THE LIFE OF A

“I used to have an allowance of 50,000 pesos a month, but now I barely have enough money to feed my family.

Those are the words that Magda told me as we sat at a McDonald is a hostess but between her, her boss, and her guests, she iswhat youcallasexworker.

We managed to talk to a hostess who secretly works as a prostitute in one of the bars here in Barretto, Olongapo. For her privacy and protection, we have given her the alias “Magda”, short for Magdalene. Olongapo was notorious for its red-light district but since the Americans left, business hasn’t beenthat strong.

How old are you and how long have you been doing this?I’m twenty-five years old and I’ve been doing this for a decade now. I startedatfifteen.

Do you recall how much your first payout was? Iremember it beingonly300pesos. I was no longer a virgin, so I thought that the price was decent for one night. But looking back, I was duped.

Do you have any benefits or protections on your work? We don’t. We don’t have health benefits, SSS, or retirement funds. We’re not even on a payroll and only get paid cash. We don’t pay any taxes either. But with so little earnings, it’s a benefit to not pay any taxes, right?

Was your life threatened at some point? I once had a drunk guest point a gun on me. Right when I finished the deed, he wouldn’t allow me to leave. I was forced to stay with him throughout the whole night. I broke down crying the next day when I got home, but I wanted to quit but I have nowhere else to go. Nor do I see anyother optiononhowI cansupport myself and myfamily.

What other methods of earning income do you know of? Some girls I know started selling drugs, while others tooktheir work online. They’d set up private live shows for those who canpay.

Magda is only one of the hundreds of sex workers that work in Central Luzon. We cannot blame themfor what theydo because they are only victims of poverty. Since sex work is still illegal in the Philippines, the lives of these women will continue to remain at risk. Their rights are violated on a regular basis and face exploitation. The pandemic has made situations for themevenworse.

Magda believing that COVID-19 is a hoax is proof that our educational system has its flaws. The fact that she has droppedoutofschool at such an early age, and that there are thousands inthe first place.

The government can actively pursue the sex work industry, create laws and ordinances against prostitution, but without fully addressing the issues behind it then the rate of poverty within the Philippines will continue to arise. In a few years there will be thousands of more people out there like Magda.

Even if all bars get permanently close, people will find ways to earn money. This is evident through Magda’s coworkers who started sellingtheir bodiesusing moderntechnology.

While sex work is considered a taboo, the reality is people are just trying to make a living. Poverty prevents the poor from accessing basic needs such as healthcare, education, and employment.

Human rights should always be considered in development therefore the authorities have to assess the needs of everyone and involvethemintheprocessofdevelopment.

It is a basic human right that the access to these needs should always be available regardless of economic status, age, race, and gender.

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Magda took her life several months after this interview was taken. May she be remembered as a mother who did all that she could to raise her children and feed her family.

Maythisalso beacallfor government authoritiesandthose inpower totakeactionto createprograms thatcanthese people and provide them opportunitiestolive abetter life.