MTRCB prohibits airing of show for alleged explicit sexual discussion

BY NEIL RAMOS

  

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The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) is seemingly on a roll.

After recently suspending for 28 airing days two shows on the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), it has now prohibited the airing of "Private Convos with Doc Rica" on the One News Cable Channel, this, for supposedly appealing to the “prurient interest of the average person.”

Beyond that, the MTRCB is also prohibiting the “exportation, copying, distribution, sale, lease, exhibition” of the show in all media platforms within its jurisdiction.

In a statement, the MTRCB related how the decision came about, starting with their Monitoring and Inspection Unit (MIU) having been receiving numerous complaints relating the show, going on to flag in particular an episode that aired September 6 last year wherein show host Doc Rica allegedly discussed "sexual awakening" with her guest, during which explicit terms such as "self-masturbation, anal sex, and oral sex" were used.

In adherence to due process, those behind the show were immediately asked to appear before the MTRCB the same month to explain their position on the matter.

They supposedly asserted that the program is imbued with “educational and social value.” 

The MTRCB demurred. 

It maintained that the show’s use of explicit terms, coupled with the totality of actions and expressions of the host and her guest/s, “fall within materials which appeal to the prurient interest of the average person.”

The Board also raised concerns over the appropriateness of the show’s time slot considering its content.

“The Respondents are remiss for broadcasting the mentioned television program during Child-Viewing Hours, despite asserting that the Subject Episodes were merely used as fillers in the afternoon time slot,” it said. 

“Additionally, the Respondents failed to implement the necessary MTRCB rating for the Television Program despite being aware that the subject matter is unsuitable for very young televiewers,” it added.

MTRCB Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Lala Sotto, maintained, "We unequivocally denounce any blatant disregard for the law. With the freedom to broadcast content comes a responsibility. We implore broadcasters and content providers to be circumspect and responsible in their creative processes, acknowledging the profound influence that on-screen content holds.”

Multi-hazard platform empowers Filipinos to report disasters in real-time

 

Gaea Katreena Cabico - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos can now report and share information about floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and cyclones in their communities directly from their mobile phones with the launch of a multi-hazard platform. 

MapaKalamidad.ph is a crowd-based platform that provides real-time hazard information. The tool aims to enhance disaster preparedness and response efforts in the Philippines by empowering citizens to share critical information in the face of hazards. 

The Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including cyclones and floods. It is also highly exposed to geologic hazards, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

MapaKalamidad.ph harnesses the power of social media to gather disaster information from residents on the ground, who often have the most up-to-date information in their area. This real-time information, like a flood report, is then displayed on a web-based map.

The data can be used by authorities to coordinate response efforts.

“MapaKalamidad allows everyone access to this information on their mobile phones, which means every single resident can participate in this cooperative process to share what’s going on around them, to understand what’s going on around them,” Nashin Mahtani, director of Yayasan Peta Bencana (Disaster Map Foundation), told reporters during the platform’s launch Monday. 

“That allows people to make critical decisions about safety and navigation during disasters instead of concentrating decision making tools in a small group of people sitting in a control room,” she added. 

A pilot version of the platform was launched in 2020, covering only Quezon City and Pampanga. The reach of the tool was expanded nationwide in 2022, but was only limited to flood reports. 

“Establishing and developing initiatives in the area of information sharing support the various aspects of our work in disaster risk reduction,” Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Operations Service Director Cesar Idio said. 

How to report using the MapaKalamidad.ph

Social media users can search for @kalamidadbot on Telegram or @mapakalamidad on Facebook Messenger to report hazards in their communities. 

A one-time link prompts them to input location, upload a photo, and describe the hazard. Then, users will receive links to their reports on the map. 

“What makes MapaKalamidad stand out is that it’s not an app, and it plugs into existing social media channels. That’s what allows us to reach millions of users every day,” Mahtani said.

She added the platform was designed to encourage people to submit detailed information, minimizing the risk of false reports. 

Government agencies like the OCD and local government units also help validate reports sent by users. 

“Through those factors, we’re able to ensure that all of the reports come in real-time, but they’re all verified,” Mahtani said.

