasa prostitusyon, merong mag-kakapatid, mag-ina. So totoo
For the first respondent (A1), she was encouraged to come intothe prostitution
industry because the moneyit was not sufficient to pay their expenses. She said, it is tough
to say that she won’t come back to the flesh trade, especially now that she’s the one paying
for the education of her children. Unlike before, her earnings are much higher compared
now that she’s not getting any younger. She admitted that she still go back and forth to her
previous work as being a prostitute, though she was a member of the organization already.
One of her aim was to have her own house because it is the one that she really needs and
her family. She emphasized that it is difficult to rent a house. On her part, she had a hard
time asking help from her own relatives that if she could steal, she will do it instead asking
for support from her relatives. As long as you are patient and ingenuity to life, you will not
get starve.
By showing her the icon of luxurious things, among of those she chooses the money
because it is her dream. She’s not into gadgets or any other material things. As long as you
have the money you can buy whatever you want. Material things will be broken and can no
longer be used. She also prioritizes the needs of her children instead of herself. Apparently,
it is perfectly fine for her not to have underwear because it has not been seen anyway, as
long as her kids will not be ignored. When she was younger, her mother was a gambler.
She was always brushed off by her mother and the one who’s taking care of her was her
elder sisters and brothers. Food has not been a problem forher, but she was depressingly
lxiv
She has been part of the club before and not the Beerhouse. She was proudly saying that
her customers are handsome and the customer has the right to choose whoever the woman
they want and not them because the customer will be the one paying for it. She unfolds that
they can refuse some customers because they are not the only person who’s with them
inside the room. If they declined for whatever the customer asked for them, they will be
maltreated. Some of them will gashed on the neck and put it under the bed. In this scenario,
if something happens to their co-prostitute, they will rescue and try to help immediately.
There are some customers that easy to fool with but nowadays they are smarter than
before. She went onto detail that she will agree politely to the customers just to have extra
payment, but when it comes to the real scenario, she would not do it. As long as they can
fool the customer, they will pursue it. According to her, it is crucial to make fond with the
people whom you really don’t know. There are customers that she didn’t like, but some
were comfortable to be with. Money has not been an issue for her to finally get stable with
the customers even though they were rich. If the customers will accept willingly her children,
there is a possibility that she would incorporate but nowadays, there is no man that will do
that. However, she was aghast at the same time because there are many people who have
been abducted by their stepfather and even their own father. So, she’s satisfied not to be
She has been adopted by the organization through the encouragement of the Kamalayan. If
she met the bagansya during her work hours, the organization will be the one to rescue her.
She was also a member of the catering services in the organization. Aside from that, she
confessed that she had been a smoker and not have been a drug addict or alcoholic. She
did not experience to put in jailed because of bagansya, some of her co-prostitutes but not
her. The organization has changed her through going to their community and attending
meetings. Showing to her the image of a free nature, she has a house in the province, but
lxv
she was more contented living here in Manila instead of going into the province because of
natural calamities.
Q2. What are the causes of violence and exploitation to the survivors of
“Nakaranas ako niyan. Pulis. Secret agent na pulis ng Caringal. Ang gusto
kasi nya, dun kami mag-sex sa ilalim ng hagdan dun mismo sa loob ng
kampo. Ang kapal ng mukha! Sabi ko, patayin mo na lang ako kesa ganunin
nya ako. Awa ng Diyos, buhay naman akong nakalabas sa kampo. Di man
nya ako ni-rape, feeling ko sobra pa sa rape yung ginawa nya sa akin. Pinilit
“Kasi may mga customer na sadista eh. Merong customer na kesyo bayad
ka, lahat ng posisyon gustong gawin. Tapos yung iba sasabihin. Ayaw mo
ah? Bigla kang sasapakin. Andyan yung nanakit. Paglalaruan ka. Marami
yan.” (A2)
lxvi
2.3 Sa tingin nyo po ba ang Pilipinas ay still under ng isang patriarchal society?
“Oo very patriarchal talaga yung society natin, male dominated talaga. Pwede
empowered women pero kulang na kulang pa siya. Makikita naman natin yan
kung paano yung mga lalake ay nag do-dominate. Kahit siguro saan tayo
kahit dati walang nagdidikta sayo, kung ano ang gagawin mo ngayon meron
na at may mga limitations na. Sorry ha? May natatamaan ba? So totoo yan,
uusapan namin sa Camp, yung mga pang araw-araw na sexuality. Kasi yung
marami ang babaeng mababa ang self-confidence pero yung mga lalaki
nagsama ang dalawang yan kayang kaya paikutin ng lalake ang babae. Dahil
sa ganung need nating mga babae, kung paano tayo sinocialite.Yung iba
akin yung girlfriend ko. Pero ang tanong, what transpires in between?
ka bilang babae? Kasi yung mga lalaki marami sa kanila nag-ko-collect lang
ng mga girlfriends. Yun ang sinasabi natin sa Reproductive Health Bill na ang
nag-di-decision palagi ang mga lalake. Laging sinasabi, oh magpills ka. Ang
tanong, bakit laging babae ang kailangan mag-adjust? Meron din naman
nilang dalawa yan at kung kailan sila mag-se-sex. Lalo na kapag mag-asawa
ng sex sa kanila tuwing gabi. Lalo naman yung mga prostituted women.
notion nung asawa nila na pwede silang gamitin anytime. Kapag humindi ang
babae, sa kwento nila samin eh ang sinasabi sa kanila, dun ka naman galing
eh tapos ganun din naman ang ginagawa mo bakit sa asawa nag-iinarte na.
naming sa mga lalaki, you should respect pag sinabi ng babae na no. Kapag
last minute, humindi ka dapat irespeto niya yun na ayaw mo at hindi ka ready.
Yung iba dahil hindi nila matanggap yung no, dun na nangyayari yung rape.
Kaya tayo merong marital rape kasi kapag humindi na yung asawa mo at
tinutuloy pa rin nila. Kasi feeling nila entitled sila at hindi na nila mapigilan.
Again, saan ba galing ang ganung kaisipan? Ang laging titignan ay ang root
cause.
lxviii
For the second respondent (A2), she had a broken family and she takes in four
children now. She was a waitress before she becomes a prostitute in the club. If there’s a
customer hanging around, she’s the one trying to entertain those customers. She also
became a street prostitute in Cubao area, particularly in Art Theater along Aurora.
She was encouraged to get into the prostitution for the sake of basic needs and
most of all she was the one responsible paying for the education of her kids and on the
grounds that, sometimes it across on her mind to return in prostitution because earnings are
not sufficient. Sometimes, she could not control herself to return in prostitution. Aside from
that, she was also persuaded by her friend being a part of the prostitution industry.
According to A2, money is the ultimate tool, but not a materialistic type of person she was.
Surprisingly, she expounded that she had customers who are priest, and sometimes
students. Of course, she was after with the money and not with the physical appearances.
She elaborated that she’s very careful in choosing customers because a lot of bad
circumstances happened to them. She rationalized that some of her co-prostitute were
being killed; some were being strangled in the neck using the blanket and will try to bump
their head in the toilet bowl. She thinks that women have been violated because some of
the customers were sadist and asked to do any position they want. She further explained
that she was also being punched by some of her customers. Aside from that, she
manifested thoroughly that if they were being harassed inside of the room, they would just
knock on the door and they will be rescued until they can run outside of the apartelle. In this
case, she was proudly saying that each of them is incredibly united. Their co-prostitute will
lxix
When she was younger, she would try to escape from her mother to play outside, but when
her stepfather is around; she will ask to go home to take good care of the kids. She told us
that she had not experienced being a battered wife. The only problem that she faced with
her husband before was being alcoholic. She was selling silver as her earnings or business
in the organization aside from being a member of the catering services. She had regular
customers, some will return, but some would not. She admitted that she fooled some
customers in order to get a high income. If they can convince courageously not to use their
body, they will try, but if the customers are deciding to have sex with them, there’s nothing
that they can do about it. There are customers that would like to take care of them or have
them as their partner but they refused. She emphasized that she was only after with the
money and not being a partner of her customers. Being a member of the organization, she
was started to join with the rallies and other activities. She also attends seminars where
they can earned or whatever the organization had planned for them. Showing to her the
image of a free nature, she was reacting that it was easy to make money in Manila but it
was easier to earn in the province in a way that you can asked sweet potatoes and sardines
Q3. What are the effects of violence and exploitation to the survivors of
“Sa ibang babae talagang grabe, doon sa apartelle. Nilaslasan ng leeg.” (A1)
lxx
“Ako, pag nakakakita ako ng pulis naalala ko yung ginawa sa akin. Demonyo
talaga ang tingin ko sa mga yan. Maliban na lang pag nakita ng sarilingmata
di ako nagbebenta, gumamit lang. Dati kasi, yung mga pulis pinapahawak sa
raratratin ko na. Minsan pinapamigay ko sa mga kaibigan ko, yari ako lagi
violence?
