On July 14, 2018, Twitter user @dianekiimberly decided to open up about an issue a lot of people experience but don’t or can’t talk about: abuse.
In a series of tweets, Kim, a student from UST, spoke of the emotional, verbal, and physical abuse she dealt with in her previous relationship. She started with this tweet:
Although she is no longer with her abusive partner, Kim wanted to “raise awareness [for] the ladies who have been through the same and for those who are still stuck in the same abusive relationship. Actually this goes for all people, NEVER EVER LET SOMEONE TREAT YOU BADLY, ABUSE YOU IN ANY WAY, JUST BECAUSE YOU LOVE HIM/HER SO MUCH.”
For Kim, it started with emotional abuse:
They fought over petty things: “I’d always feel the need to explain myself kahit wala naman talaga akong dapat i-explain in the first place? I don’t owe him an explanation kasi I’m not even doing anything behind his back?”
He made her feel guilty for everything—for not picking up the phone, for hanging out with friends, for wanting to spend time with her family.
The beatings continued, and Kim was forced to lie to her friends and family:
From the worst violent encounter, Kim suffered a severe hematoma, chest trauma, and bruises all over her body. Her ribs were so badly bruised, she had trouble breathing for weeks:
When she finally told her loved ones, her friends confronted the guy. Afraid, he sent her several messages after they broke up, begging her not to take it up with the school:
Soon, another victim came forward. Gil Morales, under the Twitter handle @giiiilllllyyy, tweeted her own abusive experience with the guy, allegedly Kyle Viray:
Gil also posted photos of the physical abuse she had to endure:
There has been an abundance of support for Kim and Gil, especially from netizens:
UST Hiraya, the school's "first Intersectional Feminist Organization," responded to the issue:
So has the Thomasian Youth Ambassadors and Ambassadress group:
We applaud Kim, Gil, and the women who've stood up to their abusers, but we must not forget those who still live in fear. All we can do is listen, encourage them to share their stories, and respect their decisions.
If you're in an abusive relationship, feel free to reach out and ask for help from the following hotlines:
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
Batasan Pambansa Complex, Quezon City
Tel. No.: (02)931-8101 to 07
DSWD –NCR Ugnayan Pag-asa Crisis Intervention Center
Legarda, Manila
Tel. No.: (02) 734-8639/ 734-8654/ 734-8626 to 27
Philippine National Police (PNP)
Camp Crame, Quezon City
Tel. No.: 723-0401 to 20
PNP-Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC)
Camp Crame, Quezon City
Tel. No.: 410-3213
NBI-Violence Against Women and Children Desk (VAWCD)
Taft Avenue, Manila
Tel. No.: 523-8231 to 38 / 525-6028
This story originally appeared on Cosmo.ph.
* Minor edits have been made by the Femalenetwork.com editors.
