Sex tourism

The prostitution industry in the Philippines is a national disgrace. It reflects rampant corruption. Even children are not safe from sexual exploitation. (Cullen, 2011)

The sex industry in the Philippines is growing, spreading all over the nation. Hotels, bars and clubs, and even supposedly empty warehouses serve as fronts. An estimated 1.2 million single male tourists arrive every year but Exactly how many of them buy sex services is unknown; this is an underground business, after all. What’s clear is, however, is that sex tourists exploit and removes the humanity of nation’s youth. Both women and young children, including males, are on offer for those ready to pay in pursuit of sexual indulgence.

Some sex clubs proudly advertise local mayors’ permits and licenses to operate. The purpose of showing it is to tell the “customers” that the girls are supposedly clean of sexually-transmitted diseases. Once, a club operator proudly told Father Shay Cullen (2011) that government-paid health workers come to the clubs to do the tests to ensure the customers that the girls do not carry sexually transmitted diseases that can infect the customers.

I am really disappointed with the health workers because they seem to have no concern that young women are being sold and that they are being exposed to physical and psychological harm. Evidence gathered by NGOs proves beyond a doubt that children as young as 14 can be purchased by private arrangement (Cullen, 2011). Father Shay Cullen (2011) states that sometimes the victims are only eleven years old.  More or less one million children are brought into the sex trade every year worldwide according to UNICEF. The International Labour Organization (ILO) states the figure is more likely to 1.8 million. UNICEF estimates that as many as 60,000 minors are being exploited in the sex tourist business in the Philippines. NGOs believe the true figure is probably closer to 100,000.

I also heard about this on the radio where the radio jocks were discussing how an NGO with the collaboration of the police were able to stop an internet based sex business that is in Cebu city. The “business” involves letting minors (even children from age 11) be videoed, and the watchers in the internet will pay the “company” According to that report, there were different prices for each request. For example, If the customer wants to see a naked woman or child dancing, then he will pay, let’s say, $10. But if the customer wants more than just seeing them naked and dancing, the customer would have to pay more depending on how intense or how hard the request will be. When they went to the site, the operation was caught on the act with women and even children naked or actually doing their “work”. As I was hearing this, I was stunned. Then after a while, the radio jocks said that the women have permits, and that the children have their parents’ consent, which the representative of the “company” gladly presented to the police and NGO workers present. It was shocking to hear that there were parents who actually agreed that their child will be doing these kinds of things. It is so sad to hear that some parents would not care of their children’s minds will be corrupted for the sake of money.