We had visitors last weekend, Jane and Juergen. We were invited to their home last time so we thought of inviting them over in return. I cooked shrimps and calamari and I made salad with special balsamic mix dressing for dinner. Jane brought a cake for dessert. This simple, quiet and intimate evening went fine. We talked about a lot of things but the thing I remember the most is the one Jane told me about Juergen’s birthday party.

Juergen and Jane invited a lot of people including Juergen’s collegue, Jane’s colleagues, Jane’s students, and some other Filipino friends. Jane and I were working in the same Agency which finds schools for us to teach in. Last December, I left that company but I kept my friends and though I am no longer teaching, I am still invited to attend most Filipino teacher activities here. On Juergen’s birthday, Jane invited a colleague, Pete who invited another colleague and I will name that colleague Lester. Neither Jane nor Juergen know Lester but since he was brought to the party by Pete, it wasn’t a problem—they welcomed him anyway. Lester is also a Filipino teacher and he just got here. Pete, who is a nice guy, thought of bringing Lester to the party for him to meet fellow Filipino teachers.

A large portion of the guests in that party got drunk including my husband Marcus. That was the very reason why we went home earlier than the rest. After the party in the flat, Jane, Juergen and all of their remaining guests went to a bar and the shameful story started there. There was this kid named John, he is one of Jane’s 19-year old Chinese students. I remember him as tall, good looking and smart college kid. John went to the bar along with the other remaining guests and like the others, he also got so drunk. The party went on but since everybody was drunk they must have lost count of who were going and who were staying at the bar with them. The night ended peacefully but everybody was shocked when they heard the news the day after. This college kid John beat the Filipino teacher, Lester. Why? Because apparently Lester molested him in his drunkenness. Lester took the very drunk John to his flat and molested him there. The fact that Lester is married and has two kids back home in the Philippines and that he doesn’t look like or act like he is gay makes it more surprising. Nobody knew, not even Pete, that Lester is gay.

No matter how Lester justifies his action, it could never be seen as “right”. He is a teacher and John is a student. The mother of John was crying to Jane and asking her why she let this thing happen to their only child. They allow John to accept Jane’s invitation because they trusted Jane. Now Jane is also in an awkward situation. Lester not only brought Jane and Pete embarrassment but he brought shame to the whole of the Filipino community here specially to fellow teachers who are gay. There is a considerable number of Filipino gay teachers here but I know them as respectable and excellent teachers. How could he? How could he in his few weeks here put a disgraceful mark to the reputation of the Filipino teachers?

Now, the matter is brought to the attention of Chinese authorities because John’s father is a police. Everybody’s waiting what will happen next. I am a Filipino and I am proud to be one but in this case, my sympathy goes to John and not to a fellow Filipino.