kasama ang namatay. Ang masakit nito kapag mayroon sa kanilang na-
nandito sila. Ang pangalan nila doon sa street ay iba sa pangalan nila sa
kung isa ka lang dyan, hindi ganun binibigyan ng importansya. Marami rin sa
namimigay kasi ng condom, yung ibang HIV groups para maiwasan yung
tingin niyo sa isat-isa? Laging mas mababa yung tingin ng lalake sa mga
babae. Halimbawa, may isang case may hawak siyang condom pinipilit niya
yung customer niya na magsuot ng condom. Ang iniisip nitong customer dahil
binayaran kita, wala kang karapatang mag-demand sakin ng kahit ano kasi
bayad ka. Nagalit siya at gun point pinalunok niya sa babae yung condom.
right ang sinasabi niyo? Wala kayo sa loob ng kwarto kapag nangyayari yan.
wala? Ang sinasabi nila kasi mas magkakaroon daw ng mga karapatan yung
mga babae kapag na-legalize ang prostitution. Eh bakit hindi pa nila bigyan
Tsaka ang tutok lang nila lagi ay reproductive organ eh na para bang yun na
lang ang mahalaga sa mga babae. Kaya ang sinasabi naming dapat
comprehensive shelf services din kasi marami sa kanila my TB, marami ang
kasi lagi silang puyat. Walang sapat na nutrition. So hindi lang yung ari nila
dapat buo. Physical pa nga lang, iba pa usapin yung mental or psychological
aspect nila bilang tao. Sa totoo lang may mga nababaliw dyan, lalo na doon
incest or childhood abuse. So malaking aspeto yun kung bakit nasira yung
kaisipan nila habang bata palang. Yung isa, habang ginagamit siya ng tiyuhin
niya at lolo niya sinasabihan siya ng mahal siya. So lumalaki siya iba yung
mind set niya kung ano yung pagmamahal na sinasabi. Na-distort yung idea
niya about love tapos hanggang sa napunta siya dyan sa cubao. Hindi man
mo din. Tulad nung si Ate Mylene kanina, ngayon lang niya nakwento na
incest victim siya nung namatay yung tatay niya. Ang alam lang ng marami
ay anak ng tatay nya. Nakwento lang niya nung namatay yung tatay niya two
siya sobrang haba nang counseling na dinaanan niya pero hindi niya
mailabas sa sarili niya kasi andoon pa yung perpretrator. Sabi nung iba out of
lang araw-araw ang ginagawa sakin ng tatay ko, ng tiyuhin ko, ng lolo ko eh
lxxiii
my nagrecuit sakin bibigyan aq ng 500 bakit hindi na lang yun ang pipiliin ko?
masama. Sasabihin ng iba, yung mga babae naman na may mga choice
naman ang mga yan eh yan ang pinili nila edi bahala sila dyan. Anong choice
ang meron sila? Marami sa kanila ang nag-attempt na hindi yan all the way
binubogbog ng amo etc. Yung iba papasok na labandera. Magkano lang yung
kita hindi sumasapat sa mga binubuhay kaya naman sila nandyan kasisila
yun ano ba talaga yung choice na sinasabi natin? Kailangan din maging
maingat yung mga tao sa pagsasabi na may pagpipilian naman sila, bakit sila
tayo. Meron tayong choice maghanap ng trabaho at the very least hindi man
yun yung gusto nating trabaho at least may disenteng trabaho na makukuha.
Pero sila, since hindi sila nakapag-aral. Maraming push factors. Another
thing, ito naman yung sa division ng mga children’s group at women’s group
kung kakausapin nyo yan ilang taon siya nagsimula. minor sila nagsimula. Sa
lxxiv
record naming, 9 yrs. old yung pinakabata na nasa prostitution nakuha siya
So pabata ng pabata. Kasi ganun ang kalakaran dyan eh. Pag bata ka mas
in-demand ka. Matanda ka na dyan kapag 23 ka na, bababa yung value mo.
Pag bata ka, mas mataas ang value. Kapag titignan mo, maraming gimik ang
customers. May mga ganun. Ang sasabihin, oh sino yung bago? sino yung
bata? Yun yung sasabihin sa street. Sino ba yung bagong salita dyan? At
may naghahanap din ng mga buntis. Yun yung mga special na hinahanap
hindi man sex, blow job. Ang blow job nag ra-renge ng 50 to 100 pesos. Ang
hindi pa naliligo sabi nila. Sobrang masusuka ka daw talaga. Wala silang
3.4 Ano po sa tingin nyo ang nagiging effect ng violence sa mga babae na nasa
prostitution?
“Siguro yung isang epekto nun ay yung normalization. Hindi na nila ma-
distinguish kung itong ginagawa sa kanila ay abuse o hindi. Kaya yun yung
kung wala ako dito, yung mga simpleng unwanted touches, unwanted
normal na sa akin. De-sensitize na ako. So yun yung akala kasi nila kapag
lxxv
binubugbog sila nang asaawa nila kapag nagseselos, pagmamahal pa rin.
Kailangan nating basagin yung ganung pag iisip. So yun yung pinaka-
nangyayari. Sa relasyon, kahit tayo. Yung mga hindi natin nakikitang mali
kung hindi natin iaaddress. Mananatili siyang mali at ganun kalalim kapag
yung gaano kalalim yung abuses na naranasan nila na hindi nila alam na
For the third respondent (A3), ran away from home when she was only 16 years old.
She only finished third year high school since she was forced to stop her studies when she
was raped. At a very young age, she was sexually abused twice. When she was 9 years
old, she was abused by her own cousin and when she was 16, she was abused by her
friend. The second time she was sexually violated, she ran away from home. No one looked
for her, for her own family condemned her for being pregnant at an early age. Even her
mother did not believe that she was raped by her friend. Instead, her mother accused her
She went to Manila carrying a 7 month old baby in her tummy. When she got to
Manila, she knew no one until she met “Mommy Cora” in Quiapo. Later on, she discovered
Mommy Cora is a pimp though she never knew what a “pimp” was. She even asked herself
why some girls are dancing almost naked in a place where Mommy Cora brought her. It did
not take so long when her ignorant and innocent mind finally understood how the flesh trade
lxxvi
works. She was pregnant, then when she started getting paid by customers for sex. She
entered prostitution not because of the typical reason like poverty and money. She entered
When she was still a prostitute, she experienced being with all kinds of men, but the worst
and most unforgettable experience was when she had a police as a customer. It was a
police officer of Camp Caringal, she was forced to take her clothes off and have sex with
him under the stairs. She told him no, just kill her instead, but she’ll never have sex with
him. Even though she wasn’t raped, she felt so violated because of what he did to her.
From then on, she got traumatized seeing police enforcers, except when she sees a police
enforcer who do something good to protect women. During her days in the flesh trade, she
got into drugs, alcohol and even went to jail due to the vagrancy law back then.
