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bita bita and and the the botflies botflies

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summary Peklat Cream Bita and The Botflies "Peklat Cream" is a narrative, jazzy-rock song by the Filipino indie band Bita and the Botflies that was released back in October 2019. The song grazed through an array of sensitive topics that concern the feminist movement and how society makes an impact on various aspects of women's lives, Including domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual objectification, and familial pressure. "Peklat Cream" embodied a woman's internal struggle to attain beauty in these strained social contexts. Ultimately, the incredible pressure and influence that the artificial, shallow, pretentious, and judgmental society today generates on people, making them cover up their flaws in order to fit into the standard they have made. This song clearly portrays and shows the harsh and unforgiving reality of life itself.

editorial cartoon by eve Juanillo

"Checkmate"— where do you run when 'love' holds you trapped on losing ground?

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Society Ate the Fat Kid Growing up, I was always the fat kid. So naturally, I was an easy target for my friends and family to make fun of; if not through passiveaggressive comments to my mother about my size, they always squeezed my cheeks too tightly or made drums out of my stomach. I usually just laughed along with them out of respect, but until now, I still remember the names they used to call me, and I still carry their words before eating a meal or exercising. Most of their intentions were probably pure and meant for entertainment, but something about consistently being the butt of the joke can leave a good scar or two on a developing boy.

Like many, I still struggle with body image and fitting into society’s tolerable little box, but I know better now than when I was a child, and I have a much greater shot of not letting it all consume me.

I recall being told by someone that our bodies are only given to us once, and I remind myself of this in times of great insecurity when I retreat into that closet of self-hatred. It is true, after all. Life is too short and precious to take for granted. I’ve come to the conclusion that we have one shot, and then poof! We’re gone. No more of the comfort of warm hugs on a rainy day or brief stomach aches out of genuine laughter. So I The internet didn’t help with this either. Of cannot waste a moment by spending half my time course, it has done me a lot of good—I was able drowning in regret and sorrow over things I do to develop my interests, expand my knowledge, not have control over. meet some of the most amazing strangers, and even communicate with ones I’ve already known Sometimes, I reminisce about the days when from afar. But along with all this good came a lot I didn’t think about my weight. I catch myself of bad too. At a very young age, I was wanting to go back to a time when I could wear overexposed to unrealistic and unattainable Spongebob shirts and shark-shaped slippers while beauty standards. Social media amplified the devouring a plate of pasta and nobody cared (or toxic voices that dictated what everyone should maybe I didn’t notice their comments). But I’ve or shouldn’t look like; It contributed to the come to accept that part of growing up is tradition of shaming one’s body that has passed becoming conscious and aware of everything down from generation to generation. around you a little bit more. It is what has helped our society progress, and it is doing the same I remember watching videos online of thing for me because there is harm in pretending. people sharing their experiences with eating Only by acknowledging what I’ve been through disorders, only to use their stories as tips for what am I finally able to move on—in darkness, we find I have to do in order to achieve my dream body. I light; in silence, we hear music; and in even used their before pictures as reference and vulnerability, we gain strength. inspiration. Looking back, I realize now how that was such a concerning mentality. I would never wish anyone, especially the kids today, to look down on themselves and degrade their beauty because of toxic comparisons.

One of Many: The Biggest Scar of a Woman Raised by the Patriarchy “It changed who I am. I really think that I wasn’t this person before the incident happened," said Janelle Anciano, 16, as she recalled her worst experience of sexual assault.

“I don’t have one certain abuser… There are many. I was clueless that it was already happening when I was in sixth grade," she explained. But among all the cases she has encountered, none was quite as traumatic as her most recent involvement with an adult guy who pursued her knowing well enough that she was underaged. “I was a minor and he was 18.”

“It’s a different kind of validation kasi.

Feeling ko [noon] pag na-se-sexualize ka, na-vavalidate ka which was wrong," she added, sharing about how she thought they were in a relationship and how she trusted him because he said so.

“October 5, 2021," Janelle stated with precision. It was the date her abuser first sent an unsolicited picture of his privates and pressured her to do the same. She wasn’t able to do so at the moment but as time went on, the weight of his demand only grew heavier until eventually, she gave in.

"I don’t know why. Maybe I was manipulated. I didn’t know that it was out of line since I was gaslighted to think that it was normal and that it was fine.”

Although, it did not stop there. “If he wants to masturbate, he would really force me to send even if I tell him that it’s not okay because I’m with people.” Apparently, the abuser has a habit of insisting that Janelle should go to a restroom or someplace where she is alone for the sole purpose of texting back explicit pictures of herself for his pleasure.

It wasn’t long until their medium switched from messages to video calls under the abuser’s advances. “Apart from me sending my own nudes, he would call me on facetime and ask me to masturbate and show it to him.”

In the end, she wasn’t even able to be the one to let go and cut ties with the source of her trauma and anxiety because it is he who broke up with her over his liking of her friend.

The aftermath led Janelle to build walls and keep everything locked inside for months. “I had no one," she revealed. “During those times, it was just me because I was too afraid to tell people, especially my family.” At that point, all that had happened tainted her view of herself.

“Every time that I take a shower, I’ll rub my skin roughly to the point where I get wounds because I feel so dirty.”

This encounter is only the latest among numerous times Janelle has been sexually assaulted and she is certain of it being the most negatively impactful. “Before, I was so confident, but now I get anxious even with the tiniest things." But when asked for advice directed towards anyone who is experiencing a similar struggle, she ended the interview by expressing, “They have to be strong because, at the end of the day, it’s just gonna be them who will fight and try to heal themselves even if it seems impossible to heal themselves alone.”