‘We’re not sex workers’

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .

Another group of masseuses is now appealing to the Committee on Health, Sanitation and Health Insurance to amend the ordinance that requires masseuses to undergo weekly pap smear tests, vaginal cleaning, and gram staining at the City Health Office.

Carla (not her real name), 35 years of age and a member of the Cagayan de Oro Blind Masseurs Association went over several TV and radio stations, newspaper outlets to air their complaint over the full implementation of Section 509(b) of City Ordinance 4373-94 ordering all massage parlors and Spa workers to undergo weekly health check-up.

“Dili man kami mga sex workers nga ipa-health check-up gyud kada semana tungod kay panginabuhi ra man kanang among gihimo. Mas maayo unta kini nga ma-amendahan,” she said.

She said there was no proper and exact time for the procedure especially to masseuses who are persons with disability.

The ordinance implemented is not only subjecting health check-up on PWDs female masseuses but also to the male masseuses .

“We (are) financed and being run by the religious sector lead by Bishop Antonio Ledesma og nagtinarong kami sa among trabaho. Dili kami maka-kita unya ngano gi-apil kami aning hygiene procedure nga diha ra man gayud ako sa akong bana,” she added.

Another male masseuse who is also blind also aired his complaint that they were subjcted to the same oppressive and horrendous hygiene procedure by inserting cotton swabs on their private organs.

“Tigulang nako ngano apil-apilon pa gyud ko,” he pointed out.

The blind masseuses also aired their complaints after they were mixed with the commercial sex workers who went to City Health Office at the same time and the scheduled date.

“Kabalo ang taga-City Health kung kinsa kanang mga ga-massage nga dunay extra service. They have to classify us. Exempt us kaming mga buta, it is unfair. Unsay ilang pagtuo kami mga hugaw,” she added.