I remember laughing back when I was young enough to believe I was playing a game. Now as someone older, my mind goes back to the time my body was harassed in ways that I didn't even understand yet. I was only told it was harmless, and as someone who grew up sheltered and business-minded, I couldn't reject the 5 pesos I receive after every session. It's devastating how destroying childhoods has become someone's source of pleasure.
It tempts me to believe that what I've undergone is an isolated case, but it's not. As shared by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) and Child Rights Network (CRN), pregnancies among girls aged 15 years old and younger significantly involve older men, based on the 2024 data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Such numbers show how lacking our country is in fully safeguarding our children.
Accordingly, of the 3,612 documented cases, 108 are 1-2 years older, 693 are 3-5 years older, 912 are 6-10 years older, 333 are 11-20 years older, 24 are 20 years older and 1,539 remain unstated. Although the law punishes abusers, the system is far from perfect on prioritizing it. As such, if we won't collectively work to ensure accountability, children are left carrying the burden they're not supposed to carry.
Statutory rape refers to sexual intercourse done with a person below 12 years old or under 16 years old regardless of consent, as stated in Republic Act (RA) 8353 and RA 11648. However, the Supreme Court (SC) has longed set guidelines for the designation of qualified rape of a minor in certain cases. While these established systems aim to combat rape and sexual abuse and exploitation (SEA), it’s yet to address societal indifferences that victims experience, something I know firsthand.
I've come to realize that I was a victim years later when I started high school. As a young child, the concept of grooming, harassment or SEA was something that I've yet to discover. Because of this, I grew up believing that everything was a childhood game. Later, when I decided to open up my realization, I was met with laughter: “swerte kayka kay nawala imohang virginity ug sayo” (you're lucky for losing your virginity early). Much worse, when I sought counsel, I received scorn: “hugaw kang bataa ka, kaulaw sa Ginoo” (you're disgusting, have shame for God). If survivors are met with ridicule rather than protection, then how can we expect children to speak up?
Looking back, it angers me how children are forced to grow up early to handle their pain. Many victims choose to be silent as the fear of being mocked outweighs the courage to speak up. I admit I'm fortunate enough to open up to my parents years later, and meet people who listened without judgement that led me to heal. But healing should never demand a child to first survive years of endurance. No one should experience being told they're “lucky” for getting defiled or hear they're “disgusting” for managing to survive.
If I, a young boy of the same age, was silenced in shame, what more for our girls who suffered deeper pain?
While there are several laws aiming to protect the dignity of children, especially young girls, such as RA 7610, RA 7877, RA 11313, RA 11596, and RA 11930, our country is yet to have an anti-child pregnancy act. As such, justice remains hard to attain if bills like the Adolescent Pregnancy Bill remain unpassed. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 17% of Filipino children aged 13 to 17 experience sexual violence. Many of these cases remain unaddressed because society chooses to excuse perpetrators. Many children are forced to settle with their abusers for the sake of “familial values”. But are said values worth it if it's at the expense of our children? It's infuriating because no matter how grave the situation is, people would rather mask children's pain to choose what's convenient and avoid scandals.
Closure shouldn't be provided to perpetrators, it should be given towards our victims who’ve been deprived of healing. Abuse should be feared more than the "sanctity” of any practice that forcibly preys on the innocence of a child. Let our children dream, let our girls live without fear, let our nights not hold danger, let schools, households and churches ensure security—there's no justifying preying over children.
Years have already passed since I've healed, but dread remains as I see the scars that can't be erased. Whenever I see my sister and brother smiling freely, I fear the world that excuses abuse for convenience. Though I can’t change my experience, I can speak up against it. As a community, it's our responsibility to teach our boys respect, foster our girls with care, and build a culture that perpetuates justice. In building a world safe from harm, safeguarding the next generation should go beyond resisting what’s inconvenient. Hold the abusers accountable, hold the accomplices responsible, adult or not.
I wrote all of this not as someone who survived, but as somebody who refuses for others to suffer the same fate. From a victim to another, know you deserve better. To all the girls out there, and to all the kids like me, it's not your fault and it’ll never be.
Written by Judge David Asuncion (Honorable Perjury), Insight PH
Judge David Asuncion (Honorable Perjury), Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
