University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

Introduction

“Hello, Miss Beautiful.” “Smile naman diyan (Give me a smile), miss!” How would you

like it if unfamiliar men said this to your mom, sister, daughter, or girlfriend? Those words stated

are not compliments at all. Although the word itself is not offending, but coming from a stranger

it is somehow offending to the part of women. This is not a compliment, this is called

“catcalling”. The problem is, many still cannot see the difference between the two. The fact is

women do not like being catcalled.

Catcalling occurs when men comment on mainly women's body on the street or worse

touch their body. Like a man shouts out “Nice ass” or blow a whistle on the street to a girl

walking down the street. Catcalling should be stopped. According to Concepcion (2017),

Catcalling is in its worst form, calling you “sexy”, whistling, or saying “sarap” as men cannot

contain their lust when they see a women walking in front of them wearing shorts or revealing

clothes.

Women should be respected no matter what they wear, and clothing does not dictate who

they really are. Women wear what they desire, women wear clothes that makes them feel

comfortable at all times. But how can it be possible nowadays since there is a lot of rude men

living in our society? A question that is still pending for answers. According to Gallego (2017),

catcalling does not only take place in the streets, even online it bleeds out to social media too.

The most common form of online catcalling is leaving lewd remarks on photos of women. These

can range from “ang ganda mo, idol” to disgusting and sexually explicit comments. Others

would even go as far as sending unsolicited sexual pictures. However since we are talking about
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

online harassment, senders have an easy way out and could easily claim that they were hacked

whenever they get called out. Rarely do they ever apologize. According to Fredrickson and

Roberts (2010), the internalization of sexual objectification leads to constant self-monitoring,

creating a state of self-consciousness that breeds feelings of shame and anxiety. Others could

hardly believe that catcalling was an issue at all. But it is. Men say women get offended when an

ugly stranger say “ang sexy mo naman miss”, but when a rich men said those words they take it

as a compliment. Men said that it is somehow “discriminating” because in defense all they want

to do is give a simple compliment. But men did not know that for a women it is very offending.

The developers choose to tackle the issue of catcalling in the Philippines in order to be a

helping hand for those who cannot defend for themselves. A website will be created that will

serve as a place of comfort for those who were catcalled. Infographics are present to inform the

victims about what they can actually do whenever they are catcalled. The developers would also

like to inform the victims that in order to see change, the developers will help them to drill into

the minds of men that what they are doing is wrong and would no longer be tolerated. Empower

them to stand up and speak out about this injustice, and that they should no longer pretend to be

okay whenever they are disrespected. This scenario is not going to change by keeping mum and

taking precautionary measures because women are not the problem, the men who catcall are. The

developers wished to address to the victims that our website is not just for showing support for

them, but also to spread awareness and strengthen their campaign against catcalling.

Purpose
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

The purpose of the developers is to show an advocacy against catcalling. Catcalling has

always been a part of our country’s social issues, but unfortunately, catcalling is an issue that is

being foreseen by our society. Knowing that there are laws made for it, but as fellow citizens,

let’s admit that it is truly difficult to put an action against these matters.

One purpose of the developers is to provide a website for people to visit. Having a

website would show the developer’s activism and support in making a change against this type

of harassment. Furthermore, there will be special features on the developer’s website to show

videos, photos, advocacy posts and many more, plus viewers can read and at the same time share

their stories about catcalling. In addition, the developers will put up a Facebook page, in relation

to the website to spread the developer’s encouragement against this social issue.

Through the developer’s media sites/ social media page, would be a huge voice to a lot of

people in our society, primarily to achieve the following purposes:

1. To be a voice in preventing public harassment

2. To help people being traumatized in their experience

3. To help the victims bring their confidence back

4. To inspire people with true stories and experiences by the viewers

5. To help people stand-up for themselves and do something against catcalling

Description
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

Catcalling is the use of crude language, verbal expressions, and non-verbal expression

that takes place in public areas such as streets, sidewalks, or bus stops. Victims need

empowerment. Usually, victims get too scared to fight back, but, the least a bystander can do is

call them out when the victim itself isn't doing anything (maybe due to fear, or they just choose

to ignore).

Calling out these type of people (catcallers) is a way, and a step forward to say that

whatever they are doing is not okay. The researchers’ objective was to inform people that

catcalling is present and evident. It is not simple compliments that strangers may say but they

can have negative effects on the victims’ psychological well-being.

The researchers’ 2nd objective is to show how to prevent catcalling and how we can help

the victims. There are different ways to avoid or handle being catcalled. First way is to assess

your safety, there are different reason on why you’re being catcalled, the most common reason is

the way you dress yourself, revealing clothes may provoke men on complimenting you, thus you

being catcalled, so the best way to avoid being catcalled is to not to use revealing outfits or if you

can’t help it then cover yourself with a jacket while in the street or when you’re about to walk to

a group of men. A second way to avoid being catcalled is to travel with the group or with a guy,

the second reason on why you’re being catcalled is because you’re alone, men tend to catcalled

women because you’re by yourself and boost their confidence to verbally assault you.

