I got flowers today!

It wasn't my birthday or any other special day.

We had our first argument last night;
And he said a lot of cruel things that really hurt;
I know that he is sorry and didn’t mean to say the things he said;
Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.

It wasn't our anniversary or any other special day.
Last night, he threw me into a wall and started to choke me.
It seemed like a nightmare.
I couldn't believe that it was real.
I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over.
I know he must be sorry.
Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today!

It wasn’t our anniversary or any other special day;
Last night he threw me into a wall and then started choking me;
It seemed unreal, a nightmare, but you wake up from nightmares;
And I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over—but I know he is sorry;
Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today!

And it wasn’t Valentines Day or any other special day;
Last night he beat me and threatened to kill me;
Make-up and long sleeves didn’t hide the cuts and bruises this time;
I couldn’t go to work today because I didn’t want anyone to know—but I know
he’s sorry;
Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today!

And it wasn’t Mother’s Day or any other special day;
Last night he beat me again, and it was worse than all of the other times;
If I leave him, what will I do? How will I take care of the kids? What about
money?
I’m afraid of him, but I’m too scared and dependent to leave him! But he
must be sorry;
Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today….

Today was a special day—it was the day of my funeral;
Last night he killed me;
If only I would have gathered the courage and strength to leave him;
I could have received help from the Women’s Shelter, but I didn’t ask for
their help;
So I got flowers today—for the last time.

By Paulette Kelly

"Battered Woman Syndrome" refers to a scientifically defined pattern of psychological and behavioral
symptoms found in women living in battering relationships as a result of cumulative abuse.

the battered woman usually has a very low opinion of herself. She has a self-defeating and self-
sacrificing characteristics. x x x they usually think very lowly of themselves and so when the violence
would happen, they usually think that they provoke it, that they were the one who precipitated the
violence, they provoke their spouse to be physically, verbally and even sexually abusive to them.

the Court reckons further that crucial to the BWS defense is the state of mind of the battered woman at
the time of the offense[60] -- she must have actually feared imminent harm from her batterer and
honestly believed in the need to kill him in order to save her life.

Being a novel concept in our jurisprudence, the battered woman syndrome was neither easy nor simple
to analyze and recognize vis--vis the given set of facts in the present case. The Court agonized on how to
apply the theory as a modern-day reality. It took great effort beyond the normal manner in which
decisions are made -- on the basis of existing law and jurisprudence applicable to the proven facts. To
give a just and proper resolution of the case, it endeavored to take a good look at studies conducted
here and abroad in order to understand the intricacies of the syndrome and the distinct personality of
the chronically abused person. Certainly, the Court has learned much. And definitely, the solicitor
general and appellants counsel, Atty. Katrina Legarda, have helped it in such learning process.

While our hearts empathize with recurrently battered persons, we can only work within the limits of
law, jurisprudence and given facts. We cannot make or invent them. Neither can we amend the Revised
Penal Code. Only Congress, in its wisdom, may do so.

The Court, however, is not discounting the possibility of self-defense arising from the battered woman
syndrome. We now sum up our main points. First, each of the phases of the cycle of violence must be
proven to have characterized at least two battering episodes between the appellant and her intimate
partner. Second, the final acute battering episode preceding the killing of the batterer must have
produced in the battered persons mind an actual fear of an imminent harm from her batterer and an
honest belief that she needed to use force in order to save her life. Third, at the time of the killing, the
batterer must have posed probable -- not necessarily immediate and actual -- grave harm to the
accused, based on the history of violence perpetrated by the former against the latter. Taken altogether,
these circumstances could satisfy the requisites of self-defense. Under the existing facts of the present
case, however, not all of these elements were duly established.

WHEREFORE, the conviction of Appellant Marivic Genosa for parricide is hereby AFFIRMED. However,
there being two (2) mitigating circumstances and no aggravating circumstance attending her
commission of the offense, her penalty is REDUCED to six (6) years and one (1) day of prision mayor as
minimum; to 14 years, 8 months and 1 day of reclusion temporal as maximum.

Inasmuch as appellant has been detained for more than the minimum penalty hereby imposed upon
her, the director of the Bureau of Corrections may immediately RELEASE her from custody upon due
determination that she is eligible for parole, unless she is being held for some other lawful cause. Costs
de oficio.

Sexual harassment:
Appropriate vs. inappropriate touching
By one who has moral ascendancy

"1) By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the following circumstances:

"a) Through force, threat, or intimidation;

"b) When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious;

"c) By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority; and

"d) When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or is demented, even though none
of the circumstances mentioned above be present.

Magna Carta: (Great Charter) a document constituting a fundamental guarantee of rights and privileges.

"Photo or video voyeurism" means the act of taking photo or video coverage of a person or group of
persons performing sexual act or any similar activity or of capturing an image of the private area of a
person or persons without the latter's consent, under circumstances in which such person/s has/have a
reasonable expectation of privacy, or the act of selling, copying, reproducing, broadcasting, sharing,
showing or exhibiting the photo or video coverage or recordings of such sexual act or similar activity
through VCD/DVD, internet, cellular phones and similar means or device without the written consent of
the person/s involved, notwithstanding that consent to record or take photo or video coverage of same
was given by such person's.
(e) "Private area of a person" means the naked or undergarment clad genitals, public area, buttocks or
female breast of an individual.

(f) "Under circumstances in which a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy" means believe that
he/she could disrobe in privacy, without being concerned that an image or a private area of the person
was being captured; or circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that a private area of
the person would not be visible to the public, regardless of whether that person is in a public or private
place.