Invisible Asia Ep 8: ‘I was afraid I’d be rejected if I told people of my abuse’

16:14 min

Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.

The Straits Times' Philippines correspondent Raul Dancel casts the spotlight on sexual abuse and domestic violence against vulnerable children in the Philippines. He speaks with Filipino Erick Reyes, 44, on his early experience with abuse, which left him fighting his demons well into his adulthood. 

Professor Zenaida Rosales, executive director of the Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse in the Philippines, also discusses deep-seated issues related to child abuse. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning. 
Erick and his siblings view their violent and often-absent father with fear, loathing and anger (0:49)
Five-year-old Erick is sexually abused by an older boy and left feeling hurt, guilty and confused (2:30)
At age 12, he decides to enrol in a seminary to escape his "demons" (4:39) 
Dropping out of the seminary (6:33)
Why sexually abused boys seldom report or discuss their experiences in the Philippines, where the crime of rape applies only to women (8:00)
Erick finds understanding, catharsis and healing in a group similarly trying to reconcile their gender preferences with their religious faith (11:24)
Erick speaks out to prevent more voiceless young people from going through the same painful journey he did as a youth (12:26) 

Read the full story by Raul Dancel: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-was-afraid-id-be-rejected-if-i-told-people-of-my-abuse

Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Ernest Luis & Adam Azlee

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia

Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b

Discover ST & BT podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt

Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts

https://bt.sg/moneyhacks

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 

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Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below:

Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks

Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt

Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN

Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7

Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ

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Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE

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Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#InvisibleAsia

Invisible Asia Ep 8: &lsquo;I was afraid I&rsquo;d be rejected if I told people of my abuse&rsquo;
16:14 min
Synopsis: The Invisible Asia Podcast is a special edition series in which The Straits Times casts the spotlight on people and communities living in the shadows of their societies where they exist largely unseen and unheard of. Do follow all nine episodes of Invisible Asia over the next two months on The Straits Times podcast channel on Apple podcasts, Spotify or Google podcasts.
The Straits Times' Philippines correspondent Raul Dancel casts the spotlight on sexual abuse and domestic violence against vulnerable children in the Philippines. He speaks with Filipino Erick Reyes, 44, on his early experience with abuse, which left him fighting his demons well into his adulthood.&nbsp;
Professor Zenaida Rosales, executive director of the Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse in the Philippines, also discusses deep-seated issues related to child abuse. Our series' narrator is Tan Jia Ning.&nbsp;
<ol>
<li>Erick and his siblings view their violent and often-absent father with fear, loathing and anger (0:49)</li>
<li>Five-year-old Erick is sexually abused by an older boy and left feeling hurt, guilty and confused (2:30)</li>
<li>At age 12, he decides to enrol in a seminary to escape his "demons" (4:39)&nbsp;</li>
<li>Dropping out of the seminary (6:33)</li>
<li>Why sexually abused boys seldom report or discuss their experiences in the Philippines, where the crime of rape applies only to women (8:00)</li>
<li>Erick finds understanding, catharsis and healing in a group similarly trying to reconcile their gender preferences with their religious faith (11:24)</li>
<li>Erick speaks out to prevent more voiceless young people from going through the same painful journey he did as a youth (12:26)&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Read the full story by Raul Dancel: <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-was-afraid-id-be-rejected-if-i-told-people-of-my-abuse">https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/i-was-afraid-id-be-rejected-if-i-told-people-of-my-abuse</a>
Produced by: Magdalene Fung, Tan Jia Ning, Ernest Luis &amp; Adam Azlee
Edited by: Adam Azlee
Discover Invisible Asia Podcast playlist: <a href="https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia">https://omny.fm/shows/st-bt/playlists/invisible-asia</a>
Discover Invisible Asia Video playlist: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnK3VE4BKduNKeEL19yhXFVHxGB8X315b</a>
Discover ST &amp; BT podcasts:
Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP
Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt
Websites: http://str.sg/stbtpodcasts
https://bt.sg/moneyhacks
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg&nbsp;
---
Discover more niche podcast series by ST and BT below:
Follow BT Money Hacks Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks
Follow BT Mark To Market Podcast on: http://bt.sg/btmark2mkt
Follow Health Check Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaN
Follow Green Pulse Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWaf
Follow Asian Insider Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa7
Follow Lunch With Sumiko Podcast on: https://str.sg/J6hQ
Follow #PopVultures Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWad
Follow Life Weekend Picks Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWa2
Follow #GameOfTwoHalves Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWRE
Follow Bookmark This! Podcast on: https://str.sg/JWas
Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!
#InvisibleAsia

Synopsis: Our ALL-IN-ONE channel showcases our discussions on Singapore youth perspectives and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, money, career, sports, pop culture and music. 

Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST's app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Synopsis: Our ALL-IN-ONE channel showcases our discussions on Singapore youth perspectives and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, money, career, sports, pop culture and music. 
Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST's app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis &amp; The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

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