DUBAI Manila's leading sex therapist has blamed nepotism and cultural baggage for the plight of today's Filipinas, especially the migrant workers who face sexual harassment and ill treatment as they flee their home country due to lack of opportunities.
Dr Margarita Holmes, cele-brated clinical psychologist, author and popular TV host, said: "In the Philippines, who you know makes a big difference."
She was speaking at the fourth edition of the Women of Substance (WOS) awards night held at the Emirates Towers on Friday, organised by Dubai-based Filipino lifestyle magazine Illustrado to recognise top Filipina achievers in the UAE.
Holmes, author of Bad, Bold Brazen, cited what she termed a "false dichotomy" in the way society views Filipinas. "In our culture, women are viewed following the Madonna-prostitute dichotomy: One you respect so much like your mother or Mother Mary - and another you want to have fun with. It's either you're a virgin or you're a bad girl. It's not always true, it's a false dichotomy," she said. "Purity has different degrees… There will always be people who will judge you. But what's important is the opinion that people you respect have about you." The event witnessed an equal measure of platitudes honouring Filipina achievers - and candidness about the problems they face.
Lalaine Chu-Benitez, editor of Illustrado, said they aim to raise awareness about Filipinas' triumphs in the midst of adversity and encourage them to take charge of their lives. The event highlighted some ironies, too, in which a special film documentary called Filipina on Top showed that 17 out of the 22 young Filipinas in Dubai expressed liberal attitudes towards premarital sex.
"These are the 21st century Filipinas," said Kamil Roxas, the film's director. "And since this is the reality, our hope is to help open more eyes and strike a balance -- by taking responsibility and knowing the consequences, such as unwanted pregnancies."
UAE law bans abortion and an unwed mother could face jail.
the awardees
The Women of Substance awardees are: Corazon Yap-Bahjin, the first Filipina Muslim ambassador; Gerby Candungog, a Dubai-based interior-design entrepreneur; Socorro Sun, a Nestle executive; Lourdes "Tata" Kintanar-Kapfer, a community volunteer; Susan de Guzman, a faculty of Sharjah Women's College; Lily Libo-on, a Dubai-based journalist; and Agnes Aquino, a fashion consultant.