While being rescued in “bagansya” she met the members of CATW-AP wherein they were
the ones who bailed them out. The Coalition against Trafficking in Women Asia – Pacific
became A3’s way to change her life leaving prostitution for good. Being under the Bagong
Kamalayan, she understood the value of her womanhood. The Coalition made her
understand her rights as a woman and today she’s the one helping and persuading the
The Coalition also provided her opportunities to be a good cook, today she heads
the catering service of Bagong Kamalayan. She’s one of the most active in organizing
activities for the survivors and she also help her co-members in filing cases of violence
against women perpetrated by customers or even the survivors’ own husbands. A3 also
wants to finish her studies and take up journalism. According to her, age wouldn’t be a
reason to stop learning. Only in the Coalition she felt what to have a family, it’s a good
feeling, to have people like the other survivors helped her and now she’s the one helping
them.
lxxvii
Q4. What are the current international protocols regarding prostitution that
“Hindi naman natin maitatanggi na may effort ang government. Pero ang
usapin pero pag dating sa baba, wala talaga. Kung tatanungin mo ang mga
babae kung paano sila tinatrato tuwing lalapit sila sa DSWD. Bago pa lang
paano nila kausapin yung mga babae. Sasabihin, eh ginusto nyo naman kaya
kayo nandyan pero hindi nila nakikita yung ugat ng problema kung bakit
tayong mga pink cards na nakukuha sa mga hygiene clinics, pero ang tanong
yung mga walang sakit, Kasi kung pupunta kayo sa mga bars, may mga
babae na naka I.D. sila para masabi na eto malinis. Naalala niyo ba yung
kaso ni Nicole? Kung paano nag react yung Philippine government? Ngayon
kaya ang nangyayari babae na mismo sa kanila. Kung titignan mo, makikita
lxxviii
4.2 Sa tingin nyo po ba may posibilidad na maipasa yung batas na nagpro-protekta
“For thirteen years, pumasok kasi ako dito four years pa lang ko. Pagkapasa
Congress and in the Senate for thirteen years. Basically, ang laman nung bill
mga bugaw. Yun sana, ang hopefully na maipasa. Ngayong taon meron ng
(B1)
4.3 Ano po sa tingin niyo yung international protocol na sinusunod ng Philippines for
“Ay marami. Meron tayong CEDAW, yung binigay ko sa inyo anjan. Meron
Trafficking Protocol. So doon naka patong yun, yun ung sinusundan nung
batas natin. Yung Prostitution Bill natin naka in-line siya sa Trafficking Law
natin at sa iba pang International instrument. Sana maipasa din, ang tagal
lxxix
nga eh 13 years na. Mag kaka-batch yan, magbabarkada yan kasama ng
Reproductive Health Bill, nahuli pa nga ata yung Discrimination Bill hanggang
ngayon bill pa rin siya. So naiwan na siya. Kasi ang nagiging problema namin
na Senate saka sa Congress, majority may mga scholars sila. Sila mismo
nakukuha sila mismo nasa bar yan. Kahit si **** may mga pictures na nasa
bar yan. Kahit si ****, off the record. Yun yung problema natin kung kaya hindi
prostitusyon. At yung plain work ng mga lalake na sinasabi nila, hindi naman
sa prostitusyon” (B1)
For the fourth respondent (A4), she is a single mother with four kids from four
different men. She got into prostitution because her mother wants her to work as early as
possible. Therefore, she only finished first year high school and didn’t have any good
childhood memories at all. During the period she was prostituted, she experienced being
choked by a customer because she was asking for an extra pay. A4 fought the customer,
but she was still beaten mercilessly. She also tried using drugs and being jailed because of
bagansya. She became a member if Bagong Kamalayan because of A3, who persuaded
her to join the organization. According to A4, being part of the organization she had
attended many trainings and that was the key to her empowerment. All the knowledge
about her rights as a woman was given to her. She’s carrying that knowledge, even if she’s
outside the organization. She uses it not only for herself but for other women as well who
needs her help. Today, she has a business of selling corns and currently looking for a
husband.
lxxx
Q5. What are the current initiatives done by CATW-AP in the Philippines to
“Dahil kay A3. Sila ang pumupunta dun sa pwesto namin tapos hinikayat nila
inyo?
“Nung nabagansya kami, ni-rescuhan nila kami. Sila agad ang unang
tinawagan namin. Tapos sumasama kami sa mga meeting tulad nito para
“Sumasama kami sa mga rally tapos mga activities dito kagaya ngayon, pag-
“Dati po kasi, may canteen kami kaso nagsarado yun. Kasi dati walang nag-
Kaya nalugi, hindi nag-click. Isa pa po ay yung coop. Sa coop din namin, para
lxxxi
o isang buwan. Bahala na po sila dun pero sa meeting naming ngayon ay
paguusapan kung para saan yung pag-iimpok para hindi masayang.” (A3)
“Ang aral na natutunan ko sa CATW-AP, hindi naman siguro yun na, kahit
“Siguro sa akin, unang-una yung pagbabago, sa sarili ko mismo yun eh. Yung
matutumbasan. Unlike nung nasa Quiapo ako, may mga kaibigan nga ako
palagi namang may kapalit. Lagi kang inu-utangan o ako yung nag-
(A3)
binibigyan din ako ng kapwa member ko ng mga damit kasi nga nasalanta din
5.4 Paano ninyo na-motivate yung mga survivors na iwan ang prostitusyon?
dapat ito nangyayari sa lipunan. Para sila mismo, sila ang mag de-desisyon
kung paano sila aalis. Yung motivation kasama rin sa ginagawa naming.
Kaya sila nandoon dahil sa pera. Ang alternative kasi dyan, kasabay nung
kasi hindi pwedeng isang intervention langang gagawin mo, hindi yun
sasapat para makaalis sila doon kasi mahabang proseso din.” (B1)
5.5 Ano pong mga tulong at suporta ang natatanggap ng mga babae mula sa
CATW-AP?
kaming tatakbo para tulungan at ilabas yung mga babae sa kulungan. Yung
yang Vagrancy Act dahil meron ng Anti-Trafficking Act. Yung Trafficking Act
kasi ang tinitignan niya yung mga babae as victims, hindi sila criminal at
lxxxiii
masyado ng matagal yung Vagrancy Act. Isang form ng support din, kasi sa
kalayaan nila. Yung ibang may mga anak naman na naiwan sa kalsada, sa
takot na mawala yung mga naiwan nilang anak sa labas pumapayag na sila
na in bed para makalabas agad at makuha na yung anak nila. May mga kaso
kasing nawalan na rin ng anak. Kaugnay nun, dati may 25 women kami na
physical abuse laban sa isang pulis, sinuportahan naming kaso napagod din
yung babae sa sobrang bagal ng sistema natin. Tapos naupuan din namin
yung sa mediation niya kaso hindi ganun ka-sensitive yung nag me-mediate
so napagod yung survivor na ilaban yung kaso. Hindi naman naming mapilit
na ituloy mo kasi andito naman kami tutulungan ka namin. Pero pag may
mga ganung legal assistance, lahat ng kailangan nila kami yung nagpe-
ang iba pang supports, yung pag punta sa streets weekly na ginagawa. Dun
asawa ko, kalalaya lang binugbog nanaman ako. O kaya yung pera na dapat
sa mga anak ko, kinuha ng asawa ko. Yung mga ganung klase ng in
term ay healing conversations with the women, hindi namin pwede tawaging
magkano lang yung kaya mong ihulog para makapag-ipon. So yun, meron
negosyo o kaya kung may negosyo sila pandagdag sa puhunan. Isa pang
hatian nila at the end of the year sa bawat isang member. Another support ay
doon natututo silang magsalita para sa sarili nila. Yung iba kaya na nila mag-
argue sa pulis kapag may mga kaso sila. Isa pa ay yung paglakad nung mga
papers ng mga women, marami sa kanila walang I.D. maraming walang Birth
Certificate, nilalakad namin yun. Dun pa lang mahabang proseso na.” (B1)
Nakalatag na doon, tapos yung isa din kasi isa sa mga programs namin kaso
babae. Marami sa kanila ang nakapag tapos na ng High School. Kaso wala
vocational courses at yung mga trainings Ang binibigay kasi sa kanila yung
din naman nila yun. Marami kasing Livelihood Training na medyo hindi
puhunan. Kung may puhunan sila, sinong market nila? Hindi naman nila
pinag-aralan yun eh na ito bibigyan natin kasi dito tayo kikita. So hindi siya
feasible. Sana kung ano yung mga opportunities na makuha naming bilang
tao sana maabot din nila para kung matapos sila, pantay yung opportunities
trabaho di lalo pa sila. Kaya yun sana ang advocacy namin na maibalik sila
System. Yung iba nakapasa pero hindi pa ma-release tulad nung sabi ko
kulang yung requirements, walang Birth Certificate. Yung iba hindi binibigyan
kasi hindi nila alam kung saan sila galing. Yung isa naming member from
galling hindi niya kilala ang tatay niya. Nung tinatanong sila imposibleng hindi
mo kilala ang tatay mo, eh bata palang nandito na sila sa Manila. Yung
programs na sana maayos pa, yung mga survivors na ti-ne-train namin doon
sarili naman silang laptop yung mga survivors dito. Yung mga kaso ng
abuses and trafficking, prostitution yung mga kaso ng mga prostituted women
sila na yung mag-eencode para may data base sila ng mga kaso so sana
mag tuluy-tuloy din yun para kasing way of ano din yun eh Re-claiming or
kanila ang nasa cyber sex prostitution. Sana makita nila na itong technology
na ito ay hindi ginagamit para ma-abuse tayo. Ginagamit siya sa ibang bagay
gaya nga nung data base nila.So that we can empower them. Yung sa
encounter kayo ng nasa high class prostitution, sasabihin hindi naman nila
kailangan yun eh. Bakit sila nandyan? May mga factors din dyan na ganun
para sumabay sa mga gadgets ganyan, pagkatapos yung iba yung isa
bilang isang tao napaka importante sa atin nung affirmation. Kapag yun ang
iba nagkakaroon ng maling notion, sabi nila nakukuha nila yung ganung
attention sa mga nagiging customer sabi nila. Feeling nila may nag-
marami sa kanila ay sexually abused nung bata sila. Nawawala na kasi yung
feeling nila wala ng mawawala sakin madumi na ko. Ganun naman ang tingin
natin sa mga babaeng porket hindi na virgin madumi ng babae. Kaya diba?
