Victims are more than the stats can show

The latest report from DWSD (Jan-Sep 2005) shows that around 2000 children have been sexually abused for a period of six months. These are only the cases they served. This is very small compared to what's really happening out there.

I am amazed that since July, around 6 women I just randomly talked to told me that they have experienced sexual abuse as children. Nung college ako, I was very much involved with a campus ministry that enabled me to talk to several women in a personal level. Ang daming women na na-abuse. It came to the point that I'm no longer shocked when I hear that the person I'm talking to was abused. I learned to accept it. Or should I say, naging manhid na ako. (I became numb)

One mother (who was abused as a child) did not know that her own daughter also got sexually abused. The point is, mahirap malaman. Until mabigyan ng malayang space o avenue ang isang bata na magopen-up, mahirap malaman. The personal safety training of HOPE worldwide Philippines is such a venue for children to disclose about their experiences.

Just imagine, isang 5 or 6 or even 12 year old na bata, bearing the sufferings of abuse on her own. Mahirap 'yun. The child's body, mind, and heart was not designed to handle such kind of a trauma at an early age. Truth be said, the development of that child is disrupted. Hindi nakakapagtaka kung marami sa kanila ang nagkakaroon ng negative psychological problems.

In my next posts, I will be sharing some articles that I researched about abuse. Just try to read or browse through them. Maiintindihan nyo kung bakit ganito ka-fervent ang HOPE for this cause.

'Til then!