A man’s VIEW

Destabilization threats continue. Corruption plagues all levels of government. The economy’s downturn goes unabated. Unemployment, terrorism, peace and order concerns...

All these took a back seat last week as the nation watched transfixed as spoiled brat-stereotype Kris Aquino spilled the beans on her paramour, womanizer-stereotype Joey Marquez. Kris Aquino’s facial histrionics in her television interviews were matched by Joey Marquez’s meek-as-a-lamb look when he took his turn in front of the cameras. It definitely looked like the end of the short-lived but tumultuous affair that was doomed from the start.

As the populace got polarized into those who back Kris and those who believe Joey, I was expecting my wife to take Kris’ side. But to my eternal surprise, she declared that Kris finally got her come-uppance. And for that matter, so did Joey.

Come to think of it, she’s right. How can one take the side of a woman who broke up a family to get her man? A woman who disregarded the advice of her prominent family and the legacy of her martyred father to be romantically involved with married men?

And how can one take the side of a cad whose gallivanting exploits include the wives and girlfriends of his friends and co-stars?

If there’s anything good to come out of this circus, it’s the attention being given to that age-old male tradition of beating women. We know it’s there, we know it’s happening but society collectively shrugs and says it’s "away pamilya" (a family squabble).

Personally, I never saw my father hit my mother. On the contrary, I regularly saw my mother beat up my father because of his womanizing. The most he did was to parry the blows or hold her hands when the blows were too much.

When I asked him about it, he said matter-of-factly, "You don’t beat up a woman. You pleasure her." Unfortunately I inherited most of his genes and today suffer the same fate from my wife’s fists.

So did Joey beat up Kris?

I really don’t know. Let’s leave that for the courts to decide. My own experience tells me that men who really love women don’t do that sort of thing. They are romantics who respect women but can’t help loving as many of them as possible. This type of man will lie to his wife about his affairs, no matter how many times her fists find their mark on his body.

In contrast, I‘ve observed that men who frequent bars and like to engage the services of sex workers are more prone to beat up women, even–or especially–their wives. They don’t respect women and see them only as pleasure givers. They regard women as sluts. Even their wives.

Kris’ revelation that Joey gave her STD or sexually transmitted disease had women rushing to their gynecologists for tests and examinations. It’s a big boost for STD awareness campaigns.

It also triggered my wife’s next query: Did I give her STD? She was referring to a short bout of UTI she had years ago. I assured her I did not; I always use a condom.

The bump on my head still hurts. My wife can really land a blow.

Damn Kris and Joey. This is all their fault.