PSA Bohol Provincial Statistical Office had a one day activity for the culmination of this year’s 2018 women’s month celebration.  Held on a Monday, the 28^th day of March at our provincial office.  All PSA Bohol employees were in attendance.

Our guest speaker was from the Tagbilaran City Police Office.  Topics that were discussed were; Violence Against Women and Children and Trafficking in Persons and we did find it appropriate that Police Officer 1  Nasiel Penales, a lady police officer was sent to discuss said topics.  She shared to us not only the legal aspects but also her experiences in dealing with women victims of such crimes.  According to her there are three types of abuse and one of which is the usual, commonly seen, easy to spot and composed the bulk of the reported cases of violence which is the physical abuse.

There is also the financial abuse, although common but few are reported to authorities. Our culture could be one of the reasons for the many unreported cases. This is when wives are denied the right to use or avail of the financial resources of the husband or quite commonly are denied the use of hubby’s ATM.  The third type is emotional abuse.  It is seldom or never reported to authorities and most often neglected because it is hard to spot.  Another reason is the abused person doesn’t have a clue that such treatment  is punishable by law and worst is that they never knew that an abuse has been done.  The most common example of such abuse to women is when the wife has been repeatedly told that she has become fat and therefore not so desirable. The joke; “coca-cola body before, now coca-cola litro”, would qualify as an abuse.  Yoo-hoo, men who are guilty raise your hands or make some noise.  Yes, the PSA Hunks did serenade the ladies and were presented with roses.

The activity continued in the afternoon after a sumptuous lunch.  A film showing followed and before the day ended we had a forty minute Zumba dance session and a basketball game to keep us up on our toes. Women are the very essence of our lives without them we can never be.  It is essential that we provide them our respect and care and treat them equally.  Let’s all celebrate for all the women.