Gender Issues

The Violation of Jelieta Ruca

A Davao City court junks a sexual harassment case filed by a teacher against her thesis adviser, setting off a barrage of condemnation from women?s groups and highlighting concerns that the Philippines has a long way to go in combating violence and discrimination against women.

By Amabelle Plaza-Laminero
Women?s Feature Service

DAVAO CITY — ?He was like a father to me,? public school teacher ?Jelieta Ruca says of her thesis adviser Dr. Melvin ?Mende, professor of industrial education and a member ?of the graduate studies at the state-owned University of Southeastern Philippines in this city.

So when Ruca found herself alone with Mende to consult with him on her thesis on Nov. 6, 2001, she could hardly believe what he did to her.

Inside a study room at the university, Mende, according to Ruca, stood up from his table, went straight to her, kissed her on the mouth and stroke her breasts.

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Iron-Willed ‘Political Butterflies’ Still Flutter

By Bejay C. Absin
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? The gathering gave a whole new meaning to the phrase ?political butterfly.?

Because they were all there ? women political luminaries, some of whom hadn?t met in a long while, many of them still possessed by the fire of political dissent ? and because butterflies were everywhere: on their nametags, lapels, chests, arms, wrists, even fingers.

The forum, at the Ateneo de Davao University, was called ?Free Our Sisters! Free Ourselves!? and specifically targeted the political repression prevalent nowadays. It was organized by Gabriela Women?s Party, Bathaluman Crisis Center and the Gabriela Network of Professionals. The host committee was led by Rosena Sanches and Bing Sobrevega-Chan, two of the cities most respected women professionals.

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Special Report: A Life in Pain

(davaotoday.com photo by Carlos H. Conde)

A 26-year-old mother endured six long years of abuse, neglect and fear. Like other survivors of domestic violence, she went through the cycle of pain and confusion. It took the wisdom of a boy to finally set her free.

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Exploitative Ambivalence: How Davao City Profits from Prostitution

By Germelina A. Lacorte
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY — The first thing she noticed when he became her boyfriend was he did not like the way she dressed. Tall and slender, she was fond of wearing tight-fitting clothes, which he said was calling the men’s attention to her. This was often the cause of their early quarrels.

At that time, when he used to slap her, she thought it was her fault. She started wearing loose T-shirts. “It made me look like a hanger because I was very thin,” Sarah (not her real name) recalled.

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