What’s Up Last Week #26

I would like to focus on two posts because one led to the other.

You might say that the choice of How to Put On a Condom Properly to be an odd choice for Maundy Thursday. And I heartily agree. I was planning to post it during a regular week. However, there was a strange strong urge to post it ASAP.

On a cerebral level, I said to myself that it must be because I knew that a lot of people will be going on vacation during the Holy Week and a percentage will probably be intent on undertaking “extracurricular activities.” Plus, I happened to remember that somebody on the Cosmopolitan Philippines Fun Fearless Forum was asking about the proper procedure.

So I shrugged to myself. Those reasons must be why I felt a strong urge.

However, I was discouraged when I saw how many pics there were (11 all in all), since I wanted to take it easy during the Holy Week myself. But, once again, there was a compelling impulse to continue with it, so I did, reluctantly, may I add.

And then, I searched the Cosmopolitan Philippines’ Fun Fearless Forum for the thread where the person was asking about the procedure, and, instead, came across the odd subject “What will you do kung fininger ka once ng cousin mo?”.

I was aghast at the story because it was obviously sexual abuse, and I was agitated because the two previous replies were dismissive of it. Since I usually write in English, I prayed very hard to God to help me find the right Tagalog words as I wrote a reply.

And, if you read the post An Accidental Report of Sexual Abuse on the Cosmopolitan Philippines Fun Fearless Forum, you will see that I wrote a couple more replies to answer the question of as to how long is the subject allowed before his complaint is no longer admissible in court.

I had to call a lawyer because I didn’t know the answer. I was so stirred up that I spent on a 6 minute mobile phone conversation.

The thread is sad to read because one realizes that there is still a woeful ignorance of what rape is, but, at the same time, it’s very interesting because it’s an excellent partial preview of what a victim has to suffer through from society’s comments and judgment if ever he decides to divulge what has happened to him.

All these occurred because I responded to that strange urge to post the condom topic, which led me to the Cosmopolitan Philippines Fun Fearless Forum, which led me to that subject, which led me to post the replies, which, I fervently hope, will be read by Joanna, the person who posted it.

In conclusion, let’s all open up and listen to these urges, and, if possible, respond.