Dear Future President,
The time has come for your opening task, creating change in the Philippines. To address, re-evaluate and sanctify our future. It is now your responsibility as your role as the biggest public servant of this country that you have now accepted. I trust that you fully comprehend your duty and I trust that you read this letter with an open mind and use this letter, written by a high school student, as an insight into what the youth demand in terms of change in our community.
First off, nobody with two eyes and a heart can ignore the everyday internal and external struggles every woman and even queer women in this world is facing, with even more challenges setting them up for failure. In everyday situations, walking down the street, buying a toy, in the media: we are seeing people judging them and setting standards at just a glance.
It has snowballed so much in time to the present day that it is very much ingrained subconsciously in society. In every aspect, there is always an opinion that drags us down. Gender, clothing, financial situation, job opportunities, relationship status, body types, our thoughts, minds, opinions, voice, values, and capabilities are all out in the open, all for people to open their mouths and release raw venom.
This brings our educational system down as in our country alone. The female presence in the Philippine educational systems is dominant—65.73% of elementary teachers are female1, while 70.59% of high-school educators are female2.
Women are seen as the perfect candidates to fill the demand, based on the general perception that they are more nurturing than men. Colleges increased the number of teacher training programs available and pushed female students to enroll in these programs at the expense of other majors. Yet they are slighted by the standards of their pay and maternity leave, among other benefits.
If there are unjust resolutions for the teachers themselves, how much more towards their female students? From getting dress code violations, the expectations when it comes to grades, and how they should act and treat their male classmates. This goes on to their teenage years when they are more vulnerable to guys in the streets or classrooms, even relatives making them uncomfortable in family meet-ups.
And queer people, or anyone who affirm their place in the LGBTIQA+ community, have a higher wall to climb.
Even at a young age, our society labels them with old-fashioned stereotypes that prevent them from feeling accepted in their own communities. Our laws are against them, even when it comes to their relationships. There is no solidified education and inclusive perception of their own choices in our schools and in our practices. Once we shut down anyone, nobody else can go through.
I choose to communicate my earnest stand in making this social issue addressed because even though this directly impacts me, I wonder how much more queer and cis-gendered Filipinas have it worse. I express the utter importance of this issue being aimed at, for it hinders us all and it truly disgusts me how much ignorance one can have over this issue. I stand for progress for everyone’s benefit and never their expense.
As the constitutional monarch and the person in charge of overseeing the well-being and advancement of the people and society, the President must address the social issues that are hindering us from advancing as a third-world country.
The President should take the initiative to learn about and improve the individuals affected by this social issue, as well as set an example for why they are a matter to be set straight. It’s critical that issues are handled, especially in this situation, that the problems of the female population are heard and recognized. Addressing this issue will transform the lives of millions of individuals, families, and communities. It would manifest itself in improved working environments, family values, and a higher moral character. Queer and cis-gendered women’s mental, emotional, and physical health would improve immensely.
The advancement to this quandary would help start the change in so many problems that branch off from this issue such as sexual harassment, homophobia, gender stereotyping, and more. It would demonstrate to the youth a better future in which they can flourish, as well as more possibilities and a shift in our stereotyped thinking.
The way I see how this issue can be addressed firsthand is to set proper teachings and laws about this. For victims and citizens to have better, established rights concerning their whole being as a female. Provide them equal pay, equal opportunities, and equal rights. Educate those in local schools and barangays on this matter to stop the stereotypes.
Create workplace laws that allow queer and cis-gendered women to keep their jobs while maintaining their responsibilities as parents, and provide financial help if jobless, a single-parent, or in poverty. Highlight queer and cis-gendered women in media in different roles that are usually played by men, or show inspiring queer and cis-gendered women for young girls as their role models.
The future of these initiatives will be shown in time but is started by actions made in the present day. With these ideas, there will be improvements in sectors such as education, mental and physical welfare, family welfare, financial welfare, and to businesses and our little communities, among others.
Dear President, I hope you heed the cries of the youth and earnestly request your time to read and digest this letter in the hopes that it will provide you an insight into what the youth demand in terms of change in this community. I pray that you will take the steps for creating a longer, sustainable, and more inclusive lifeline for this country. I am eagerly waiting for your success in creating it.
We depend on your new position as the constitutional monarch and must implore you to stay humble and see the country in the eyes of people hungry for a better world. The social issues I’m writing to you about barely touch the surface of what needs to happen to better our society, but they will create a change, a difference we’ve been waiting for long before its expired deadline.
Yours truly,
Kenya Saschka D. Comeros
Grade 9, Cebu City National Science High School
REFERENCES
1 As of 2017 according to the World Bank Data
2 As of 2019 according to the World Bank Data