Ang lakas at ang taas ng premium sa atin kapag virgin pa yung isang tao
ganyan tapos pag nalaman na hindi na virgin ay wala na yan, laspag na yan,
ganun na lang ang ginagawa niya sa sarili niya. Kahit anong uri pa ng
ng mga survivors?
“Sa totoo lang, yung Coalition ay support system lamang. Like yung gasgas
may pag-asa pa. Feeling namin, yun na lang yung ma-ko-contribute namin
yung maisip nila na possibleng maaalis tayo dito kasi may mga taong
gagabay sa atin, may mga taong mag-a-assist sa atin. Hindi lang kami, hindi
mamatay. Pero iba pa rin yung impact nung simpleng pag punta mo sa street,
yung mgay nakakausap sila, yung may nahihingan sila ng tulong. Malaking
Tulungan, tulungan sa sarili, kami piipilitin namin baguhin yung mga maling
sistema ng lipunan at sila unti-unti nilang ibabangon yng sarili nila. Importante
amin dahil lahat tayong babae may common experiences. Mula sa common
For the fifth respondent (A5), has been recently rescued by CATW-AP during
bagansya. She entered prostitution due to poverty. She only reached grade five so she has
no other option to look for a better job. Today, she and her family only sleep on the
sidewalks because their house was wrecked by the typhoon. Originally, she has four kids
but now she only had three because one of her kids died. Her husband beats her every day;
lxxxix
she said if she could only give her husband to another woman she would. Even though she
has been beaten, she still thinks twice if she would file a case against her husband. Her co-
members in the Bagong Kamalayan jokes about her being a “martyr wife” and she’s just
waiting for her own death if she won’t file a case against her husband. During the period she
was prostituted, she experienced being harassed by a customer too many times. She said,
her life is threatened when she’s with her husband. Her life is threatened too when she’s
with any other man (customers). It’s always a matter of life and death for her. She was also
into drugs when she was in the flesh trade and was put into jail because she was involved
in a brawl against her co-prostitute. Today, being a member of CATW-AP, the benefits that
matters to A5 is the food and clothes she gets from the Coalition. Her co-members give her
clothes most of the time and she attends to meetings in order to learn some alternatives on
Chapter 5
This paper attempted to discover the life history of prostituted and survived
women on Coalition against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific. To achieve this objective,
xc
the researchers employed the qualitative approach of research. This research method
provided a more in-depth analysis of the prostitution scenario on the Philippine industry.
Summary of Findings
1. The long and arduous transformation of the lives of survivors is a step-by-step process.
2. The initiative to change must come within the survivors and by personal choice.
4. The reasons why CATW-AP has not been quite effective in transforming the lives of
some survivors are the following:
a. Lack of financial assistance
b. Lack of media exposure (in terms of updating and organizing their respective
website; lack of local media exposure)
Conclusions
Based on the findings of this study, the following conclusions were drawn:
CATW-AP’s programs are comprehensive and have addressed the various aspects
xci
of trafficking and prostitution, its prevention, protection of victims, prosecution of
perpetrators, and re-integration of survivors. However, there are still inefficiencies in their
programs because there are survivors who keep on coming back in prostitution.
The survivors are currently active participants in implementing a number of
campaigns such as advocating for the Anti-Prostitution Bill and projects such as Young
Men’s Camps. However, their participation can be expanded to planning, monitoring and
evaluation by equipping them with the necessary skills and capacities.
Recommendations
After drawing the conclusions of the study, the researchers hereby make the
following suggestions/recommendations:
1. Establish strong partnerships and empower the local government units to implement the
law and initiate prevention measures.
2. Empower the barangays to implement the project on their own.
3. Innovative strategies used in organizing Young Men’s Camps are effective in
empowering young men.
4. Building the capabilities of the survivors to organize their ranks in the organization.
5. Documenting the experience of CATW-AP in organizing and working
with survivor’s group.
REFERENCES
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xcii
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2004-2006 evaluation program. Oslo: Kvinnefronten Women's Front of Norway.
Bennett, L. R., & Manderson, L. (2003). Violence against women in asian socities. London:
The Cromwell Press.
Boonchalaksi, W., & Guest, P. (1994). Prostitution in Thailand. Salaya: The Institute for
Population and Social Research, Mahidol University.
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standards-combating-human-trafficking/488731453551
Fanni, Z. (2013, July 20). A history of prostitution: How old is the sex trade? Retrieved
December 7, 2013, from Sabotage Time: http://sabotagetimes.com/life/a-history-of-
prostitution-how-old-is-the-sex-trade/
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Research and Education , 1-11.
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Asia-Pacific: http://catwap.wordpress.com/resources/speeches-papers/sex-from-human-
intimacy-to-sexual-labor-or-is-prostitution-a-human-right/
xciii
International Models Project on Women's Rights. (2012, June 27). Retrieved November 30,
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Jeffreys, S. (1997). The idea of prostitution (First Edition ed.). North Melbourne Victoria:
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Raymond, J. (1998). Prostitution as violence against women: NGO stonewalling in beijing &
elsewhere. Women's studies international forum (1), 1-9.
Scambler, A., & Scambler, G. (1997). Rethinking prostitution: Purchasing sex in the 1990's.
London: Routledge.
Talnar, I. A., & Himcinschi, C. A. (2012). Prostitution phenomenon - legal and social
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Tomura, M. (2009). A prostitute's lived experiences of stigma. Journal of Phenomenological
Psychology (40), 51-84.
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2013 from http://www.iwraw-ap.org/resources/pdf/Philippines_%20SR.pdf
APPENDIX A
ROBOTFOTO
Respondent No. 1
Name (optional): Elsa
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Years in Service: 12 years
Qualifications: Survivor Prostitute
Status: Married with 5 children
Educational Attainment: 2nd year High School
Respondent No. 2
Name (optional): Teresa
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Years in Service: 5 years
Qualifications: Survivor Prostitute
Status: Married with 4 children
nd
Educational Attainment: 2 year High School
Respondent No. 3
Name (optional): Gie
Age: 37
Gender: Female
Years in Service: 8-10 years
Qualifications: Survivor Prostitute
Status: Has a Live-in Partner with 2 children
rd
Educational Attainment: 3 year High School
Respondent No. 4
Name (optional): Princess
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Years in Service: 10 years
Qualifications: Survivor Prostitute
Status: Single Mother with Four Children
st
Educational Attainment: 1 year High School
xcv
Respondent No. 5
Name (optional): Mutya
Age: 30
Gender: Female
Years in Service: 10 years
Qualifications: Survivor Prostitute
Status: Married with 4 children (1 died)
Educational Attainment: Grade 5
Respondent No. 6
Name: Clydie Pasia
Age: Not Available
Gender: Female
Years in Service: 4 years
Qualification: Expert/ Education, Training and Organizational Development Officer of Coalition against
Trafficking in Women Asia – Pacific
Status: Single
Educational Attainment: Not Available
APPENDIX B
REPERTORY GRID
1.What is prostitution?
