Pag-ulikid kag Paghigugma, Padayon sa Cameleon (4 of 5)

BY EDISON MARTE SICAD

ON JULY 21, 2023, Friday, COMELEC Iloilo conducted the second part of its year-long Gender and Development (GAD) Activity with CAMELEON, an association that provide interventions to young girl survivors of sexual abuse, aged 5-17 years old, from various localities in Western Visayas.

This column is a continuation of the learnings and insights of the COMELEC facilitators who, in helping these young girls, were also learning about the value of cooperation, and working for the good of all.

COMELEC Iloilo FACILITATORS: insights and learnings

“Meeting these girls did not only bring love, joy, and happiness to us facilitators; their stories also opened our eyes to the harsh realities of life. We never thought that what we have read in books and watched in TV shows we will encounter in real life.

These girls are survivors—and warriors. They showed and taught us how to be strong and resilient despite all the hardships in life. They live each day showing their light, happiness, love, and joy to the world.

I learned that it is better to forgive and move on and be grateful for everything. These girls empowered us and gave us a reason to smile and be happy despite all of our problems.” – Merian Surmieda

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“It was my first-time facilitating activities with the Cameleon kids. I learned that happiness, love, and contentment can be found in simple acts of kindness.

During the program, they were very courteous and appreciative. They responded with “Thank you, Tita.” during the activities. They even greeted a teenage girl who was at INA farm at that time while they were preparing to go to the swimming pool. They remarked, “Hi, manang!”—and one of them even gave her a hug.

I think the spiritual activity was a very good learning experience for them because it helped them solidify their faith with God, letting them know that this world is not that dangerous: that there are a lot of people from whom they can ask for help and who are willing to listen to them; that all the bad things they have experienced in the past will make them stronger; that they are not different from any of us: for we are all equal; and that if they work together, they will have a brighter future.

During the spiritual activity, some of them shared stories about hurting themselves or laslas. I hope with the activities we had, they have learned how to develop and strengthen their self-worth so that they will be able to value others and most importantly, value their own selves.” – Con Tongcua

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“In our generation, which I usually coined as the “Typewriter Generation”, boys—and men in general— “sucked up” any emotion, especially in public. Personally, I also do not express my emotion or cry in group activities: “machismo image” to the hilt. Boys were afraid to be ridiculed — especially by their peers. There was even a popular song “Boys don’t cry” which consistently topped the music charts.

But in facilitating the Cameleon activities, I did cry. The Cameleon experience painted not only a temporary image of love, compassion, and giving. It showed to us facilitators an image of lasting inspiration, a ray of hope forever etched in our hearts and minds.

A realization: crying doesn’t make us lesser men. Boys can also cry. Till the next activity everyone! God bless us all!” – Jose Ariel Pama

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“This GAD Activity made me realize the importance of also spending time reflecting on things that fill us with gratitude. Because even when times are rough and tough, there is much to be grateful for.” – Jona Palu-ay

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“Indeed, it is an honor to be a part of this Comelec endeavor. All throughout the program, it’s about love, respect, and support.

As we empathized with the stories shared to us by the Cameleon girls, we cannot avoid also feeling hurt. Our hearts cry for justice knowing that the perpetrators were supposed to be the protectors in their homes. Their parents—who supposedly are their rock-solid support as they continue walking on the pathways of life—were the ones who inflicted and caused them so much pain.

Now that my days are filled up by work, I learned that it’s not just about living the life I got used to live; but rather making the best of the present for the future: that our past does not define us. Who we are today matters the most. Thank you Cameleon girls for the gift of learning.” – Benj Bacutoc

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IN CONCLUSION, there is a big difference in loving humanity in general and in showing love to a specific person. For in dealing with a particular person, we are also dealing with our own self. With the Comelec facilitators, the act of extending help to the Cameleon girls also inspired them as individuals and strengthened them as one Comelec family./PN