A Brief Historical Overview of Prostitution in the Philippines

PRE-COLONIZATION PERIOD
When the Spanish came they chronicled some pre-existing sexual practices by Filipinos which they considered lewd, vicious and perverse. They observed that society did not value either virginity or monogamous marriages. The Spanish chroniclers wrote that virginity was, in fact, believed to be a hindrance to marriage and that to reach the place of eternal bliss, women must have lovers. There were males who would even offer their services for initiating women to the sexual act. Unwed mothers did not decrease their chances of marriage. Despite this sexual freedom, most of our ancestors kept monogamous instead of polygamous relationships. There were laws which penalized illicit behavior between men and women, effectively restricting promiscuity and preventing prostitution.

COLONIZATION PERIOD

Spanish Period

The Spaniards preached values of virginity and chastity to the "natives" or Filipinos and condemned their immoral sexual practices. However, they also failed to live out what they preached. They carried out sexual relations with native women outside their marriage resulting in the birth of many Spanish mestizo children. By the 19th century, casas catering to peninsulares (Spaniards), insulares (Philippine-born Spaniards), and indios (native Filipinos) existed in Manila . The casas housed young virgins (usually daughters of peasants sold to cover their parent's debts) to cater mainly to Spanish soldiers and officials.

American Period
The red-light district at the time was the Gardenia Gardens in Sampaloc, where young women were classed according price and housed in different dwellings. The first class house had American and European women, the second class house had the fresh rural natives and mestizas, and the third-class house had older prostitutes with a separate display window showcasing Japanese geishas. During the World War 1 vaudeville, cabarets and lodging houses became popular. The red light district later shifted to Sta. Ana and Lerma where dance floors were divided between the Filipinas and Americans. Prominent society and political figures were said to have patronized these nightspots.

Japanese Period
Following the Japanese invasion, many parents were forced to sell their children, particularly young girls, to Japanese soldiers and wealthy Filipino collaborators. It was at this time that the premier residential section of Manila . Ermita was transformed into a "sprawling Yoshiwara". Many women, including young wives, were also abducted from their homes to serve as "jugun ianfu" or comfort women for the Japanese Imperial Army. In the brothel, comfort women usually had to service 10 to 40 soldiers a day, and more on weekends. Many who were infected by venereal disease were treated with large doses of harmful drugs;  others had to undergo forced abortion; many also died in the process of torture and rape.

POST COLONIZATION PERIOD
Soon after WWII, the Philippines signed an agreement with the US to provide for the Americans' "unhampered use" of 23 military facilities all over the country for 99 years. The escalation of regional conflicts in which the US participated saw the influx of weary American soldiers into the bases and subsequent growth of prostitution. With the early termination of the bases after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo the entertainment clubs around these areas slowed down but were later revived by resident foreigners to tourists and local men. The institutionalization of tourism and the increasing number of migrant workers are also contributing factors to the continuing rise of sex slavery in the country.