Irene Sarmiento "The Great Philippine Literary Boys' Club" -#MeToo Philippines Series #2

 

 

Irene Sarmiento

WELCOME TO THE #METOO PHILIPPINES SERIES hosted by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard and her publishing house PALH. The writer Nikko Miguel Garcia explains the background of how this #MeToo Philippines Series came about. Please click here. 

 The #METOO PHILIPPINES SERIES has the purpose of educating and raising consciousness about sexual harassment and abuse and injustice in the Philippines. All articles and photos are copyrighted by the individual authors. All rights reserved. Cecilia Brainard and PALH have permission from the authors to use their materials.  

 Here is Irene Sarmiento with her personal essay: "The Great Philippine Literary Boys' Club." 

 

BIO: IRENE SARMIENTO  is the first Filipino author to be invited to the White Ravens Festival, which is held in Munich and celebrates excellence in international children’s and youth literature.

She wrote Stray Cats, published by Ateneo de Manila University Press (2023). This work of young adult literature highlights the heroism of girls growing up in Manila, where economic inequity and human exploitation form the undercurrents of everyday life. Stray Cats has received glowing reviews and was one of the Kids’ Choice winners at the 8th National Children’s Book Awards. 

 

Irene has also published two illustrated children’s books with Anvil. Her award-winning Tabon Girl (2012) discusses gender roles and expectations through concepts in archaeology and Philippine history. Her short stories have received accolades from The Palanca Memorial Foundation, Philippines Free Press, Philippine Graphic/Fiction Awards, and Stories to Change the World. She has contributed opinion pieces to Rappler about issues concerning migration, race, and healthcare, which are a blend of personal histories, research, and analyses of current events. These are based on her experiences as an occupational therapist and former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).

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THE GREAT PHILIPPINE LITERARY BOYS' CLUB

by

IRENE SARMIENTO

Copyright 2026 by Irene Sarmiento, All Rights Reserved

A bingo card no one asked for

Scrolling through my Facebook feed on the night of July 8, 2026, I spotted a two-day-old post from the nationally renowned author Alfred “Krip” Yuson, depicting an AI-generated image of Emma Watson in a white bikini and high heels. Yuson captioned it, “Bellingham, Kane, and Emma Watson of England beat the Burritos, 3-2.”

It was apparently a World Cup update, and by “Burritos,” the esteemed Filipino writer meant Mexicans.

Gross.

I found a bingo card no one asked for: a cultural elder speaking his truth in the form of a sports reference, generative AI slop, a successful young woman being objectified, and… (drumroll please) a racist joke.

As if things couldn’t get any crasser, broadcast journalist Howie Severino commented, “What position did she play?” to which Yuson replied, “They parked the defensive bus behind her. Then she flew on the Quidditch broomstick until she caught the Golden Snitch on extra time. [smiley face]”

The Safe Spaces Act (Republic Act No. 11313), a.k.a. the Bawal Bastos Law, penalizes uploading or sharing media that contains sexual content without consent. The only reason Yuson’s post might not fully qualify as sexual harassment is that Emma Watson hasn’t seen it, and therefore, can’t file a complaint. Given her status as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, it’s likely that Watson would not be okay with the publication of her AI-generated half-naked likeness, along with comments degrading her in a fictitious sport played by a character she portrayed as a child.

Since no one pointed out what to me was Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment (GBOSH), or at the very least bastos, I decided to say something.

“Ahhh, ganito nga pala pinag-uusapan ng mga men about women (Ahhh, this is what men say about women)—including women generated by AI without their clothes or consent,” I typed.

I’ll admit, even though it was a small act, it wasn’t easy for me. Worried about getting dogpiled by Yuson and his friends in high places, I took screenshots to protect myself from potential backlash.

But no one noticed and nothing happened. Not yet.

Ramil Digal Gulle - Are Filipino Writing Workshops Safe Places? #MeToo Philippines

ARE FILIPINO WRITING WORKSHOPS SAFE SPACES FOR NEWBIE FEMALE (OR EVEN MALE) WRITERS?

by Ramil Digal Gulle 

Copyright 2026 by Ramil Digal Gulle  

Reprinted by permission of the author. This first appeared in 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Er9yK8nT5/

Are Filipino Writing Workshops Safe Places for Newbie Female (or even Male) Writers?