Next way is to make eye contact and use a firm voice, strong body language, particularly

eye contact will surprise your harasser. It forces them to think about what they’ve said or done.

In an unwavering tone tell them that what they’re doing is wrong and that you can tell the

authorities what is happening. There are still a lot of ways to avoid being catcalled like Ignoring
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

it, faking a phone call, not walking at night, carry a defensive weapon like pepper spray or

baseball bat. The group can help the victims by raising awareness through the website that they

will be creating. The website will show all the information needed on how women avoid being

catcalled and how to deal with it. It will also contain a video showing the researcher’s advocacy

toward catcalling. The victims can share their experience and opinions on the website where

other people can comment on it.

The researchers or developers will conduct a social experimen t wherein certain girl or

girls from the group will go undercover while walking in an alley with a lot of people and see

who will catcall her/them. The group will also conduct an interview to people who experienced

being catcalled. The authorities can also visit the website where they can take action and help the

victims by making catcalling punishable.

Support
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

 Transportation fee (800)

Transport fee for the Social Experiment cost Php 400 estimated in total, and the

researchers consist of 8 members must spend Php 50 per member.

 Electricity

 Since the advocacy pages are online, electricity bill may occur—but having it home as a

personal asset, it would vary depending on the member’s usage for laptop, printer,

cellphones, cameras and etc., for doing the concept paper and developing the web page.

 Concept Paper (200)

The developers’ concept paper is estimated for the maximum cost of Php 20 and each of

the researchers will give Php 2.50 pesos.

 Food(1200)

For the lunch and snacks of the researchers, they may spend in the estimated cost of

Php150 in total each with the total of Php1200 all in all. For their food and snack in

making the videos and in meetings.

Contact Information
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

 Allyza M. Agustin

09759454683

[email protected]

 William Harry L. Barrun

09569223638

[email protected]

 Rasha Seth A. Cajucom

09950258116

[email protected]

 Katrina Arian D. Catindig

09759386073

[email protected]

 Li An Cortez

09264719623

[email protected]

 Vincent Elicaño

09177220401

vincentelicañ[email protected]

 Mary Joy Endo

09178033404
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

[email protected]

 Kyla Joyce Guyala

09263232693

[email protected]

 Chad R. Macatangay

09365124789

[email protected]

 Kyla Kryzlle B. Retirado

09204290952

[email protected]

 Shereena M. Urmeneta

09559578770

[email protected]

Narrative Report
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

William Harry L. Barrun

Doing this activity or raising awareness was fun and it really helps me see how the

women deal with catcalling and how they coped with it. Seeing other people support the

awareness that we created enlightens me and shows that there’s still hope in stopping this social

issue. Doing the activities that we have to fill up the website and Facebook page was fun, it

strengthens the teamwork of our group. I or we realize that time that even though some of the

women doesn’t use revealing dress, they still are being catcalled. I would also like to continue

the campaign that we created and started if I will be given the opportunity and time to continue

it. If I am fortunate enough to find a job, I can continue this awareness so that I can help the

victims of catcalling.
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

Rasha Seth A. Cajucom

For the past 2 weeks in handling our page ASAC (Alliance of Students Against

Catcalling), many of my friends started supporting our page and signing the petition we made.

People are actually rooting for our page and has been chatting us to continue the page we made

to educate some people to respect everybody. I realized that some men without proper education

will catcall women, even though women wear decent clothing. Women now are using longer

shorts and loose t-shirt because they are being careful not to be catcalled. Catcall can sometimes

lead to rape. Catcalling is not a compliment, know the difference. I would like to continue the

campaign we started so in the future no woman will experience being catcalled in the streets

Katrina Arian Catindg

 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

As a woman I also experience catcalling even when you wore decent clothes. When I'm

walking at the streets with my friends they always say "Ate sarap naman" "Te pengeng digits". I

don't know why there's a kind of man, I don't know if they satisfy when they are doing that thing.

I can't do anything because first of all I'm only a woman, we all know that man is stronger than

woman therefor I'll just walk and ignore what they are saying

As a woman I'm against catcalling, because catcalling is different to compliment know

the difference between them. Catcalling is the comment of a sexual nature to a woman passing

by, while the compliment is a polite expression of praise of admiration. As a member of ASAC

I'm proud and glad that we make this kind of advocacy to help other woman who's experiencing

catcalling also give them knowledge about what to do when someone catcall you.