The MapaKalamidad.ph team is working on integrating SMS and radio services to allow residents without internet access to report hazards.

The multi-hazard platform has an Indonesian counterpart—PetaBencana.id—which was launched in 2013.

Tropical Wave brings floods and landslides in Mindanao, Westpacwx Bagyo ...

What is the typical German breakfast? What do Germans usually have for breakfast or brunch on weekends or holidays?

Volker Eichener

Very typical is:

• One or two rolls (alternatively slices of bread) with butter and jam or honey or nougat cream (Nutella), also cold cuts and cheese.
• A bowl of müsli or oats.
• Yogurt.
• A boiled egg.
• Fruits.

Coffee or tea, maybe a glass of orange juice.

Most people would not eat everything, but this would also be a typical breakfast in a 3 star hotel.

A more opulent weekend breakfast, a breakfast together with friends would include scrambled or plated eggs, bacon or ham or smoked salmon.

A brunch in a restaurant includes both typical breakfast items and regular dishes like soups, salads, meat and fish with vegetables and carbohydrates.

Cayetano: Human institutions will disappoint us, but there is no disappointment in the Word of God

 

PRESS RELEASE

January 30, 2024

Every human institution will pass, but the Word of God will remain forever and should be used as the basis for good governance.

This was part of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s prayer as the Senate opened its session on Monday, January 29, 2024, which also happened to be National Bible Day.

“The Lord God is the same today and tomorrow. When we put our trust in people and in institutions, even in a very good institution, we can get disappointed. But when we put our trust in the Word of God, there is no disappointment,” Cayetano said in his prayer.

Alluding to current moves to amend the Constitution, the independent senator asked: “Will some provisions of our Constitution pass away? Will the Senate pass away? We do not know, but we do know that the Word of God will not.”

Affirming God’s love for the Philippines, Cayetano said history is “not a series of coincidences… or a series of who is more powerful, but history is Your story, Lord God, Your perfect timing.”

He said history is about men and women “rising up, confessing their sins, and repenting.”

“So we come before You, Lord God, to fight not only for reforms and education, in health, in the police, but really to have the kind of institutions that will have healthy debate, where all ideas are welcome, where we’ll come before You and really repent and first seek Your kingdom and righteousness,” he added.

Cayetano then prayed for everyone in government — Malacañang, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and all local leaders, business leaders, and even heads of families — that God would give them wisdom.

“We pray Lord God that at this crucial time that we are at a crossroad, we would depend not on people but on Your Word,” he said.###

CAYETANO: TRUST IN THE WORD OF GOD AMIDST CONSTITUTIONAL TURMOIL

JANUARY 30, 2024

Press Release

 On Monday, National Bible Day, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano led the prayer at the opening of the Senate plenary session as the Senate continues to resist the push to amend the Constitution through a People’s Initiative (PI).

 "When we place our trust in the word of GOD, there is no disappointment," Cayetano said, emphasizing the importance of faith as the country grapples with a constitutional crisis, with the Senate and the House of Representatives at odds over constitutional amendments. Cayetano previously asserted the importance of carefully discussing any proposed amendment to the Constitution, noting that the Filipino people would ultimately bear the brunt of such changes. ###

Red Bulb Onion flourishes in Davao de Oro!

From the first trial to the second trial, the Department of Agriculture (DA) XI, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Davao de Oro through the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAGRO) and some seed companies, celebrated triumph as they successfully grew the Red Bulb Onion in the province.

During the harvest festival on January 25, more than 15 kg of Reb Bulb Onion were initially harvested, which included Onion 68, Onion 88, Red Pinoy, Red Moon, and Red Dragon varieties coming from the RAMGO International Corporation, Allied Botanical Corporation, East-West Seed Company, and Pilipinas Kaneko Seeds Corporation seed companies.

This project, dubbed as the varietal showcase on Red Bulb Onion Production Derby in Davao de Oro (2nd Trial), was launched on September 5, 2023 at Purok 4, Batinao, New Bataan, Davao de Oro with Batinao Cabacungan Sto Nino Irrigator’s Farmers Association (BACASIFIA), Inc. as the project cooperator.

