For most women (though it should be noted this early that it doesn’t happen only to women), “catcalling” is a trigger word. Stories about encounters ranging from distasteful glances, to wolf-whistling, to name-calling, to physical touching, and even worse gestures of street harassment all come to surface at the mere mention of the word.

We know how commonplace these stories are–they can happen to anyone, no matter what age or social status, in even the most mundane moments of daily life. Walking to school or the office. Waiting for the bus. When you’re out shopping. In public transportation. In a crowd. Any time, any place, whatever you’re wearing.

These stories have become the fabric of reality most especially for women. According to an international organization that advocates stopping street harassment, a 2016 study reported that 88% of women from ages 18-24 had experienced street harassment at least once in their lives, with whistling and catcalling being the most common forms across all ages.

In a country like the Philippines, where issues directly affecting women such as reproductive health and divorce remain controversial topics or otherwise tiptoed around, there is a long way to go and much, much work to be done.

While ordinances that penalize catcalling and even mainstream campaigns such as Hollywood’s #MeToo are welcome progressions, the fact remains that we must change the way we perceive women–by a shift in the culture. We can start by having a conversation about it; we can start by calling it out.

“We need to make a point that it isn’t normalized anymore… I should be able to feel safe…. This shouldn’t be a normal thing,” says college student Adriana Griner.

In a campaign by San Miguel Light, called Mahaba-habang Usapan: Catcalling, the brand invited thought leaders Mich Dulce (Designer), Wiji Lacsamana (Tattoo artist and mother), Noelle Capili (Activist), Samantha Lee (Filmmaker), Naomi Fontanos (Educator), and Adriana Griner to share their views and experiences on street harassment. They discussed everything from the definition of catcalling, to the concept of consent, to what to do if you ever find yourself in a similar situation.

“It’s never okay to be catcalled,” says activist and writer Naomi Fontanos. Designer Mich Dulce adds, “Once we start tolerating catcalling, it could lead to other forms of violence against women.”

“It needs to take a cultural change… It’s systemic,” says director Samantha Lee.

Mich Dulce also highlights the importance of talking about it by “…just bringing it up in conversation constantly, long-term, can really change a lot… It helps if change comes from above, but if we keep talking about it, engage in conversation, with our friend groups, with the people we work with… just to instill that kind of daily reminder.”

Although the beer industry has had a long history of objectifying women in its advertisements, San Mig Light’s efforts in re-shaping perceptions of women and raising awareness toward gender inequality are a welcome change in media, and hopefully, affect change–even if it means just having a mahaba-habang usapan of your own. INQUIRER.net/MF