There are more woke people on social media nowadays, but this episode just shows that Philippine society still has a long way to go.
A college student attracted widespread criticism on Facebook last week when she complained about a bus conductor who allegedly sent her an unsolicited — if a little creepy — message on Facebook.
The issue started when Lynette Alcantara took a bus home from school with her friends on March 11. As a student, she was entitled to a fare discount but had to give the conductor her school ID as proof.
“When I got home to my apartment, I was weirded out when I saw the conductor’s name pop in my roster of message requests [on Facebook],” she told Coconuts Manila in a message.
She learned that her friends also allegedly received a message from the same man.
“Later that night, I was informed by my friends that I wasn’t the only one who received a message concerning the same person. It was really alarming and of course, scary.”
Alcantara took a screenshot of the message and posted it on her account. The bus conductor’s message allegedly read: “Be careful, ma’am! Thanks for riding [on our bus].”
In her first caption to the post, Alcantara, obviously terrified, wrote: “Son of a b*tch. How did the bus conductor find me [on Facebook]?”
While her concerns were valid, Alcantara’s post attracted criticisms from netizens — including women — who felt that there was nothing wrong with what the bus conductor did.
One netizen named Angel Taguinod wrote: “You’re so exaggerated [by saying] you’re taking firm actions. You’re overreacting. If he messaged you then just ignore it. What did he do to you? Do you think you’re already being harassed?”
Taguinod’s haughty post even attracted several likes and heart reactions from others.
Another woman Kiana Jochico wrote: “You’re an idiot. You think you’re pretty?”
Another woman named Drexlene Atienza wrote harshly (and inappropriately): “Next time, show an ID using a picture where you look like a mongoloid. Maybe he just appreciated your ‘beauty’ that’s why he wanted to chat with you.”
To be fair, Alcantara also had some netizens defending her, such as KC Pineda, who addressed critics:
“I wish you would think first before leaving a comment. Don’t you understand that she gave the ID to get a discount and not to chat with him on Facebook? Is it normal for you to chat [on Facebook] someone you just met on the street that’s why you don’t find this disturbing? I’m scared by the way you think.”
Alcantara defended herself from her critics in the caption she later added to the post.
She wrote: “To those who think that this is okay, f*ck no. Conductors ask for students’ IDs for the sole purpose of giving discounts in fares, and not to get your name from your ID and search for your [Facebook] account then message you. This is an issue of privacy breach and of course, unprofessionalism.”
She also added that the reason she posted the man’s message was to raise awareness among student passengers that the information on their ID can be used for other purposes.
Alcantara told Coconuts she was quite disappointed by the criticisms, especially coming from other women because Women’s Day was just celebrated three days prior to the day she posted about the bus conductor on Facebook.
“Most thought I only did that for fame,” Alcantara said. “People called me names like ‘slut, fame-whore, feeling pretty, overly dramatic.'”
Some were downright evil, showing just how toxic social media has become. “[Some] even wished me to get raped and killed— it’s very disheartening to hear that from women,” she said.
At present, Alcantara is focusing on finding ways to penalize the bus driver and is already speaking with lawyers and police offers. She already filed a report with the bus company where the man works.