2. What are the causes of violence and exploitation to the survivors of prostitution in
3. What are the effects of violence and exploitation to the survivors of prostitution in
4. What are the current international protocols regarding prostitution that protects the
5. What are the current initiatives done by the NGO’s in the Philippines to transform
6. What are the policies that can be recommended to CATW-AP in the Philippines to
xcvi
Questions Significant Statements
1. What is prostitution? A1: Kapos sa pang gastos kaya napadpad ako sa
ganun.
A2: Wala rin kasing pang gastos. Tulad nyan
bayaran ng bahay, tubig, ilaw.
A3: Hindi masaya dyan. Kahit malakas kita mo?
Lahat ng gusto mo mabibili mo, hindi ka pa rin
magiging masaya.
A4: Mukhang pera nanay ko eh. Pinagtrabaho ako
agad.
A5: Pera. Kadalasan nasa kalsada din ako dati kasi
ayaw ko sa bahay, binubugbog ako ng asawa ko.
B1: Ang tingin namin sa prostitusyon ay paid rape
eh.
Pornography is the idea that leads to prostitution.
Kung may theory may practice. So siguro yung
pornography siya yung theory that leads to
prostitution.
Hindi namin tinatawag na sex work ang prostitution.
2. What are the causes of violence and A2: Kasi may mga customer na sadista eh. Merong
exploitation to the survivors of prostitution customer na kesyo bayad ka, lahat ng posisyon
in Philippines during the period they are gustong gawin. Tapos yung iba sasabihin. Ayaw
prostituted? mo ah? Bigla kang sasapakin.
B1: Very patriarchal talaga yung society natin, male
dominated talaga.
Yung iba dahil hindi nila matanggap yung no ng
isang babae, dun na nangyayari yung rape. Kasi
feeling nila entitled sila at hindi na nila mapigilan.
Tapos ang isa pa nating problema dyan, yung
problem ng power relation. Kaugnay siya doon sa
patriarchy. Sino ba talaga yung may power
between men and women?
Kaya yung mga sinasabi namin sa mga nagtutulak
ng legalization, anong right ang sinasabi niyo?
Wala kayo sa loob ng kwarto kapag nangyayari
yan. Hindi niyo alam gaano yung abusong
nararanasan ng babae.
3. What are the effects of violence and A1: Sa ibang babae talagang grabe, doon sa
exploitation to the survivors of prostitution apartelle. Nilaslasan ng leeg
in Philippines during the period they are A2: Meron din nilagay sa ilalim ng kama. Meron
prostituted? sinusubsob sa bowl. Sinakal ng kumot. Yun
muntikan mamatay
A3: Ako, pag nakakakita ako ng pulis naalala ko
yung ginawa sa akin. Demonyo talaga ang tingin ko
sa mga yan.
B1: Mula sa verbal abuses hanggang sa
kamatayan. Marami sa kanilang kasama ang
namatay.
Marami rin sa kanila ang nakaranas ng tumakbong
nakahubot hubad palabas ng apartelle.
Marami sa prostituted women my TB, marami ang
xcvii
may severe anemia hanggang sa may mga
namatay na dahil sa leukemia kasi lagi silang
puyat. Walang sapat na nutrition.
. Sa dati naming shelter, 99% ng prostituted
women ay victim ng incest or chidlhood abuse. So
malaking aspeto yun kung bakit nasira yung
kaisipan nila habang bata palang.
Siguro yung isang epekto nun ay yung
normalization. Hindi na nila ma-distingush kung
itong ginagawa sa kanila ay abuse o hindi. Kaya
yun yung kailangan ipaintindi.
4. What are the current international protocols B1: marami. Meron tayong CEDAW, yung binigay
regarding prostitution that protects the ko sa inyo anjan. Meron din tayon UN protocol in
victims of prostitution in the Philippines? trafficking. Actually naka pattern yung Anti-
Traficking Law natin dun sa Swedish model at
tsaka doon sa UN Anti-Trafficking Protocol.
5. What are the current initiatives done by A1: Sumasama kami sa mga meeting tulad nito
CATW-AP in the Philippines to transform para mapag-usapan ano bang meron para sa
the lives of survivors of prostitution? kinabukasan namin.
A2: Sumasama kami sa mga rally tapos mga
activities dito kagaya ngayon, pag-mi-meetingan
yung mga bago at pwedeng pagkakitaan namin.
A3: Siguro sa akin, unang-una yung pagbabago, sa
sarili ko mismo yun eh. Yung pag welcome,
pagmamahal at pagtanggap sa akin ng CATW-AP
ang hindi matutumbasan.
A4: Maraming trainings dati na binigay sa amin.
Na-empower ako nun, lahat ng hindi ko nalalaman
sa karapatan ko bilang babae natutunan ko. Dala-
dala ko yan, pati sa labas ng organization. Nagamit
ko yun para sa sarili ko, pati na rin sa ibang
kasamahan ko.
A5: Yung tulong nila sa akin sa pagpapakulong ng
asawa ko.
B1: May 25 women kami na nakasuhan dati tapos
nailabas namin through legal procedures.
Yung pag punta sa streets weekly na ginagawa.
Dun kasi, nagkakaroon ng healing conversations o
peer education.
Ang advocacy namin na maibalik sila sa formal
education.
Man from heaven cooperative na ang objective ay
mula sa unti-unti nilang kinikita every week kung
magkano lang yung kaya mong ihulog para
makapagipon.
Yung programs na sana maayos pa, yung mga
survivors na ti-ne-train namin doon sa HURIDOCS
o human rights documentation system.
Tulungan, tulungan sa sarili, kami piipilitin namin
baguhin yung mga maling sistema ng lipunan at
sila unti-unti nilang ibabangon yng sarili nila.
Importante din na ma-develop yung sisterhood
para nakakapag-rely sila sa isa’t-isa at sa amin.
Lahat tayong mga babae may common
experiences. Mula sa common experiences nay un,
dun namin binubuo yung sisterhood.
xcviii
APPENDIX C
DENDOGRAM
xcix
The red-light district at the time
was the Gardenia Gardens in
Sampaloc, where young women
American Period were classed according price and
housed in different dwellings.
The first class house had
American and European women, History
the second class house had the
fresh rural natives and mestizas,
and the third-class house had
older prostitutes with a separate
display window showcasing
Japanese geishas.
c
trafficked persons, providing
penalties for its violations, and for
other purposed
The Republic Act No. 9710
ci
APPENDIX D
TRANSCRIPTION OF INTERVIEWS
SURVIVORS
cii
Gie: Isang 19 years old saka isang 15 years old.
Researcher: May asawa po?
Gie: Meron.
Researcher: Ilan po ang anak nyo ate Mutya?
Mutya: Apat. Pero tatlo na lang ngayon, namatay na yung isa.
Researcher: Eto po, ano pong masasabi nyo rito? (Refers to the picture)
Gie: Yung gusto ko yung pinakauna, yung grupo kayo. Yung lahat kayo estudyante. Yan
ang buhay na gusto ko eh. Yung makapagaral. Kasi, bago pa man ako mag-ano... Nag-
aaral talaga ako, gusto ko maging journalism.
Researcher: Ano po bang natapos nyo?
Gie: Highschool lang. Pero ang natapos ko lang po ay 3rd year lang po.
Researcher: Bakit hindi po kayo nagpatuloy?
Gie: Magpapatuloy po sana ako nung last year pa, kaya lang... hindi kop ala siya kayang
pagsabayin gawa ng pag-aaskikaso ng mga kasama ko.
Researcher: So may balak pa po kayo bumalik sa eskwela?
Gie: Oo, kahit matanda na. Okay lang. (laughs)
Researcher: Si ate po? Si ate Elsa?
Elsa: Syempre po, lahat naman ng tao nangangarap na makapag-aral. Kaso lang kapos sa
pang gastos kaya ayan napadpad kami sa ganito.
