Remembering Ms. Christine Dacera

She died. Whatever opinions, assumptions and presumptions, we, the public, have on the matter, let us spare her family further hurt by maligning Ms. Christine Dacera. We all committed, committing or will commit mistakes at some points in our respective lives. The consequences can simply be brushed off and forgotten, some dismissed with humor or forgiveness or understanding, some to penalties or imprisonment, some to lost relationships or friendships, a limb injury or lost sanity or lifetime suffering. In Christine’s case, her life. We live in a conservative culture. However much we like to empower our women, there will always be that unspoken code of behavior expected from a girl, lady, woman, female.

When the news bannered it as a rape and murder case, there was an uproar of condemnation. When the CCTV footage went out showing a sexy clad, tipsy and flirty Christine, celebrities doubled down and made apologies for joining the bandwagon of protestations. Christine died.

The point of contention now is how she died. I will not dwell on the conflicting claims of either parties as it is for their lawyers to substantiate and for the court to determine the evidences and testimonies presented. If there is one thing regrettable, it was her decision to go out and celebrate New Year’s Eve with friends who did not find it necessary to call for first aid when she was vomiting. They have to wait for her to be unconscious to call the hotel medics. I cannot also understand why these so called friends were not alarmed, as per statement of one of her friends, Christine confided that she thinks ___ put something in her drink and she felt funny. I am also baffled by the fact that she chose to sleep in the bathtub – as what the witnesses said. For someone now looked upon as a flirt and deserves her death, she had the decency to sleep apart from the rest of their group.

I cannot understand why she has the guts to mingle with the rest of the opposite sex, gay or not and be nonchalant or not cautious about being the only girl. I cannot understand why she has to wear that skimpy dress. But she isn’t me. I am not her. But it doesn’t necessarily mean too that she deserves her death because of her dress and her behavior on that particular night. Based on her instagram posts, she is a gregarious person. She was young and had the time of her life. Let us pray that truth comes out and justice be served on both parties.