I am Sr. Mary
Patricia Nyeinchan, a temporary professed sister from Myanmar. I came to
the Philippines last April 10, 2019 to have my one year theology formation
and international experience. This required me to learn English to provide
me adequate preparation before the start of the formal school. I underwent integrated
English course in the convent for 3 months that included topics on culture, information
technology and ecology. My teacher is Sr. Mary Natividad Lucero. After
2 months in the English program, my teacher recommended me to have local ministry
involvement. One day a week was allotted
for this to provide me valuable experiences as my English lessons progressed on
the writing level.
After the
orientation given by Sr. Ailyn on the various
ministry programsavailable, I asked to be assigned
in the Ministry Office. One of the
special programs of Philippines-Japan Province is journeying with women and
girls in situations of prostitutions, called GABAYAN. The program includes an
advocacy and outreach ministry to women and girls in prostitution. In collaboration with Saints Peter and Paul parish
in Makati City, they provide breakfast meal on Saturdays to the women and girls
in the high end red light 
district near the location of the church. Even though
I have been a Good Shepherd Sister for seven years I never had
a chance to serve these women and girls. I could say that
I learned about them only in theory. Now I had the chance to encounter
women and girls in these situations. As a foreigner in the
Philippines, I was excited to be with them three hours per week. I went to the ministry area either with Sr.
Ailyn who is the mission development coordinator or with Miss Cora, the
outreach worker.
On the first time I
joined, we left the convent at 1:00
am in the morning. Sister Ailyn, Miss Cora
and myself went to Makati bringing three big boxes of clothing. There
were 5 volunteers waiting when we arrived in the area and there were 200
boxes of breakfast meal ready for distribution.That day, I saw the girls and
women working in the bars for the first time in my life. I sat with them
and introduced myself speaking in English. I listened to their
sharing with a heavy heart. I wished I could talk to them
in their dialects. One of them shared that she only began
working there that Friday night. We provided breakfast box and a cup
of milk for each of them. We also announced that each of them can take up to
three fashionable clothes from the boxes we brought. As I watched them, I had
compassion on them. They did not choose clothes for themselves but for their
daughters. With the translation from the Sister, I learned that poverty was the
main reason for them to becoming prostitutes. I really felt bad for their situation. They have
limited job opportunities due to lack of education.
On
the following occasions, I went to the area with Miss Cora. There were women and girls on the street wearing
black mini dresses, others were wearing body-con dresses or cropped tops
or low cut tops with different styles of high heeled shoes. They were
standing at the corner or on the street showing many sexy poses to
attract customers. They beautify themselves with heavy makeup, bright
lipstick, artificial eyelashes, and many colorful,
attractive, tattoos cover their bodies. They also wear pierced rings
on their ears as well as on other parts their face.
Some
girls were standing by themselves to get more attention from customers
and others were with groups. Some had customers, got into the taxi and went
somewhere. There were also younger girls. I saw them inside the bars dancing on stage to erotic music under
the blue spotlight to entertain customers; mostly male, both locals and foreigners.
The girls were wearing one-piece clothing. Customers were drinking
expensive drinks and happily watching the dancing girls and ladies.
Listening
to them as they take their breakfast, I learned from one woman that she is supporting
financially her chronically ill father while another woman needed to send money
for the needs and educational expenses of her 3 children. For
them, this is the only way to meet their family’sneeds.
This
ministry experience made me see the reality of the lives of the women and girls
in situations of prostitutions.Who among us are constantly aware
that when everyone had fallen asleep, there are still people who struggle to
earn for their living? My encounter with
these women, including the trans-genders left me thinking about them and
reflecting on their situation. They earn
only 5 to 10 dollars per night. In earning that small amount of money they lose their dignity, lose their self-respect
and rendered excluded from society and exploited by bar owners and their senior friends who
became their pimps. Given no choice they are pushed to remain in
their current situation. They are voiceless, helpless, money-less because of
their limited capacities, poor resources and lack of support from the government.
Being at the margins put them at greater risk of becoming perpetual victims of abuse
and exploitation.
The
women were really grateful for our presence and support. They
say that the way we relate with them is a sign of love
from God. I believe that our actions to reach out to them make
them experience compassion and respect towards themselves. They are persons
gifted with dignity. They are not material
goods or purchasable commodity. In the light of this learning, I find this
ministry relevant in responding to the needs of women and girls in this
situation. At the same time I learned that I need to educate myself
more on the complex global issues and realities affecting women and children
and be equipped with skills to be effective in responding to the needs of girls
and women in prostitution.