Talking About Sex in the Filipino Setting Literature & Language Essay (Essay Sample)

Hush Hush: Cutting the Red Tape on Sex
Candice Faye Kristen Lleses
A child sits on a plush couch, sandwiched in between his parents whose hands rest on the couch’s soft arm rest, watching a movie about a great bronzed. The child watches in childish admiration; his eyes glistening with every swing of the warrior’s sword. The scene changes, and the warrior is seen preparing for a war. He comes into a darkened room with his beautiful wife. They kiss, passionately. The mother explains, “Bastos, anak,” followed by heavy breathing and occasional moans. The hands remain over the child’s eyes for a minute or so. The strange breathing and the moaning stops. The hands are lifted off his little lids. The movie goes on. More men die upon the warrior’s sword. The violence goes on. The parents’ hands remain unmoved on the armrest.
Does this scenario look familiar? For most of us kids who have been brought up in a traditional Filipino household, I’d bet it is. To put it bluntly, the idea of talking about sex remains taboo in a society that remains heavily anchored on outdated values disguised as morals. Even in the classroom, having a simple, matter-of-fact conversation about sex is nearly impossible, and any remark about sex is still followed by awkward silence or rowdy snickers.