Moreover, another harvest activity will commence tomorrow, January 30th, Tuesday, as the collaborating agencies aim to harvest a total of 30 kg for this project. The produce will be sold at Php 100 per kilo, and the proceeds will be given to BACASIFIA.

The success of their research greatly contributed to the farmers as it provided them with the right knowledge on which specific varieties thrive in the province's climate and geographical conditions, as well as serving as the basis of DA for procuring red bulb onion seeds to be distributed to qualified farmers.

Among the other partner agencies that aided the success of this project comprised LGU New Bataan, National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), USeP-Tagum Mabini Campus, Davao de Oro State College (DDOSC), DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) XI and BPI Davao.

Davao de Oro Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga represented by Executive Assistant Nena Atamosa, Provincial Agriculturist Jaime Anter, DA XI Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo and others were present during the event, ensuring continual support for the welfare and development of our farmers.

 (J. Fernandez, Photos by A. Dayao)

Provincial Administrator’s Office – Information and Public Relations Division

4th Floor, Executive Building, Provincial Capitol Complex, Cabidianan, Nabunturan, Davao de Oro

Click here to go to our website!

Once bullied for being black, Alexie Brooks finds her place in Philippines pageantry

Charmie Joy Pagulong - The Philippine Star 

January 29, 2024 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Newly-crowned Miss Iloilo 2024 Alexie Brooks is poised to represent Iloilo City in this year’s Miss Universe Philippines (MUPH) pageant competition. But as early as now, her name is already popular among pageant enthusiasts following her stunning win at the local pageant.

The Ilongga athlete and LGBTQ member, who dreamed of becoming a beauty queen since she was 12, felt “great and amazing” after her recent feat in Philippine pageantry.

Speaking to The STAR in an exclusive Zoom chat, she said, “I feel really grateful that I won knowing that at the same time, I put in so much effort and sacrifices into winning the crown. And not just only me, my team, the people around me, even my family and friends, they put in all so much effort to help me win the crown (Miss Iloilo 2024).”

Alexie, a student, athlete, and LGBTQ member, has dreamed of becoming a beauty queen since she was 12. — Photo from Alexie’s Facebook page

At 10, she was exposed to the world of sports. “Boyish” and labeled by some as “tomboy,” no one expected her to join pageantry until she was 12.

“I had these two friends, they were part of my team when I was 12 years old, they pushed me to join this local pageant (Mutya ng Buga). They would go to my house, where I was literally wearing a jersey, basketball shirt, and basketball shorts, and push me to join the pageantry. I kept saying no, ‘I don’t wanna join because look at me, do I look like a pageant girl to you?’” she asked them.

Newly-crowned Miss Iloilo 2024 Alexie Brooks is poised to represent Iloilo City in this year’s Miss Universe Philippines competition.

“I don’t know what they saw until they convinced me and I actually did join when I was 12 and won my first-ever pageant. It started there.”

The first beauty queen she saw on TV was Venus Raj. “(Seeing) someone close to the skin tone that I have, it gives you this power or hope knowing that where I came from, I’m the only black kid in (school)… I’ve often been bullied for being black.

“So seeing someone as a representation of who you are, it gives you a hope that if she can do that, ‘Why can’t I?’”

The Ilongga beauty celebrates her win with her grandmother who raised her.

She started dreaming big, she said. “And God knows what happened next… I joined four times in pageants but ever since I was 12, the dream was there. It has always been there,” she said.

“That’s why when people compared me to Zozibini, it kinda makes me feel bad because I started the dream ever since even (before) I joined the pageant. I’m not trying to be a nobody. I’m not trying to be somebody. I just wanna be my own self and express myself in my own ways.”

Alexie was referring to Zozibini Tunzi, a model-actress who won the Miss Universe crown in 2019. She was likened by some netizens to the black, South African beauty queen.

“(It’s) good because people saw a potential in you and compared you to someone you know is exceptional. They compared you to someone who did something in their lives. Obviously, who wouldn’t like that you know. Someone compared you to all those big people, that feels great. It feels amazing,” Alexie reacted.