Researcher: Pero nakatungtong din po kayo ng highschool?
Elsa: 2nd year lang.
Researcher: Kayo po ate? (refers to Ate Teresa)
Teresa: Ganun din, 2nd year highschool.
Researcher: Ganun din po ang reason nyo kung bat kayo nag-stop? Sa financial?
Teresa: Oo.
Elsa: Sa financial kasi mahirap, edi sana... Nag-abugada na ako ngayon.
Gie: Ay ako naman pop ala, nagaaral po ako noon. Na-rape po ako nung mga edad ko na
yun kaya tumigil po ako.
Researcher: Sino po?
Gie: Yung pinsan ko.
Researcher: Ilang taon po kayo nun?
Gie: 16. Pero that time, 9 years old pa lang ako... Ganyan na ang nangyayari sa akin.
Noong bata pa lang ako, nandyan na yung hipo-hipo hanggang sa nung 16 na ako, dun na
ciii
natuluyan. Tapos na-rape pa ulit ako nun ng kaibigan ko. Dun na ako nabuntis. Tapos
sinabi ko sa nanay ko yung nangyari, sabi ng nanay ko ang landi-landi ko daw. Sabi ko,
pano ak nagging malandi? Na-rape nga po ako. Tapos ang gusto nila, ipakasal na lang ako,
ganun kasi sa probinsya, kahit bata ka pa... Kahit 16 o 17 pwede ng makasal. Eh ang gusto
ko hustisya... Hindi naman nangyayari. Sabi ko, dito sa loob ng bahay, ganito rin yung
nangyayari? Tapos ginawa pa ulit sa akin ng isang tao. Anon g mangyayari sa akin? Tapos
pumunta na akong Manila. Wala akong kilala. Nakilala ko si Mommy Cora, yun na yun. Dun
sa Quiapo, nagkakakilala kami. Buntis na ako nun 7 months.
Researcher: Hindi nyo po pinatanggal?
Gie: Hindi. Yun na yung 19 years old kong anak ngayon.
Researcher: Kayo naman po ate Teresa? Meron naman po kayong masasayang karanasan
sa mga kaibigan nyo?
Teresa: Meron. Kaya nga ako napadpad sa Manila, gusto ako ipakasal ng step father ko sa
lalaking hindi ko gusto. Tumakas ako. Broken family kasi kami. Nanay ko nandito sa Manila.
Tatay ko, may babae tapos nagpunta sila sa Davao. Kinuha ako ng tatay ko sa nanay ko.
Dinala ako ng Davao, pinilit akong magpakasal. Mga 17 ako nun. Lumayas ako, sumama
ako sa recruiter papuntang Manila. Pero nahanap ko naman yung nanay ko pagdating kong
Manila.
Researcher: Paano po kayo napadpad sa prostitusyon?
Teresa: Sa kaibigan.
Researcher: Si ate Mutya po? Nakapag-aral din po kayo?
Mutya: Oo, Grade 5 lang.
Researcher: Ano po yung dahilan nyo bakit di po kayo nagpatuloy?
Mutya: Walang pera yung nanay ko.
Researcher: Si ate po? Si ate Princess?
Princess: 1st year highschool lang ako.
Researcher: Hindi na rin po kayo ngpatuloy?
Princess: Di na kailangan, mukhang pera kasi nanay ko eh.
Researcher: Ah... Gusto po kumita na kayo ng pera?
Princess: Oo.
Researcher: Pero gusto nyo pa rin po ipagpatuloy yung pag-aaral nyo?
Princess: Hindi na siguro, aanuhin ko na lang para sa mga anak ko.
Elsa: Oo, sa mga anak na lang babawi.
civ
Researcher: Next picture. (Childhood pictures)
Researcher: Yung childhood nyo, yung kabataan nyo po ba? Naging Masaya po ba kayo
dati?
Teresa: Oo naman. May karanasan kami nyan.
Gie: Wala.
Researcher: Si Ate Gie? Wala po?
Gie: Wala po. 9 years old pa lang po kasi ako lagi na ako kinukulong sa bahay.
Researcher: Naranasan nyo po yung trauma?
Gie: Oo, natakot akong tumabi kahit kanino. Lalo na sa lalaki.
Researhcer: Si Ate Teresa po?
Teresa: Oo naranasan ko din yan. Syempre, pag wala yung stepfather ko tumatakas ako
para makipaglaro.
Researcher: Kayo Ate Mutya?
Mutya: Nung bata pa ko wala po eh, hindi ko naranasan eh alangan.
Researcher: Si Ate Princess po? Nagkaroon po ba kayo ng masayang childhood?
Princess: Hindi siguro. Wala po.
Researcher: Tanong ko lang, paano po kayo na adopt o naging kabahagi ng CATWAP?
Kayo po ate Elsa?
Elsa: Dahil kay Gie. Sila ang pumupunta dun sa pwesto namin, hinihikayat nila kami para
maging bahagi sa kamalayan.
Researcher: Pero ano pa rin po kayo ng prostitute? o tumigil na po kayo?
Elsa: Dun pa rin. Pag oras na nababagansya kami, ni rerescue-han nila kami, kasi sila agad
ang tinatawagan namin.
Researcher: Ano po yung pinaka nag-encourage sa inyo para umalis?
Elsa: Hindi naman siguro yun na... Kahit kailangan mo ng pera wala ka na ring balaka
magbago. Siguro naman kung kaya mo naming pag kasyahin lang ang kinikita mo... Sa
loob ng isang araw, kung gusto mo lang... Siguro naman, kaya mo rin. Basta kung gusto
mo, magagawan mo ng parran diba? Pero kung talagang ano... Syempre, babalik ka pa rin
dyan. Kaya mahirap din magsalita ng tapos na magbabago ka na. Gustuhin mo mang
magbago, kaso lang kulang pa rin. Lalung-lalo na ngayon mahirap ang diskarte namin.
Nag-aaral pa mga anak namin. Di nga kami nagbago nung una. Nung wala pa kaming
pinapaaral malakas pa kaming kumita, kesa ngayong tumanda na kami. Kaya kailangan din
naming ng ano...
cv
Researcher: Hind nyo naman po naisipang bumalik?
Elsa: Ano kami, ganun-ganun din...
Teresa: Tulad nyan na bayaran ng bahay, tubig, ilaw.
Elsa: Pag oras na nagigipi, hindi mo rin masasabi na hindi mo na yun maiisipang gawin.
Researcher: Eh diba po may programs naman po yung CATW-AP? Yung sa canteen po?
Gie: Sa canteen kasi naming, nagsarado yun dahil dati walang nag ma-manage Kagaya ko,
kulang pa po talaga sa kaalaman. So kahit pinagawan sya ng CATW-AP, hindi po sya
lumago. So ngayon, ang binigay po naming alternatibo ay yung catering po. So ngayon po,
okay na po kami. Masarap na kaming magluto. Hindi katulad dati sa canteen na may
binabayaran na pwesto, tapos hindi pa kami nakapag-aral sa pagluluto. Kaya nalugi, hindi
nag-click.
Researcher: Lahat po kayo member nung catering na yun?
Gie: Yung canteen kasi dati, ang pinakaano nya ay member. Ibig sabihin member lang
talaga na survivor na nakalabas na sa prostitution. Pero sa catering po ngayon, ang
kagandahan ng catering, ay kahit sino pwede tawagin basta member ng Bagong
Kamalayan. Yung tinatawag na member ay yung nasa street po. At saka yung coop din
naming, para sa member din po. Halimbawa, nakapaghulog sila, kung magkano ang hulog
nila sa isang linggo o sa isang buwan bahala na po sila. Pero ang ano naming ngayon
(meeting) ay pag-uusapan kung para saan yung pag-iimpok para hindi masayang. Tapos
yun po may financial assistance galing DSWD. Na isa-isa po sa kanila ay nakakuha, siya
(refers to Teresa). Ano ginawa mo dun sa nakuha mo?
Teresa: Silver
Researcher: Ano pong silver?
Gie: Mga accessories. At siya naman (refers to Princess), nag-business ng mais. Nagtitinda
siya ng mais. Si Elsa naman nagstart siya sa maliit. Nagtitinda ng sigarilyo ganyan, sana
lumago. Kasi ang P10,000 kasi sa amin, hindi naman ganun ka-ano yun. Lalo na pag may
anak ka, kukulangin.