Li An Cortez
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

There’s a big difference between compliment and cat calling, that’s one of the things that

I’ve learned in this topic. Who doesn’t want to be complimented? It’s one of the best thing you

can do, and you can get from a someone you admire and of course a someone that admires you

too. But if you do it in a wrong way or in a malicious way well you can’t call it a compliment

anymore. My group made a video which gave me more confident in wearing the clothes that I

want to wear. Especially the spoken poetry, it was an eye opener for me that even if you dress

well you’ll still get catcalled. I’ve learned that it’s not my fault that I’m being catcalled it’s the

people who sees you as a toy, being fooled by their minds they think that they can say whatever

they wanted to, but the truth is they don’t have the right to say those words to us. They don’t

even realize that it lowers our self-esteem out confidence and sometimes it may lead to

depression. Another thing that really had an impact to me when I interviewed someone who

experienced catcalled, there words struck me, and I was really inspired on how they react and

ignored catcalling. We shared our topic through social media to help the awareness in catcalling

and many people supported it so it was really worth it to spend most of our time and effort to this

project. I still want to continue this campaign it can help more women that experienced

catcalling. If this campaign given more time we can do more and raise the awareness more.

Keyla Guyala
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

I’ve learned a lot of things when this project was given. For me, I really like our topic

because it’s against catcalling. Being catcalled is not a good thing especially to us, women. I/We

want to lessen this kind of scenarios wherein girls are being called because other men want to

make fun or want their “libido” to be activated or let’s say it’s already active. Girls dress

according to their fashion, so it’s not our fault if we’re being catcalled. We don’t want that, who

wants that? I don’t know why other men love to do that thing. Sometimes they already want to

touch it, and some of them really do it. They’re not ashamed of what they are doing. Me, I

always experience being catcalled anywhere. Even though you’re at peace they really want to

say “bastos” words & actions at the same time. I’m glad that most of the people liked our

campaign because they’re really against catcalling. They keep on giving us good feedbacks. I

want to continue our campaign because it’s like woman empowerment also. And I’m proud that

most of the people liked our campaign and many of them gives good feedback.

Chad R. Macatangay
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

A.S.A.C. or Alliance of Students Against Catcalling started from a school activity. A

group of students looking forward to do a little something for the victims of catcalling. A.S.A.C.

aims to spread awareness that catcalling is never a compliment but rather a kind of harassment.

A.S.A.C. created a Facebook Fan Page to spread their advocacy through social media. The

advocates collaborated with well known students to help them empower their campaign. The

advocates also made a video about catcalling with a piece created by one of the advocates. Every

content of the facebook page is done by the advocates with their great efforts, own ideas and

dedication. The advocates also created their own website to spread their advocacy in the world

wide web. The advocates had so much fun in this final activity in their course subject

Empowerment Technologies. Every moment upon accomplishing this one is worth remembering.

The cramming, the video shoot, the spreading of advocacy, the advocates enjoyed everything

that they did. We want to continue our advocacy to inform everyone that catcalling is a kind of

harassment. And catcalling is very common nowadays most especially to girls, but also it can

happen to all sorts of gender.

Shereena M. Urmeneta
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

Catcalling nowadays is very prevalent. Especially when a man saw a woman who wore

shorts or revealing clothes but sometimes even those who wear pants and shirts still gets

catcalled. We came up with the topic of anti-catcalling to support women who were catcalled and

for the men to drill in their mind that what they are doing is wrong. We also want to spread

awareness to everyone in the issue about catcalling. We made a Facebook page and a petition to

let everyone know and support our campaign against catcalling. It was indeed a great experience

because there are feedbacks and good lucks that we received, and many people showed their

support in our campaign. There are even people who shared their stories of them being catcalled

which gives us, the advocacies, a reason to still continue our campaign. We also made a video

showing a bunch of men who are drinking alcohol and said to a woman who passed on them

"miss ang ganda mo naman" and other statements that made her feel that she has been catcalled,

and how that simple statements affected her. Even though she wants to be called beautiful by her

crush, the feeling is different when other people says it especially from the "tambays" or those

"nag-iinuman".

In our campaign, I was able to learn so many things. Like supporting or being an

advocate in a social issue, because I've never done something like this before. This also showed

me that it is not that easy to do this but the feeling of helping and standing for what is right really

feels so good. This campaign also taught me, or it can teach anybody that complimenting, and

catcalling are different from each other. Some men say they are complementing to elude from the

truth that they are catcalling. Catcalling is and will never be a compliment.

It would be a big privileged to continue the campaign we've raised after our senior high

school year so, I might still run on the campaign. As an individual, I am really against catcalling
 University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School

because I want to feel safe, secure and comfortable every day, no matter where I am or what I am

wearing. And who knows, maybe one day, catcalling will be prevented if everyone became

aware that this is a big issue.

University of Perpetual Help System Laguna - JONELTA

Basic Education Department – Senior High School