Romance and contempt

Wednesday, which combined two important occasions in the Pinoy’s calendar—Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday—was celebrated with the expected fervor.

Restaurants were filled to overflowing, even if the resultant traffic caused all the romantic feelings to evaporate into exasperation. Likewise were churches filled with the faithful, reminded of their mortality by the admonition to remember that “dust we are and to dust we shall return.”

But for Filipino women, the “joint celebration” was also one filled with bittersweet irony. True, wives, girlfriends and objects of desire were recipients of flowers, chocolates and fancy dinners. But as a class, women were the objects of odious attention from no less than the President. Reacting to reports that “Amazons” among the New People’s Army made soldiers reluctant to fire on them, he urged soldiers to shoot the women fighters in the crotch instead, to make them “useless.” Digong used a far more offensive and crass term for “crotch,” but that didn’t stop his audience (many among them women) from laughing along with him.

This isn’t the first time—nor will it be the last—that Digong has displayed his hatred and contempt for women. Remember that among the victims of his vicious war on drugs have been women, whether as fatalities or widows left to fend for themselves (and their children). Also, that the most prominent targets of his ire have been outspoken, courageous women officials. One wonders where this disrespect and utilitarian view of womanhood originates in the President’s psyche.

Anyway, from #EveryWoman comes this sharp Valentine’s reminder to the President and to all men like him, and to all women: “Ang babae, hindi yan sinasaktan, minumura, at binabastos. Minamahal yan!/Ngayong Araw ng mga Puso, alalahanin natin ang ating mga lola, ina, kapatid, asawa. Alalahanin natin ang mga babae sa ating mga buhay. Alalahanin natin ang isa’t isa./Huwag nating hayaan na basta-basta na lang tayo babuyin at bastusin ng mga taong walang respeto sa kababaihan.”

(A woman should not be hurt, cursed or demeaned. She is loved!/On this day of hearts, let us remember our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives. Let us remember the women in our homes. Let us think of each other./Let us not allow ourselves to be degraded and insulted by people with no respect for women.)

And certainly, let us not join the laughter and add our voices to the chorus of contempt!

It is now left to President Digong to sign into law the Mental Health Act of 2018, after the Senate ratified the bicameral conference committee’s version of the pending law.

One of the main advocates of the Mental Health Law is Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who said its ratification marks “a historic step towards realizing our dream of a more progressive system for mental health, not only for those suffering from mental health problems, but
also for all Filipinos.” If the pending law’s letter and spirit are followed faithfully, Hontiveros pointed out, “we will reinforce mechanisms to ensure that the rights of individuals with mental health conditions are protected” while ensuring a “more robust health-service delivery system that integrates mental health services at the community level and enhances the capacity of our government hospitals in providing high-level care.”

Once signed, the law will “mainstream mental health promotion and education to reduce stigma and discrimination by integrating mental health in the school curriculum and institutionalizing mental health programs in different settings.”

The proposed Mental Health Act is a product of bipartisan cooperation in the Senate and the House, and was shaped in large part by the contributions of mental health advocates and stakeholders, including young people, health professionals, teachers and guidance counselors, government agencies, NGOs, and, said Hontiveros, “most importantly, the people who have experienced mental health conditions and their loved ones.”