Elsa: Tapos kung yun lang ang aasahan mo, wala ring mangyayari. Bankrupt ka rin, lugi pa
rin. Lahat ng negosyo naming hindi nagki-click, kahit negosyo naming tilapia di nag-click.
Nabibilasa lang.
Researcher: Kayo po Ate Teresa, paano po kayo naging kabilang ng CATW-AP?
Teresa: Ganun din, dahil sa kanila. (refers to Gie)
Researcher: Kayo po Ate Mutya?
cvi
Gie: Nakita naming siya sa pag-re-rescue. (refers to Mutya)
Researcher: Si Ate Princess po?
Princess: Kay Gie din.
Researcher: May tanong po ako, meron po ba kayong karanasan nung pagkabata na
naging cause kung bakit kayo pumasok sa trabahong ganun po?
Gie: Ang pinaka rason kung bakit ako pumasok kasi guso ko ng company. Wala akong
pamilya na makaintindi sa akin tapos pinipilit pa ako sa bagay na hindi ko naman gusto.
Kahit hindi ko sila ka-ano ano (Mommy Cora) dun ko nakita sa lugar nay un yung mga
kaparehas ko ng pinagdaanan. Dun ako nakakita ng kaibigan at kausap.
Researcher: Next slide po, yung mga pangangailangan. (Basic needs)
Elsa: Yan kailangan naming yan, bahay. Yan ang pinaka ano naming. Mahirap
mangupahan.
Teresa: Kaya yun ang dahilan kung bakit kami pabalik-balik dun. May trabaho man mister
naming, kulang. Kesa mangutang ka sa mga kamag-anak mo, may masasabi pa. Kesyo
ganito nag-asawa ka pa. Di bale na kami ang maperwisyo wag lang yung kami ang ma-
memerwisyo.
Researcher: Kayo po Ate Mutya?
Mutya: Bahay talaga ang kailangan ko, dun lang ako natutulog sa bangketa.
Reseacher: Kayo Ate Princess?
Princess: Wala yung kailangan ko dyan eh.
Gie: Asawa kasi kailangan nya. (laughs)
Princess: Hindi. Bahay talaga kailangan ko. Sa karton lang din ako natutulog.
Researcher: Pero hindi naman poi to yung pinakarason kung bakit kayo pumasok sa
prostitution?
Gie: Para sa akin, kung yan lang ang rason pupunta na lang akosa bundok kasi maraming
makakain dun.
Elsa: Sa amin, maraming puno.
Gie: Dun mabubuhay kami dun.
Elsa: Kahit saan ka naman, basta gumawa ka ng paraan. Di ka naman mamatay sa gutom.
(Next slide: WANTS)
Gie: Ay yan ang pangarap ko ngayon.
Elsa: Ay yan ang pangarap ko, pera. Hindi ako mahilig sa mga alahas. Kasi ang pera, kahit
anong maisipan mo pwede mong bilhin. Eh yung mga gamit masisira lang, useless din.
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Researcher: Kayo po Ate Teresa?
Teresa: Pera din.
Researcher: Hindi naman po kayo maluho?
Teresa: Ay hindi.
Elsa: Hindi kami maluho.
Teresa: Maluho kami sa mga anak lang.
Elsa: Kahit din na kami makabili ng panty. (laughs)
Researcher: Kayo po Ate Mutya ano po yung pinaka gusto nyo dito sa picture?
Mutya: Pera rin. Cellphone, di naman ako marunong nyan.
Researcher: Kayo po Ate Princess?
Princess: Pera din.
Researcher: Maluho ka ate Princess?
Princess: Hindi.
Elsa: Maluho siya sa pagkain.
Gie: Ako naman, hindi ako nahilig dyan. Nung nasa Cubao pa ako, kailangan ko talaga ng
pera. Kaya ang ginagawa ko talaga, kumuha ng pera. Pag wala kang pera, di kita
papansinin, pag mapera ka syempre lalambingin kita. Pero nung wala pa ako dun, hindi ko
naman naisip na kailangan ko ng pera.
(Next slide: Bars, clubs)
Researcher: Eto po, mga lugar po. Ano pong masasabi nyo?
Elsa: Starlights yan ah? (Starlights Cubao) Dating amo ko yan.
Gie: Ako takot ako dyan dati, kasi naisip ko bakit kaya sumasayaw yung mga babae dyan?
Bakit kailangan nilang makipag inuman? Pero nung nangyari na sa akin, ay magiging ganito
rin pala ko. Naiintindihan ko na siya ngayon. Pero hindi Masaya dyan. Kahit lahat ng gusto
mo mabibili mo, hindi ka pa rin magiging masaya. Sana yung paghihirap mo sa buhay mo,
kumbaga hanggang ngayon, naiisip ko pa rin yung sana magkaroon ng justice yung
nangyari sa akin.
Researcher: Kayo naman po Ate Teresa?
Teresa: Ganun din. Nakapasok din ako sa ganyan. Sa club, naging waitress ako tapos pag
may customer at kailangan ng babae, nag te-table din ako.
Researcher: Kayo po Ate Mutya?
Mutya: Dati kasi akong katulong. Tumigil ako,hinihipuan ako nung amo ko. Ginawa ko,
sinampal ko. Nainis ako eh! Yun pala mas matindi pa dadanasin ko ngayon.
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Researcher: Kayo naman po Ate Princess:
Princess: Matagal na akong pumasok dyan. Five years kaso ayoko ng balikan. Hipo-hipo na
lang. Mas gusto ko yung trabaho ko ngayon.
Gie: Oh tapos nakaranas ka ng sapakin diba? Sinasapak ng customer.
Teresa: Bugbugin.
Gie: Tapos kung ano ipapagawa sayo pag di mo ginawa nako yari ka.
Researcher: Pero dumating po sa point na pumepwesto din po kayo sa street?
Elsa: Dun naman talaga kami eh. Hindi kami sa beerhouse.
Teresa: Dito kami sa Cubao.
Researcher: Never po kayo nag ano sa bar?
Elsa: Nakapasok din ako pero hindi talaga yung ano. Waitress lang talaga.
(Next slide: Men)
Gie: Nako ayan na ang mga naging customer.
Elsa: Ay mga customer ko, mga gwapo.
Gie: Ayan naging customer ko mula construction worker, lahat yan.
Teresa: Tapos may mga pari at pastor din.
Gie: Totoo. Lahat po yan. Mga estudyante.
Researcher: Pero hindi po pwedeng tumanggi noh?
Elsa: Pwede naman.
Teresa: Kung ayaw mo, hindi sila namimilit. Pero kung kami naman ang nangangailangan
at ayaw nila sa amin kami naman ang namimilit.
Researcher: Kasi halimbawa po sa presyuhan. Hindi nyo po gusto kasi mababa masyado.
Teresa: Oo, pero pag may isa pang mataas. Dun kami sa mataas. Tapos pag yung
customer, astig na malaking mama. Mukhang nanakit, parang di ko kaya to. Umaayaw
kami.
Researcher: So tumitingin po kayo sa appearance?
Teresa: Oo, hindi naman kami basta sumasama eh. Yung kahit kanino ka sasama? Patay
ka kaagad. Marami kasi sa amin may pinapatay.
Elsa: Dyan sa Apartelle, nilaslasan yung leeg.
Teresa: Nilagay sa ilalim ng kama. Meron sinubsob sa bowl. Sinakal ng kumot. Yun
muntikan mamatay.
Gie: Yung dahil sa ayaw gawin ng babae yung gusto ng lalaki. Kalimitan ganun.
Researcher: Sa tingin nyo po bakit ginaganun yung babae?
cix
Teresa: Kasi may mga customer na sadista eh. Merong customer na kesyo bayad ka lahat
ng posisyon gusto gawin. Tapos pag ayaw mo gawin andyan na yung mananakit.
Researcher: Pero wala naman po kayong karanasan pong ganun?
Teresa: Yung pananakit? Meron.
Mutya: Eto sinapak siya. (refers to Princess) Ayaw nya gawin yung pinapagawa, sinapak
siya. Kahit na yung mga babae kaya naman naming lumaban sa lalaki.
