An Ode To Eileen
Mary Eileen Sarmenta was a 21-year-old UPLB student who was mercilessly gang-raped in the early 1990s. After twenty six years, her case has remained very controversial because up until this very day, the perpetrator of the atrocious crime, former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez, has refused to own up to his evil deed. According to his pompous self, “Ba’t ako mag so sorry? Eh wala naman akong kasalanan,” (Why would I apologize? I did no harm.), he proudly declares and touches the sacred image of the Virgin Mary beside him.
Very recently, the whole nation, including the Filipino communities from around the world, demonstrated openly and furiously at the pronouncement of Sanchez being granted freedom very soon. Under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), a prisoner bearing reclusion perpetua may be freed if he or she successfully demonstrates impeccable good conduct inside the prison hall. However, because of the maddening uproar caused by Sanchez’ rambling on the right to freedom, the Department of Justice, has taken back its own rule and vowed to review and revise the promulgation on GCTA until further notice.
Unknown to many, Eileen Sarmenta was a former Miss UPLB. So you could just wonder how she really looked like in person. According to some of my friends back in UPLB, during that time, Eileen was prominent because of her catchy Chinita features. Add to her sweet charm, was her inviting body which was made even more vivid when she wore kinky shorts and miniskirts. She was a head-turner. Not only was her beauty worth pondering but more so her academic footnote. An undisclosed source, a media person, divulged that days or weeks before being raped-slay, Eileen got to interview Antonio Sanchez, face-to-face, for her school paper. I guess that initial encounter with the milk-skinned Chinita lady from Sigma Delta Phi sorority, left an indelible, gnawing pang of sexual hunger in Sanchez.
It is very unfair among us women to be accused of inciting rape or molestation because of sexy dressing up. When we dress up in an enchanting way, we do it because we want to look good and feel good about ourselves. And as a revelation, and being a former UP student myself, UP girls are known to dress provocatively because of the deeply embedded sense of freedom in the academic campus. The mantra seems to go this way, “How dare you dictate on me on what to wear, act and speak?”. And maybe because of this psychological element, Eileen Sarmenta got into trouble.
Over the years, I have evolved in my way of dressing up. I have learned how to tone down flashy modes of dressing. And especially since I am a teacher. I am extra careful on what I wear whenever I’m not in uniform. As much as possible, I shun away from wearing revealing outfits because I might brush up with my students in the mall, in the market, or worst, in the church gathering. As a semblance of the academic community, I am being looked upon and highly by my students (if you are a teacher or a professor reading this, you may relate with my sentiment) and so I try not to court danger.
Perhaps Eileen Sarmenta was in the wrong place and at the wrong time. A former Agriculture student, she was on her way of completing her major in food and nutrition on large animals. Had she lived longer, she could have been a prolific business woman or she could probably be happily married now. Sad to say, her dream for the future was severely cut off. The real events surrounding the heinous crime of Eileen shoud be told to the rest of the world. Mrs. Sarmenta witnessed her daughter in this numbing and grueling scene: EILEEN’S MELON ORANGE GIORDANO CLASSIC SHIRT ROLLED UP HIGH HER CHEST, HER WHITE SHORT ROLLED UP DOWN HER ANKLES, AND HER FAVORITE WHITE TRETORN SHOES STILL INTACT. THERE WERE SHARDS OF BLOODY NEWSPAPER COVERING HER DESECRATED BODY.
Sometimes, I still think of the last few breaths of Eileen before she met the gunshot wound on her head. What were the last few words and phrase swirling on her abused and shattered mind before she died? Oh dear Lord, how can you let Antonio Sanchez walk free from his prison cell?