“And at the same time, it is also not good in the sense that I’m doing my very best (to be) my own person and to be authentic.

“I am an athlete, I am a student, (and) I have my own struggles in life. So basically if you wanna be someone one day, you don’t wanna be a copycat of something. You wanna be authentic. You wanna be your own person. I mean, I don’t mind people complimenting me (and comparing) me (to) her, but I really hope people stop calling me Zozibini because at the end of the day, I am Alexie. I struggled my way up to become my own person.”

The beauty queen that she admired most is Pia Wurtzbach for being a “transformational woman” who used her advocacy to change other people’s lives for the better.

Alexie ventured into athletics when she was in third grade. She studied at Buga Elementary School in Leon, Iloilo until high school and spent her senior high days at Iloilo National High School. She is currently a fourth year student at the National University in Manila taking up Business Marketing course and is part of the university’s track and field team where she was named University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ Most Valuable Player in 2022.

“I would always skip classes to play high jump in the mini-forest,” she recalled her elementary days. “And my teacher would get so mad at me because obviously we had class.

“And because it was a betting game, at lunch time, we would bet P5 to compete with the rest of the group. I had one teacher who saw me and she was like you could actually join sports and you could one day get a scholarship and travel somewhere else. You know, make a good name out of yourself.”

When she was in her fourth grade, she started joining competitions, went on to clinch silver and gold medals in various track and field events, became Palarong Pambansa long jump record holder, and represented the Philippines in Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam in 2022 in the heptathlon event.

Born in Lebanon to a Black American father whom she never met and to an overseas Filipino worker mother, Alexie was raised by her grandparents in Iloilo. Her grandfather passed away when she was young and had her grandmother, Lola Basing, by her side growing up.

She met her biological mom at least three times. “My grandma would always tell me that at the end of the day, she is still your mom. If it wasn’t because of her, you wouldn’t be in this universe right now.

“I’m thankful and grateful that she put me in this life and that is beautiful. It might be rocky but life is beautiful. So I still wish her well regardless of what she is doing in her life, where she’s at or who she’s with.”

As a black kid with curly hair, she was often called “aeta” or “ati” by some people. “As much as I am smiling right now, the bullying experience was really horrible,” she expressed.

She would hear words, such as, “kulot salot” and “putok sa kawayan.” “Because I really don’t have my parents growing up,” stated Alexie.

Often bullied for being half-black, she hated her skin color and curly hair. “I hated being who I am because people hated me for that. They hurt me for that. They made me cry. They gave me so much trauma that until right now, it is still there,” she said.

“But then one thing about me is I really have changed my perspective. I really have toughened my mental health (and) my mindset. That instead of me looking at it, ‘Oh yeah, I am black though and they hate me for being black so what am I gonna do?’ I just look at it as, ‘Yeah, I am black. So what?’

“‘What has my color to do with what I can offer to the world? The color of my skin, my identity, my gender, my hair, what has to do with who I am as a person?” she mused.

She realized that if they hate her for being black, there’s probably a lot of black kids in the country going through the same thing. “If I’m gonna cry about it then I let them win. So why not create it into something different, transformational? So I transformed my life,” she said.

“I created (turned) all those hurting, bullying, traumas into something great, something bigger. So, when I say that I’m doing this for a bigger cause, it’s really for a bigger cause. (It’s) not just about winning the crown or just being who I am right now. It’s so much more than that.”

On what her message is to people who bullied her, “I hope that they really think before they speak” and “be more cautious and just really spread love.”

“I wanna thank them ‘coz if it wasn’t for all those things, I wouldn’t be the person that I am right now. But at the same time, I don’t think I deserve to really go through that just to be at where I am.”

Philippine Fairy Tales (XVII) - Philippinische Märchen (XVIKI): Die Trockenheit von Dalag

Mudfish is not generally found in a typical Filipino market, perhaps due to the more complex process of cleaning and cutting that’s quite easy with salt water counterparts. The taste will largely depend on the freshness of the fish catch and how well it’s cleaned — removal of gills, scales, innards and other secretion to remove fishy odor.

