Standing Up For Yourself Novels & Stories

"I really hate being belittled," Sabi ko. I called Zari since hindi sya umuwi kagabi because of her hectic schedule at work. "I know, Hest," she said gently. "Nobody deserves to be treated that way. And I know you; hindi ka basta bastang nagpapatalo." Her words resonated with me. I took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right. I need to start standing up for myself more."

“Did well? Para lang akong bata na nakipagsigawan sa tatay ko sa harap ng lahat. Wala namang nagbago.” “Wrong,” sagot niya agad, hindi tinanggal ang mata sa kalsada. “You stood up for yourself. And you didn’t let them break you. That’s a win. Hindi ko inaasahan na ganyan ka pala katapang. Akala ko iiyak ka na lang kapag inaway ka. And I’m wrong.”

malambot niyang sabi, “you still have the right to choose. You have the right to decide what you want to eat and what you don’t want to do.” Huminto siya bago nagpatuloy. “Liam, remember this. If there’s something you dislike eating or something you dislike doing, you should bravely express it. Even if the person is me, you still need to speak up.” Mas naging seryoso ang mukha niya. “Learning how to refuse people is one of the most important ways to protect yourself. Understand?” “Mm-hmm!” Ngumiti siya at hinaplos ang noo nito.

“Enough with your excuses, Nathalie. My point is, you should’ve left it to us to deal with him. Sana pinaubaya mo na sa’min, hindi ‘yung pa-dalos-dalos ka. Mga lalaki ang inaway n’yo kanina—sanay sa gulo, at pumapatol pa sa babae.” I understand where he’s coming from, but can’t he understand that sometimes we don’t need anyone to fight for us? Minsan, kailangan din naming ipaglaban ang sarili namin. Kailangan naming ipakita na hindi kami basta-basta pwedeng bastusin. Tama si Ate Aya—this time, we had to show him we’re not weak. We can stand up for ourselves too.

Pero bakit parang bawal iyon kapag ako na ang humihingi? Why is it that when I defend myself, biglang ako na ang mali? Anak lang ba ako kaya kailangan kong lunukin lahat? I know my worth. I know when I am being disrespected. And I will never apologize for protecting my peace.

Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi nang maintindihan ko ang sinabi niya. P-Papaanong nalalaman niya ang laman ng isip ko sa mga ganoong sitwasyon? "You can't even defend yourself by speaking for yourself. You want me to tell you how weak you are?" He stood in front of me, confronting me. He's emotionless, I'm afraid I might take his word as an offense.

Wala akong panahong kilalanin sila. "Baka kayo ang masaktan kung hindi kayo aalis sa dadaanan ko," sagot ko. Kaya kong protektahan ang sarili ko. I don't need anyone to defend me, I can defend myself.

Alam kong naiipit siya sa sitwasyon ng pamilya niya ngayon pero hindi siya maaaring umasa na maililigtas siya ng ibang tao, kung siya mismo ay hindi mailigtas ang sarili. Iyan ang isang bagay na natutunan ko sa nangyari sa amin ni Enver. You can’t love someone without loving yourself first. You have to fight for yourself first before fighting for your love.

A world that needs someone to bring justice and equality to it's people. And I want to be that someone. "I want to help the oppressed, Dane. I want to defend those who can't speak their mind because they thought they are not capable of speaking for themselves," panimula ko. I suddenly remembered myself. I was once that person too. I'm too afraid to speak up because I don't think I can. Because I think that no one would defend me if I said something wrong. "And I realized that everyone is not priveleged like us, Dane. I want to use the privelege that I have to help those people who don't have the same privelege like us," dugtong ko.

and I'm damn so stupid to let her go through this alone. "Laging may masasabi sa'yo ang ibang tao, makagawa ka man ng mabuti o hindi." I cupped her face. I stare at her intently. "Mikael, I always tell you to be yourself always, and don't let other people to make you down. You can always defend yourself, don't think that you might ruin your Lolo's image, he will love it when he see you fighting back. So don't hesitate to defend yourself whether it's your superior or not." "Kahit na ikaw?"