“Pssst! Miss, sexy mo naman!” Another bystander calls out with his words flinching Maria from her trance as she keeps walking down the busy street, tugging her bag close to her chest she pulls her jacket tightly and tries her best not to show any fear. It was the third time that week and who knows how much she’ll have to go through the same dilemma for the next weeks where she has to hear another set of mocking laughter and eyes watching her every move and what’s underneath her skirt—making her feel isolated and small, like her body belonged to someone else.

The ‘compliment’ was filled with their malicious intentions, it was a daily struggle to not only Maria herself but almost 3 to 5 (60%) of the women population—hearing every unwanted side comments and catcalls from the busiest of streets to smallest of spaces and to even trusted public officials in his morning interview.

This Women’s Month let us bring light to the tight grip of sexism on women—their bodies objectified, voices ignored, and dignity is treated like a cheap possession. With many women not able to walk freely in and outside of their home while most men could walk away without any noise or consequence.

“Alam mo, minsan, nasa Shangri-la ako, nakita ko si Anne Curtis, ang ganda-ganda pala niya. You know, may desire sa loob ko na nag-init talaga […] Hindi naman siguro ako pwedeng kasuhan dahil kung anu-ano ‘yong na-imagine ko,” a public comment from the Quezon City Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay, a lawmaker who should be law-abiding and trusted by its people. From that day, he became one of the few examples on how far everyday respect still has to go even in spaces of power for women.

When the mind speaks more than the mouth does, it becomes a powerful weapon that can reveal a man with ill intention. While the subject is purely invented, it still does not diminish the fact that women are still seen as objects to satisfy their own sensual fantasies and supposed imaginations—but does Ms. Curtis or every other women deserves such treatment?

It buzzed citizens with reactions, and some switched the blame on Anne with online trolls targeting her broadly saying: “She deserves it—shows off her body in magazines and beer ads,” emphasizing that actions should be expected when showing mere photos on public social platforms and her career as a model artist.

While Alvin Aragon posts on Instagram about the Biblical ‘Sin of Lust’, “Kaya Filipino men, protect your wife. May ‘sin of lust’ kasi. And Filipino women dress modestly to avoid sexual desire. Kasi nga may sin of lust,” claiming that even glimpses of a woman’s cleavage or bare skin could tempt any eyes that are laid on them.

These attacks hit all women—from famous social figures to ordinary workers—twisting choices into harassment excuses, fueling a systemic blame on a woman who was never subjected to such inappropriate behaviour. No one should hold this tight grip on a woman who only posed for her own expression of her confidence as a woman herself, because it’s not an open consent to ridicule and sexualize their bodies when the man himself has no ability to have self control.

Then Curtis’s sister, Jasmin Curtis-Smith, defended her in a public post on Facebook where she also spoke for many women out there, “This moment is not about one female celebrity. It is about how ALL WOMEN, regardless of profession, continue to be reduced in spaces dominated by men in power.” She describes how a mere public official narrating their sexual fantasies and imagination about a woman reinforces a culture that limits them as a spectacle, objects for commentary rather than as an equal living human being deserving of fair respect.

Furthermore, an issued statement accompanied by a heartfelt apology was made to Curtis by Suntay’s wife, Mrs. Sheila Guevara-Suntay, emphasizing with a feminist conviction, “No woman should ever be spoken that way.”. It becomes a profound reminder that such behaviour is not only to be dismissed but women of all levels and ages shouldn’t have to be described in a manner that disregards their dignity out of the window, without warning or a matter of their consent.

Moreover, Suntay sends a mere apology to Ms. Curtis, but insists there was no malice in his “fabricated” story. But for many women and Women Organizations, this wasn’t simply the case as they advocate for his disruptive behaviour with Gabriela Partylist filing Safe Spaces Act complaints while the Philippine Commission on Women branded it as “public sexual objectification,” towards Mr. Suntay.

Because this was no simple callout of a personality but making a powerful move to protect women who are still talked down to and belittled with their rights and freedoms to freely feel safe in their bodies. Because it shouldn’t always be one woman alone but many coming together to bring justice and becoming the voice for every other victim out there who is also hesitant to speak out.

Which led to Ms. Anne Curtis, finally stepping out of the shadows, standing her ground against Suntay, she expressed how not only she was shocked but also hurt and disturbed. She strongly rejects Suntay’s apology as she brings a reminder to every woman who had been spoken about the same way.

“We deserve better. Not just now, while this topic is a hot issue but EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.”

With Mr. Suntay’s words filled with malice being made in public was just one of the few examples that women go through on a daily basis. Such behaviour should not go unnoticed and brushed off insensitively without the consideration of how our fellow women would not only feel but also how they always intend to devalue their worth, when women are so much more than their mere fantasies, when women are deserving of a better leader who can uplift and treat them with basic respect.

What happened to Anne Curtis should become a realization how even with the continuous development of feminism and women continuously protecting women, cases like this are still happening around us and makes us remember what every Women’s Month stood and fought for all these centuries.

Until every woman feels safe, well respected and equally seen as human beings, we must never forget that they are never worthy of such distasteful treatment especially when it violates her own safety towards their body. Just like the women before us who faced every discrimination with much bravery, we will continually become the women who will fight for the voices of the present and future generations.

Women deserve better treatment. Women deserve a better leader.

Article by Ann Adona and Elloiza Acedillo