Niemand würde je von Alitaptap und der Macht ihres Sterns erfahren haben, wenn es nicht einen armen Fischer gegeben hätte, der so hungrig und verzweifelt wurde, dass er sich weiter aus dem Dorf wagte als je zuvor. Tief in den desolaten Sümpfen hinter den leeren See von Dalag, lechzte der arme Fischer nach einem Tropfen Wasser, um seine Zunge ein wenig in der feuchten Nacht abkühlen lassen. Wirbelndes Blinken von Licht fiel ihm ins Auge, und der arme Fischer hörte das Stöhnen Schluchzen eines kleinen Mädchens. Er folgte dem unschuldigen Wimmern zu einer Hütte, aus getrockneten Mango Blättern und einem umgestürzten Baumstamm gemacht. Glühwürmchen tanzten über die kleine Hütte. Wer war dieses einsame kleine Mädchen, und warum weinte sie denn? Tote Blüten knisterten unter seinen Füßen als er sich näherte. Ein sanftes Licht pulsierte hinter dem Mangoblättern, und des Fischers Blick wurde gefangen von der atmenden Flamme. Es war wunderschön. Das Licht schien ihm zu winken. Durch den Vorhang aus Mangoblättern sah er eine gebeugte Silhouette durch Licht verstärkt. Ein Zweig knackte unter seinem Fuß, und die Silhouette drehte ihren Kopf. Des Fischers Augen brannten beim Anblick des Sterns der erschreckten Alitaptap. Schnell verbarg er sein Gesicht in der Beugung des Ellbogens, aber das Brennen hielt an. Dunkelheit. Sein Augenlicht erlosch mit einem hellen Blitz. Hätten die Mangoblätter nicht einen Teil des Sterns umschattet, wäre der arme Fischer zu Asche verbrannt.

Der blinde Fischer floh voll von Panik unter Tränen. Sein Fuß verfing sich am Ende einer ausgetrockneten Baumwurzel, und er stürzte in den ausgetrockneten See von Dalag. Er rollte hinunter in den Staub wie auf den Boden einer leeren Keramikschale. Als er stöhnte und um sein Augenlicht schrie; wartete zur gleichen Zeit seine Frau, die ein Loch am Boden des Sees gegraben hatte, auf die Dämmerung, und sie sah ihren Mann. Er kroch auf Händen und Knien wie ein Säugling, klopfte auf den Boden zur Orientierung mit seinen rissigen Händen. Als seine Frau über den Seegrund kroch, um ihm zu helfen, schrie er in Angst vor dem Kind-Monster, das hinter dem See lebe. Und so erfuhr jeder Dorfbewohner von Dalag davon und lernte Alitaptap und ihren Stern zu fürchten.

Die Prinzessin gewöhnte sich daran, ihr Gesicht mit einem dicken Schild Fransen zu verbergen, um alle, die zwischen ihre Augen blicken könnten, zu schützen, und sie wohnte in den vertrocknenden Sümpfen rund um den unfruchtbaren See, vor der Menschheit verborgen. Auch sie fürchtete sich vor ihrem Stern. Nur einmal hatte sie sich bei Tageslicht an den Rand des Sees gewagt, und die Dorfbewohner hielten ihre Handrücken vor ihre Augen bei ihrem Anblick, und warfen ungeschickt Steine und Klumpen von Lehm in Richtung ihrer Stirn. Und so verließ Alitaptap ihre Mango-Laubhütte nur unter dem Vorhang der Nacht, in der Hoffnung, dass die Dorfbewohner von Dalag weiter schlafen würden, bis sie das Sammeln ihrer nächtlichen Mondbeeren beendet hatte. Die Dunkelheit störte sie nicht, da ihr Stern und ihre Glühwürmchen immer ihren Weg erleuchteten. Auch störte sie nicht die dünne Sommer-Luft in Dalag, da ihr Stern ihr die Körperwärme verschlang, so blieb ihre Haut kalt. Sie sehnte sich nach einer warmen Berührung - eine Berührung, die sie nicht erfahren würde, bis auf wenige Tage vor ihrem Tod.

