by Luis Sinangote

Have you ever walked inside a room where people glanced as if they were mocking you? Eyes seamlessly darting and judging every move you make. How about hearing their muffled giggles and unbearable whispers? Mouths running as if they were ready to devour what hope is left inside; and have you once felt ashamed of the person you are because of what others perceive you to be? In this world of ours, people of some sort are more or less depreciated or even mocked because of their gender identity; commonly associated with women and the LGBTQ+ community who are undergoing devaluation. Beyond these unruly actions and unfair justice, do you think that these people still have that hope within themselves—and would they—these fireflies continue to flicker and wander despite the world darkening as their light dies? 

One of the Ten Million Fireflies 

Alitaptap is a Filipino word that translates to Fireflies, an insect related to the family of elateroid beetles that are capable of emitting light. These beetles often use their lights to discourage their predators because what lights their body is lethal. In this world, fireflies are not only perceived to be insects emitting light by biological standards, but fireflies too mean something else—something inspiring and enticing; or otherwise, it could be someone of a hopeful person in a bittersweet world. 

In correlation to society today, patriarchy overrules the socialistic standard and cycle of the world, which ideally offers men more opportunities compared to women and the LGBTQ+ community. With immense implementations of privileges and rights for men, women and several gender groups are often unseen and ridiculed because of limiting rights that protect them from the oppressive injustices and predispositions that harm their well-being. 

According to an article written by Jay Ledesma, women in the Philippines were expected in the past to stay behind the shadow of their fathers and their husbands. These stereotypical standards, however, spoil the minds of every Filipina to think that the only thing they are capable of is doing chores, staying at home, and bearing children from the man they serve in their house. Unfortunately, up to this day, there are still women who fall victim to patriarchal ideologies, which limit other women’s potential to lead, be involved, and make decisions like being labeled “Maria Clara,” as a means to only represent women as fragile, feather-headed, and obedient to other men. Not only that but the LGBTQ+ community is also rendered of stereotypes such as being overly shown as feminine in films, considered a social evil that must be suppressed, and depicted as someone who is mentally ill that further exploits and excludes them from society. 

Backwardness often impedes a step forward to a progressive future—and sometimes stepping back means the same way as letting go of what remains today.

  With that, women and the LGBTQ+ see the world ever so darkly, as if what hope left dims the world black and white—on and off, confused and wondering if they can have the same future and opportunities [of] a man. Similarly, just like a firefly, their light flickers and diminishes from time to time—and once it dies out, they are left wondering what capes the world of blackness. Yet, how can its world turn dark when there are fireflies like it, emitting the same light it had once shown? Undoubtedly, what dying hopes can once again be lived out by the same people with the same goal—enlightening people and embracing themselves to the world. 

Kept Inside a Jar: Chained and Suffocated by the Hands of a Man 

  Stuck and trapped in the loop of the world’s misery, people then soon burn themselves at the sight of what destroys their aspirations; violence, inequality, and injustices. According to Amber Gonzalez Quiban, an activist for the LGBTQ+ stated that “These people, like me, have so many dreams[…]And that’s lost, just because people don’t seem to understand us and don’t seem to care about us at all.” In her statement, it is seen that even individuals who are not in the hetero-spectrum have been left wandering in this world—hoping (at least) that they too can fulfill their dreams with people appreciating the person they are; as well as providing them the same amount of love that is, however, offered unconditionally. 

  Other than that, women suffer not only stereotypical remarks but also sexual and psychological violence, sexual harassment, and others. One of the liable examples that constitute misogyny or discrimination towards women is how even the authority or higher ups normalizes such act. Take for example, Duterte’s comments about [raping] and [shooting] women, particularly those involved in the insurgency or rebellious women. Adding to that, he told the audience, “Well, we should just shoot them in the vagina, then they become useless.” Hence, this statement asserts that in the Philippines, a lack of view toward different social realities can be awful and elusive since this influences others that it is tolerable to use profane language and explicit remarks toward women. 

  Likewise, just like a firefly placed inside a jar, its world soon becomes smaller and what space is left will soon limit its chances of living and freedom to go back to its natural habitat. Similarly, just like the social standards of what women are like and stereotypes of the LGBTQ+ Community, restrict them from attaining their dreams or even (at least) trying to dream of something—constantly being downplayed and slowly suffocating from the system built only for men. Hence, all these women and the LGBTQ+ do not want to be left deserted from the world they once wished for love—they fought their way through, suffered through endless tyranny, and wailed out to the world for them to be accepted and allow others like them to live peacefully—for that, their fight for themselves, their fight for the fearful and silenced, and their fight for those who have died under the patriarchal system[…]freed them from the jar that imprisons their true selves and weakens their light.

Lit up the world as teardrops fall 

  As Gender-Based-Violence is still rampant, what one can do is use their guiding light to support others in their journey to becoming. Even if the world is cruel and unsafe to continue living on, we as fireflies will light up the world for others to see and support in handling injustices and prejudices. Moreover, this society of ours may be subjective only to male-worldly rights, but we still need to reign for freedom and justice so that other fireflies get to fulfill their dream without losing their light. Hence, as teardrops fall everywhere we go, they resemble what experiences one has to offer and these experiences are what light up the world; to inspire and engrave in our souls to help the oppressed and become one of the ten million fireflies who will illuminate the world’s darkest corners.