I Saw His Ad On Tv

I first sat with an 'escort', a 'guest relations officer', or to be blunt about it, a 'prostitute' about twenty years ago, in an exclusive room of a classy joint for men who could afford their drinks, and their striptease. Why I was there in the company of these women, is another story altogether. When I was first introduced to one, I could not think of anything to say, but I was picking my brain as to the proper start of a conversation. I distinctly recall I was very conscious not to offend my new acquaintance, and that I had to respect her, as any other. I told her, 'your lipstick shade is really nice. What color is it?'. She smiled, and told me, with the lipstick brand. I was also using the brand, and told her that. She seemed to appreciate my effort in engaging with her decently. Until, of course, her work started to need her attention, so she shifted focus from me, to her work.

Of course, I eavesdropped, when she and her 'guest' started to talk. Her guest asked how old she was, she said 19. Her guest asked her, 'why are you not in school? You should be in school.' Yeah, she should be but she cannot afford it, moron, that's why she earns a living by you and your hand caressing her thigh, idiot. Those are the questions I wanted to ask, but did not, because it may open wounds unnecessarily, although I am almost sure these wounds were caused by poverty. That state where one lacks choices. 

I wonder if the Playgirls are of the same league? I mean that with no sarcasm, but this birthday party they performed in is quite the bone of contention among women's rights advocates and political parties lately. If they are not, then I am almost happy for them. At least they do not need to put their body out there for men to touch, for a price. Maybe they are performers, of another league altogether, and cater to audiences who scream at the sight of feigned intercourse. Of dirty old men who measure their manhood by the touches which lands on the bodies of these girls, where, and how close these touches were to the real deal. Of emcees who introduce them as 'gifts', not women, you know, like the fruits on a tray presented to a king by ladies-in-waiting carefully chosen by virtue of their thin waists, high noises, jetblack hair and scary stretched wrinkle-less foreheads. Of politicians who see no harm done in the dancing and the dry pumps performed not once but several times by a man from the audience, with one of the Playgirls.

There are friends of mine who go in and out of bars or clubs with performers like the Playgirls, and not affected by it. I don't because everything about 'that' simply offends my sensibilities. Of course I am not a saint, either. I do enjoy having one too many drinks at times, I dance, I sing with the band. The most disgusting thing I have done in those clubs was to vomit, and the toilet bowl seemed to have moved a little to the right on its own when I threw up, so I made a mess. I am offended and scandalized by shows going 'all-the-way', or even those which do not go that way but offer another kind of 'trip' which is to show sexual acts instead onstage, rather than dance numbers. Because maybe I count myself as one of the women, I am like them, I am the same. Many will say, of course not. You are not like them! And I would dare say, last time I checked I am a woman? 

So yes, I am upset with these men, these emcees, the audiences who volunteered to have 'fun' on stage. I am more upset with the politicians who made all these happen, I don't really care which party they are from, they are cheap, terribly disturbed human beings who need a session or two with my shrink and my therapist. And as if to make light of a situation, one of the party members allegedly defended the presence of the Playgirls as part of their 'norms' ('ganito kami dito', 'walang malisya'). Oh really? Then perhaps they should have all stripped their clothes off and went all the way, then, wala palang malisya eh. I just want to remind him, however, that those Playgirls? No matter how lewd they were described, they were women. They have the same breasts as his wife from which milk was sucked by his children. They have the same vaginas as his wife, through which his children entered this world. They have the same mouths, like his wife, with which she kisses their children. Perhaps that thought alone will make him change his mind about having these girls dance again in any of his sorties ever, or maybe not. I will leave that in the hands of the voters. Meantime, let me just say, in the strongest terms, 'eeeewwww'.