+++

No one would have ever known of Alitaptap and the power of her star if it had not been for a poor fisherman who became so hungry and desperate that he ventured further from the village than ever before. Deep in the desolate swamps behind the empty lake of Dalag, the poor fisherman longed for a drop of water to cool his tongue a little in the damp night. Swirling flashes of light caught his eye, and the poor fisherman heard the moans and sobs of a little girl. He followed the innocent whimper to a hut made from dried mango leaves and a fallen tree trunk. Fireflies danced over the little hut. Who was this lonely little girl and why was she crying? Dead flowers crackled beneath his feet as he approached. A soft light pulsed behind the mango leaves, and the fisherman's gaze was caught by the breathing flame. It was wonderful. The light seemed to beckon him. Through the curtain of mango leaves he saw a hunched silhouette enhanced by light. A twig snapped under his foot and the silhouette turned its head. The fisherman's eyes burned at the sight of the star of the frightened Alitaptap. He quickly hid his face in the bend of his elbow, but the burning continued. Darkness. His eyesight went out in a bright flash. If the mango leaves hadn't shaded part of the star, the poor fisherman would have burned to ashes.

The blind fisherman fled in tears in panic. His foot caught on the end of a dry tree root and he fell into the dry lake of Dalag. He rolled down into the dust like the bottom of an empty ceramic bowl. As he groaned and screamed for his sight; At the same time his wife, who had dug a hole at the bottom of the lake, was waiting for dusk and she saw her husband. He crawled on his hands and knees like an infant, tapping the ground with his cracked hands for orientation. As his wife crawled across the lake bed to help him, he screamed in fear of the child-monster that lived beyond the lake. And so every villager in Dalag learned about it and learned to fear Alitaptap and her star.

The princess took to hiding her face with a thick shield of fringe to protect anyone who might look between her eyes, and she lived in the drying swamps surrounding the barren lake, hidden from humanity. She too was afraid of her star. Only once had she ventured to the edge of the lake in daylight, and the villagers held the backs of their hands to her eyes at the sight of her, clumsily throwing stones and lumps of clay toward her forehead. And so Alitaptap left her mango shack only under the curtain of night, hoping that the villagers of Dalag would continue to sleep until she had finished gathering their nightly moonberries. The darkness didn't bother her as her star and fireflies always lit her path. The thin summer air in Dalag didn't bother her either, as her star devoured her body heat, so her skin remained cold. She longed for a warm touch - a touch that she would not experience until a few days before her death.

Typical Filipino (XXXIX) - Typisch Philippinisch (XXXIX): Women - Frauen

 Typical Filipino (XXXIX) - Typisch Philippinisch (XXXIX):  Women - Frauen

The current situation of women in the Philippines is best described as having sharp contradictions. The Filipino women may be considered as one of the most advanced vis-à-vis the women in other countries, in the areas of academic, professional, politics and legislation.

However, they also suffer from domestic violence, economic disadvantages, discrimination at the workplace, exploitation as migrant workers, and as prostituted women and displacement brought about by the intermittent wars in conflict affected areas. The Philippines is the only country in Asia to have closed the gender gap on both education and health and is one of only six (6) in the world to have done so. 

Moreover, the Philippines’ scores on political empowerment continues to improve as its economic indicators such as estimated income, labor force participation and income equality for similar work. The Philippines is the only country in the world where women have parity to men in senior management roles. However, despite the remarkable achievements above, thousands of Filipino women suffer from sex and other gender related abuses While Filipino women suffer the same domestic violence, and economic disadvantages all over the country, women in some parts of Mindanao and other conflict affected areas in the Philippines suffer more. 

As in most countries affected by displacement brought about by armed conflict, women and children make up the great majority of the displaced population in the Philippines, and experience additional vulnerabilities. The intermittent wars affect women’s livelihood, health, education and family life, among other things. In the area of legislative reforms, the Philippines has ensured the protection of women against economic, social and political forms of discrimination. The country has passed important laws like the Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998, the Anti Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. The Philippines also has a vibrant women’s movement which is recognized for its work in the international and national levels. 

