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Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Cabaero: Constructed reality and sex tourism
By Nini B. Cabaero
Beyond 30
In the discourse over the extent of Cebu City’s prostitution problem, we have two sides with each presenting a version of reality.
A weekend conference here brought together experts in the field of protecting children and women, and the bulk of the discussion was on how the commercial sex industry that mostly victimizes children and women has become as prolific as the “ukay-ukay.”
The Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB), a non-government agency, said studies showed the city’s red light district is not anymore as identifiable as the color red. And results of the studies have nothing to do with having a red-filled Valentine’s Day.
It said the red light areas now include the vicinity of Robinson’s Place, Harrison Park, Fuente Osmeña, Baseline Restaurant and Gen. Maxilom Ave. This is aside from the port area, Plaza Independencia, along M.J. Cuenco Ave., in Barangay Kamagayan and the adjacent streets of Sanciangco, Leon Kilat, Pelaez, Colon and P. del Rosario, as well as the South Bus Terminal area.
This means people engaged in prostitution can be found in these areas.
But, wait a minute. Isn’t that an exaggeration? Mayor Tomas Osmeña and a separate non-government organization (NGO) fighting obscenity want the public to believe there is a “bloating” of facts on sex tourism to justify proposals for funding by the other NGOs.
“I suspect they are using the cause of the children as a livelihood for themselves,” Osmeña said of NGOs like CLB that presented the awful picture of sex tourism in the city. The anti-obscenity group believes the scenario of a worsening prostitution problem would help these other NGOs achieve their agenda of promoting contraception and getting funding from European donors.
Osmeña was also quoted as saying he could tolerate the sex trade to a certain extent, but definitely not when minors are concerned.
Unfortunately, the mayor’s comments did not address the issues raised in the weekend conference on the need for stricter implementation of laws, formulation of more relevant legislation and police action to stem the trafficking of children and women.
In constructing certain realities, some will insist that the world is flat when it really is a sphere. Osmeña insisted the tag of Cebu as a center of sex tourism was wrong. But a look at these red light areas spreading throughout the city may signify something real.
The good thing about having social factors create reality is that people can discover there can be more possibilities than they have ever considered, more opinions that may be valid but they did not initially entertain.
The key to a social construction of reality is the willingness to listen to others. But then the art of listening, for some people, is something totally unheard of.
(e-mail:ninicab@sunstar.com.ph)
(February 15, 2005 issue)
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