Consent
Consent is a clear, mutual agreement to engage in sexual activity, based on open communication and respect for boundaries. It must be freely given and can’t be obtained from someone who is underage, intoxicated, unconscious, or pressured.
What is Consent?
Consent is required every time and for each specific activity—it’s not a one-time blanket approval and can be withdrawn at any moment, verbally or through nonverbal cues. Enthusiastic consent emphasizes active, affirmative participation, focusing on a clear “yes” rather than just the absence of a “no,” with ongoing communication being key throughout.
You are the only one that has a say in what happens to your body. You are the only person that gets to decide what you do to your body. No one else can control what you do to your body.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Physical reactions like arousal or orgasm can happen involuntarily, even without consent. Abusers may use these responses to downplay the abuse or silence survivors, but these bodily reactions do not imply consent. Experiencing such responses during abuse does not make it your fault.
Respecting Boundaries
Once you understand your own boundaries, it’s important to remember to respect the boundaries of others as well.
Before doing anything that involves the body of another person, it is important to ask for CONSENT. Always ask before doing something that involves another person. If you want to give someone a hug, remember to ask if they are okay with it before you do.
When someone says no or refuses something from you, it doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with you or that you did something bad. It just means that they’re boundaries are different from yours, which you have to understand and respect.
Consent Can Be Withdrawn
Consent can be withdrawn at any time if someone feels uncomfortable. Clearly telling your partner you want to stop is one way to do this, but nonverbal signals can also communicate discomfort when words are hard to use.
The best way to make sure everyone feels safe and respected is through ongoing conversations and regular check-ins before continuing or changing any sexual activity.
Keep in mind that body language vary from person to person, so it is not always a reliable indicator of consent. If you’re unsure whether your partner is giving a clear and enthusiastic yes, it’s your responsibility to ask. You cannot assume consent just because someone isn’t resisting or speaking up—silence or stillness does not mean they agree.
Can Kids Consent?
If an adult does something that a kid cannot consent to, that is not right. The adult is in the wrong, never the child.
In the Philippines, the legal age is 18 years old. This means that if you are below this age, you cannot enter legal contracts, vote in national elections, or drink.
The age of sexual consent in the Philippines is 16 years old, which means under that age you cannot consent to any sexual activity.
Related Laws
Age of Consent
Republic Act No. 11648
Anyone under the age of 16 is legally considered a child in cases of statutory rape.
Engaging in sexual activity with someone below this age is automatically classified as statutory rape, regardless of alleged consent or willingness because the law states they are not capable of giving legal consent.
It doesn’t matter if the offender believed the victim to be above 16 or was misled about it–liability can still apply.
Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act
Republic Act No. 7610
The government must give protection to children who suffer from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, and discrimination. This includes the prohibition of child prostitution and other sexual abuse.
Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004
Republic Act No. 9262
Aims to combat violence, threats, and coercion committed by intimate partners against women and children, which can overlap with statutory rape if the victim is a minor.
References
https://rainn.org/articles/what-is-consent
https://www.uvic.ca/sexualizedviolence/consent/alcohol-consent/cues/index.php
https://care.ucr.edu/education/what-is-consent
https://www.respicio.ph/commentaries/statutory-rape-or-age-of-consent-law-philippines