In her study on psychopathology, Lourdes V. Lapuz, a Filipino psychiatrist, writes: "Despite all the mutual signs and references, Filipino culture still has a large remnant of ideal images of women from times long past. This includes, above all, the so-called 'Maria Clara '-Image of the shy, brittle, modest, selfless and loyal to the end woman. The type of woman in business today does not mean social inferiority. Filipinas are equal to men in many areas. And that's a good thing!

(To be continued!)

+++

Die aktuelle Situation der Frauen auf den Philippinen lässt sich am besten als widersprüchlich beschreiben. Die philippinischen Frauen können im Vergleich zu den Frauen in anderen Ländern als eine der fortschrittlichsten in den Bereichen Wissenschaft, Beruf, Politik und Gesetzgebung angesehen werden.

Allerdings leiden sie auch unter häuslicher Gewalt, wirtschaftlicher Benachteiligung, Diskriminierung am Arbeitsplatz, Ausbeutung als Wanderarbeiterinnen und prostituierte Frauen sowie unter Vertreibung, die durch die zeitweiligen Kriege in Konfliktgebieten verursacht wird. Die Philippinen sind das einzige Land in Asien, das die Kluft zwischen den Geschlechtern sowohl im Bildungs- als auch im Gesundheitsbereich geschlossen hat, und eines von nur sechs (6) Ländern weltweit, denen dies gelungen ist.

Darüber hinaus verbessern sich die Werte der Philippinen in Bezug auf politisches Empowerment weiter, da ihre Wirtschaftsindikatoren wie geschätztes Einkommen, Erwerbsbeteiligung und Einkommensgleichheit bei ähnlicher Arbeit berücksichtigt werden. Die Philippinen sind das einzige Land der Welt, in dem Frauen in Führungspositionen gleichberechtigt mit Männern vertreten sind. Doch trotz der oben genannten bemerkenswerten Erfolge leiden Tausende von philippinischen Frauen unter sexuellem und anderem geschlechtsbezogenem Missbrauch. Während philippinische Frauen im ganzen Land unter der gleichen häuslichen Gewalt und wirtschaftlichen Benachteiligung leiden, leiden Frauen in einigen Teilen von Mindanao und anderen von Konflikten betroffenen Gebieten in der Die Philippinen leiden stärker.

Wie in den meisten Ländern, die von Vertreibungen aufgrund bewaffneter Konflikte betroffen sind, stellen Frauen und Kinder die große Mehrheit der vertriebenen Bevölkerung auf den Philippinen und sind zusätzlich gefährdet. Die zeitweiligen Kriege wirken sich unter anderem auf den Lebensunterhalt, die Gesundheit, die Bildung und das Familienleben der Frauen aus. Im Bereich der Gesetzesreformen haben die Philippinen den Schutz von Frauen vor wirtschaftlichen, sozialen und politischen Formen der Diskriminierung sichergestellt. Das Land hat wichtige Gesetze verabschiedet, darunter das Gesetz zur Unterstützung und zum Schutz von Vergewaltigungsopfern von 1998, das Gesetz gegen sexuelle Belästigung von 1995 und das Gesetz gegen Gewalt gegen Frauen und ihre Kinder von 2004. Die Philippinen haben auch eine lebendige Frauenbewegung, die dafür bekannt ist seine Arbeit auf internationaler und nationaler Ebene.

In ihrer Studie über Psychopathologie schreibt Lourdes V. Lapuz, eine philippinische Psychiaterin: "Trotz aller gegenseitiger Anzeichen und Hinweise verfügt die philippinische Kultur immer noch über einen großen Restbestand an Idealbildern von Frauen aus längst vergangenen Zeiten. Dazu gehört vor allem das sogenannte 'Maria Clara'-Bild der schüchternen, spröden, bescheiden, selbstlosen und bis zum Ende  loyalen Frau. Der Frauentyp im Geschäftsleben in der heutigen Zeit bedeutet nicht soziale Unterlegenheit. Filipinas sind in vielen Bereichen Männern gleichgestellt. Und das ist gut so!

(Fortsetzung folgt!)