The Child Jesus and child abuse

POCA

A belated Pit Senyor to all the devotees of the Blessed Child Jesus, and I hope all of you including the balikbayans enjoyed/are enjoying your stay here in Cebu. Thank God we had a peaceful grand procession and a very enjoyable and peaceful grand parade last Sunday.

I am happy that the street parties that used to be rowdy were monitored and regulated personally by Mayor Tomas Osmeña. Many of the revelers commended the mayor’s effort in controlling the rowdy crowd.

I am so happy that there are millions of people who paid tribute and showed their devotion to the Holy Child. Still, while these millions of people visit Cebu to celebrate the Holy Child’s feast, we continue to hear reports of child abuse against the province’s children.

I thought that because we honor our Child Jesus, we also respect and love our children. One thing I cannot understand is the hardheadedness of some people who directly blame the children when they are induced to commit crimes by adult criminals without realizing that the children are victims.

To rub salt to open wounds, the government neglected to protect our children from abuses because they don’t listen to the children who remain without a voice since they cannot vote yet.

Now with the deaths of Purita Sanchez and recently of Dr. Melanio Sanchez, their son Neil and I are contemplating of reviving the movement called Men Opposed to Violence Against Women and Children (MOVAWC).

I know that it is not going to be easy especially since there is no funding for this group, but we can do it because we are committed to work to protect our vulnerable children.

In our experience, ending the culture of violence means educating our people at a young age about the importance of loving our children and respecting their existence.
There is also the prevalent violence against women. In my experience and studies, many question why some men abuse women when women are supposed to be loved and respected.
I learned that they abuse women to gain power and control.

Some men perceive women as objects; that’s why they sexually abuse women. Their motives vary, but I found it offensive that some men sexually abuse their children because they would rather do it than allow someone else to do so.

I know that MOVAWC’s advocacy for gender sensitivity and equality is a lonely struggle though there are men like me who find repulsive the sight and idea of children and women being abused by men.

Our approach is to try and persuade these “macho” men to see the error of their ways. I am praying that more men are going to join our call to join our movement to respect and uphold the dignity of women and children.