The Philippine military bases have been accused of selling women and children for sex abuse. In order to convince the spouses, these foreign men pose as relatives. While this is not the mother of all pinay scandals, it is certainly one of the worst. The biggest mistake that Filipino men can make is not doing anything about it.
Philippine military bases sold women and children for sex abuse to US servicemen
During the U.S. occupation of the Philippines, many Filipino military bases were used to sell women and children for sex abuse to US servicemen. Live sex shows were banned in the cities of Angeles and Olongapo, but women were still forced to perform in degrading ways using objects. The US military also popularized a form of “foxy boxing” in which female participants were forced to fight until they drew blood and showed bruises.
After 9/11, U.S. troops began deploying in the southern Philippine islands. Efforts were made by women’s rights groups to prevent this kind of abuse. But even if the Philippine military bases didn’t sell women and children for sex, women’s groups still oppose policies by the Philippine government to allow U.S. servicemen to sex with Filipina women in exchange for military and financial aid.
Lack of effective counseling, therapy, healing and recovery centers in the Philippines
There are several factors that may hinder a Filipino from seeking help, including social stigma, lack of health insurance, and financial constraints. In addition, stigma can influence the behavior of overseas Filipinos, who may be afraid that seeking help will result in their losing their face or losing their job. This problem can have far-reaching effects.
Mental illness in the Philippines is one of the most common disabilities, with an estimated six million Filipinos suffering from mental illness. The country ranks third in the Western Pacific Region for mental health problems. Suicide rates are pegged at 3.2 per 100,000 population, although this number may be higher because of underreporting. Additionally, many suicide cases are misclassified as “undetermined deaths.” Meanwhile, government spending on mental health is only 0.2 percent of the total health budget. There are also a lack of mental health professionals in the country. Furthermore, Filipinos living abroad tend to experience elevated mental health problems.
Many Filipinos are ashamed of their mental illnesses and are unlikely to seek professional help until they reach a crisis point. Social support is an important buffer for mental health problems and can lead to greater utilization of mental health services. However, social support can also discourage the use of professional mental health services.
Consent of Filipino husbands to what their wives are doing
Filipinos are very talkative and they love spending time with their partners. Most dates take place at a park or at the lady’s house. Men are not allowed to touch women during the date because of religious customs. In addition, men are not allowed to kiss women. In fact, men cannot even kiss a woman until after marriage.
This situation has made many women feel ashamed and helpless. In many cases, the women in these marriages don’t seek outside help or ask for help. Often, they keep the horrors of their marriages to themselves out of fear of shame. This is a mistake. However, this type of attitude is not unique to the Philippines.