Researcher: Pero iba pa rin po pag lalaki eh.
Mutya: Syempre may hawak na kami na bente-nwebe.
Researcher: Ano po yun?
Elsa: Pamalo.
Teresa: Meron din nangyari na... Short ng babae tinangay tapos bra at panty. Pag ganun,
syempre magkakatabi-tabi(kwarto). Bukas ka ng pinto sabay sigaw uy yung ano ko
tinangay!
Researcher: So may kakilala naman po kayo sa loob ng apartelle?
Elsa: Oo, kilala namin.
Teresa: Oo, sila yung tumutulong sa amin. Halimabawa may customer na ayaw kang
palabasin... Ay hindi pwede, di pa tayo tapos. Pag ganun, dapat... Kumakatok kami. Pag
binuksan, saka na kami lalabas. Sa labas na ng apartelle dun na nagkakagulo. Syempre
kasamahan mo, kahit babae ka tutulong ka din.
Researcher: Nagkaron naman po ba kayo ng regular customer?
Elsa: Oo naman.
Teresa: Yun iba bumabalik yung iba ayaw na.
Elsa: Dati ang mga customer talaga naming, mga utu-uto. Ngayon hindi na sila nagpapauto.
Researcher: Sa anong paraan po nagpapauto?
Elsa: Yun kunyari, penge naman ako ng ganito, bibigyan ka. Pero pag nakaramdam na
niloloko sila nagiging sigurista na sila.
Teresa: Katulad ko, hingi ako ng dagdag, isang libo, limandaan, gagawin ko lahat tapos pag
andyan na, minsan hindi ginagawa. Kung kaya mo naman utuin yun customer, kung kaya
mo lambingin kung madadala sa lambing pero kung hindi mo kaya madaan sa lambing
magagawa mo talaga yun pinapagawa mo sa kanya.
Researcher: Pero meron po kayong customer na gusto na kaong kunin?
Elsa: Meron.
Mutya: Meron.
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Teresa: Meron yung susustentuhan ka.
Researcher: Bakit hindi po kayo sumama?
Elsa: Mahirap naman makisama sa hindi mo gusto. Iba talaga yung makisama ka sa taong
gusto mo talaga. Di naman yung purkit marami kang pera, sige lang. Dati hindi namin iniisip
yan dahil malakas ang Cubao.
Teresa: Pero sa panahon ngayon wala ng gaganyan sayo. Buy one take two? Buy one take
four? (laughs)
Elsa: Saka mahirap din, katulad ko may anak na kong babae.
Researcher: Sino pong walang ka-partner ngayon?
Elsa: Siya. (refers to Princess) Naghahanap siya ng asawa.
(Next slide: Violence Against Women)
Elsa: Yan nakaranas si Princess nyan.
Teresa: Ako yung sapak.
Elsa: Yuung sinakal siya (refers to Ate Princess) dahil sa dagdag.
Gie: Nakaranas ako nyan, pulis. Secret Agent ng pulis ng Caringal. Tapos gusto nya dun
kami mag sex sa ilalim ng hagdan dun mismo sa loob ng kampo. Kapal ng mukha. Sabi ko,
patayin mo na lang ako kesa ganunin nya ako. Awa ng diyos buhay naman akong
nakalabas ng kampo.
Researcher: Buti po walang masamang nangyari sa inyo?
Gie: Yun nga. Hindi man nya ko ni-rape pero pakiramdam ko sobra pa sa rape ginawa nya
sakin. Pinilit ka hubaran kung anu-ano ginagawa sayo. Lahat na langnaranasan ko sa
kanya. Kaya sobra kapag nakakakita ko ng pulis... Maliban na lang kung alam ko talaga na
may ginagawa na mabuti sa kababaihan.
Researcher: Nagkaroon po ba time na kapag nakakita kayo ng lalaki iba na pumapasok sa
isip nyo?
Gie: Ako oo, yun pakiramdam ko na demonyo yung mga lalake
Researcher: So hirap ng magtiwala po noh?
Gie: Pero ngayon may asawa ko, siya naman yun tingin nya sakin baligtad kami kaya yun
parang naintindihan ko na asawa ko kung bakit ganun ako sa kanya.
Elsa: Ako tingin ko sa kanila, pera to. (laughs) Pag may pera, ayun aalukin... Pag wala, ay
wala ka... (laughs) Syempre, titignan naming kung may pera.
Elsa: Kapag bumubukol ang bulsa yun pwede na
cxi
Teresa: Pero kapag ibang bukol yun, takbo na at kapag bukol eh mahaba ay iba na yon!
(Laughs)
Researcher: Si Ate Mutya?
Mutya: Pamimigay ko na nga asawa ko eh. Kung pwede ipamigay na lang asawa ko,
papamigay ko na. Maganda pa walang asawa.
Researcher: Pero di naman kayo sinasaktan ng asawa nyo?
Mutya: Sinasaktan ako nun.
Researcher: Naranasan nyo po maging punching bag?
Mutya: Oo, kahit ano ginagawa sa akin. Hinahampas ako ng walis.
(Next slide: Vices)
Teresa: Akin alak.
Elsa: Akin sa sigarilyo. Alak wala ako nyan dati yung sa baba.
Mutya: Ako lahat yan naitry ko na lahat yan. Kahit makulong.
Researcher: Bakit po?
Mutya: Nanampal asko ng kasamahan ko rin.
Elsa: Kami nakulong sa bagansya.
Gie: Ayan, sa akin dyan. Ilang beses na nalagay sa bingit ng kamatayan yung buhay ko
dahil sa shabu. Pinasok ko yan (drugs). Kasi kailangan ko eh pero di ako nagbebenta,
gumamit lang.
Mutya: Oo, nagsha-shabu lang kami.
Gie: Dati kasi, yung mga pulis pinapahawak sa akin yan. Ginagawa akong taguan ng
shabu, syempre pag hawak ko na raratratin ko na. Minsan pinapamigay ko sa mga kaibigan
ko, yari ako lagi dun sa nagbigay sa akin. Pero never ko naranasan mag-benta.
Researcher: Nakulong na po ba kayo?
Gie: Ako pag nakulong sigro ako, mamatay ako. Bagansya oo, pero yung kulong? Naku.
Pero ngayon din na kami pumapayag na ma-bagansya yung mga kasamahan namin.
Pupuntahan agad naming para i-rescue.
(Next slide: Women Empowerment)
Researcher: Paano po nakatulong yung organization para baguhin po kayo?
Gie: Siguro sa akin unang-una, yung pag welcome at pagmamahal at pag tanggap sa akin
ng CATW-AP. Yung pagbabago kasi sa sarili ko yan eh hindi naman sa ibang tao yan.
Princess: Sa akin naman, maraming trainings dati na binigay sa amin. Na-empower ako
nun, lahat ng hindi ko nalalaman sa karapatan ko bilang babae natutunan ko. Dala-dala ko
cxii
yan, pati sa labas ng organization. Nagamit ko yun para sa sarili ko, pati na rin sa ibang
kasamahan ko
Researcher: Si Ate Teresa po?
Teresa: Ganito din, sumasama kami pag may rally. Mga activities ditto kagaya ngayon may
meeting kung anong pwedeng pagkakitaan.
Elsa: Oo, kung anong mga plano para sa kinabukasan naming.
Mutya: Ako binibigyan nila ako ng mga damit.
Researcher: Masasabi nyo po bas a buhay nyo ngayon ay payapa? May kapayapaan po ba
kayo sa sarili nyo?
Gie: Ako masaya ako.
Elsa: Sa ngayon hindi pa siguro kasi mga anak ko nasa probinsya. Kaming dalawa ng
asawa ko naghahanap buhay para sa kinabukasan ng mga bata. Kaya paano kami
magkakaroon ng payapa eh hiwa-hiwalay kami.
Teresa: Ako naman Masaya. Magkakasama kami ng mga anak ko. Minsan Masaya, minsan
magulo.
Researcher: Kayo po Ate Princess? Masaya po ba kayo?
Elsa: Hindi siya masaya kasi wala siyang asawa. (laughs)
Researcher: Kayo po Ate Mutya?
Gie: Hindi siya masaya kasi binubugbog pa rin siya ng asawa niya.
cxiii