THIS IS A VALID QUESTION.  Dahil ilang former workshop fellows na ang nagbahagi ng sarili nilang masamang karanasan sa mga older, established writers na naging panelists at mentors nila. Basahin ang mga post nina Gian Lao at Marguerite Alcazaren De Leon.

Mariquit E. Soriano - "Who Does She Think She Is?" - #MeToo Philippines Series 1

 

 

Mariquit E. Soriano

 WELCOME TO THE #METOO PHILIPPINES SERIES hosted by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard and her publishing house PALH. The writer Nikko Miguel Garcia explains the background of how this #MeToo Philippines Series came about. Please click here.

 The #METOO PHILIPPINES SERIES has the purpose of educating and raising consciousness about sexual harassment and abuse and injustice in the Philippines. All articles and photos are copyrighted by the individual authors. All rights reserved. Cecilia Brainard and PALH have permission from the authors to use their materials.  

 To start our #MeToo Philippines Series here is Mariquit E. Soriano with her  personal essay:

"Who Does She Think She Is?" 

BIO: MARIQUIT E. SORIANO had the best of both her career as a First Grade Civil Service qualified government employee and a private sector middle management executive.  

After a brief stay in the United States, she returned to pick up from where she left in the practice of marketing and communications.  She got hired in two advertising and public relations agencies and oversaw accounts in the fields of telecommunications, sports, and IT, to name a few.

She equally highlights her 12-year employment in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) global organizations where she was a frequent awardee as Customer/Technical Service Representative. 

Currently the Proprietor of KitSunshine Real Estate Services, engaged in real estate buy and sell, and lease, she enjoys the challenges of real estate project selling and brokerage.

She has four children one of whom is deceased, and three grandchildren.

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WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS?

by MARIQUIT E. SORIANO 

Copyright 2026 by Mariquit E. Soriano, all rights reserved. 

 

MANY YEARS AFTER the harrowing experience that I had in a telecom company, I feel the pain of being shortchanged by our Philippine justice system, betrayed by media friends, ridiculed. “Who does she think she is?”’

As a mother of four growing children, I aspired for professionalism and be compensated for work, oftentimes extending beyond and on top of what was required of me. I was in marketing and corporate communications, weaseled my way through conglomerates, and advertising and public relations agencies. In the telecom company, the position was for a Vice-President, whittled down to Director for Marketing and Communications, because, it was clearly pointed out I'm not worthy enough. My predecessor was a daughter of its Vice Chairman. "Beth took the position with her," snickered the recruiting officer.

Fil-Am Author Cecilia Brainard Creates 'Philippine #MeToo Accounts' - #MeToo Philippines

 

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia 

Fil-Am Author Cecilia Brainard Creates Philippine #MeToo Accounts 

          By Nikko Miguel Garcia 

Copyright 2026 by Nikko Miguel Garcia 
published in Radar Lifestyle, September 21, 2026, Radar.ph on Facebook, reprinted by permission of the author. 

 

She invites abuse survivors to document their experiences in the wake of 'Junglegate'

VETERAN FILIPINO-AMERICAN AUTHOR Cecilia Brainard invited Filipinos here and abroad to come forward with their accounts of abuse—launching what appears to be the first dedicated project by a prominent writer to collect and publish survivor accounts.

In a Sept. 22 post, Brainard said “Philippine #MeToo Accounts” will initially be published on her blog, with the possibility that the essays will later be collected into a book. 

She said the essays may run from 2,500 to 5,000 words, and contributors should not name the alleged perpetrator.  (Addendum: Shorter pieces and poems are welcome.)

Survivors, regardless of gender or occupation, are encouraged to recall details of the abuse, including where and when it happened, their aspirations, and the people they were with, “without being too graphic.” 

Brainard also asked contributors to write about how they felt while the abuse was happening and afterward, how they dealt with the experience over the years, and how they are doing now. 

She said the accounts will undergo review by two lawyers in her family amid concerns over libel. 

Brainard set an Oct. 15 deadline, although she noted that survivors may submit their pieces “as soon as ready.” (Addendum: email to palhbooks@gmail.com)