"GINA'S PATH TO HEALING"

NARRATOR: Trauma can touch anyone’s life – it doesn’t choose age, background, or who deserves it. For a 20-year-old Gina, a small-
town girl who valued kindness and trust above all else, one night changed everything. But healing, though hard, is always possible.

SCENE 1: HOME - BEDROOM

GINA (Muttering in sleep): No… please… stop… Saan kayo pumunta? Where are you guys?

MAMA ELENA: (Rushing to her side) Gina! Baby, gising ka na – nanaginip ka na naman ng masama. Wake up – you’re having a nightmare
again.

[Gina is hyperventilating, hugging her knees to her chest, eyes wide with fear]

GINA: (Crying) Mama… Nandito na naman siya… Hawak niya ako… Hindi ako makagalaw… he was holding me down… I couldn’t move…

MAMA ELENA: (Pulls her gently into a hug, strokes her hair) Shhh… okay lang yan, anak. Safe ka na ngayon. I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt
you.

[She helps Gina drink a glass of water. Gina’s hands are shaking]

GINA: I can’t take this anymore, Mama. Hindi na ako makatulog ng maayos sa mga nakaraang linggo. Every time I close my eyes, I see him…
naririnig ko pa rin boses niya…

MAMA ELENA: (Wipes Gina’s tears) I know, love. Nakikita kitang nahihirapan, at sobrang sakit ng puso ko para sa’yo. Remember when you
couldn’t even go to the market yesterday kasi may mga lalaking nandoon? When you came home shaking…

GINA: (Looks down) Sinubukan ko naman, Mama. Talagang sinubukan ko. Pero nung hawakan ako ng lalaking yun sa braso… parang
bumabalik lang ako sa nangyari noon.

[NARRATOR steps forward]

NARRATOR: For many survivors of sexual violence, simple daily tasks become battles. The mind holds onto trauma as a way to stay
safe – but sometimes, that protection turns into fear that traps us. Gina was about to face one of those battles head-on.

SCENE 2: STREET TO STORE

[Lights up. Gina walks slowly down a quiet street, clutching her bag close. She reaches Aling Sit-sit’s small store]

GINA: (To herself, taking a breath) Bumili lang ng toyo at uwi agad. You can do this.

[She steps into the store. Aling Sit-sit waves]

GINA: (Forcing a smile) Opo. Isa pong bote ng toyo, please.

[As she waits, a LOITERER leans against the counter, staring at her. He reaches out and touches her arm roughly]

LOITERER: Hey pretty girl… bakang-baka ka naman dyan. Come have a drink with us.

[GINA freezes, her face pale. She drops the money on the counter, backs away, then runs out of the store. She stumbles on the sidewalk,
hyperventilating, reliving the trauma]

GINA (Voice trembling, talking to herself): No… no… huwag mo akong hawakan… please…

[She curls up against a wall, shaking uncontrollably. Mama Elena runs up, having followed her]

MAMA ELENA: (Kneeling beside her) Gina! Nakita kitang tumakbo – okay lang yan, wala na siya dito. Nandito ako.

[She helps Gina stand and leads her home. Gina keeps her eyes closed, still trembling]

NARRATOR: A trigger can be anything – a touch, a sound, a place – that brings back the memory of trauma as if it were happening all
over again. For Gina, that unwanted touch pulled her back to the night that changed her life.

SCENE 3: FLASHBACK - CLUB & INN

[NARRATOR speaks as lights dim to blue/purple]

NARRATOR: Three months earlier… Gina was celebrating her birthday with friends – her first time in a club. She was innocent, trusting, and
excited to step into a new world.

[Music plays softly in background. Tiffany, Grace, Marie, and Gina are on stage]

TIFFANY: Come on, Gina! First time mong pumunta sa club – enjoy life naman!

GINA: (Nervous, holding a juice glass) I don’t know, guys… sobrang ingay dito.

MARIE: Relax! Dito tayo nagdiwang para sa birthday mo – you deserve to have fun!
[JOSE walks over with Tiffany]

TIFFANY: Girls, this is Jose – friend ko sa trabaho.

JOSE: (Smiling, looking at Gina) Hey there. Ikaw na ba si Gina – sinabi ni Tiffany na bago ka pa sa ganitong lugar. Let me get you a real drink.

GINA: (Shakes head) No, thank you – hindi ako masyadong umiinom.

JOSE: Isang baso lang naman – para sa birthday mo!

[Gina hesitates but takes the drink. Hours pass – she’s tipsy, leaning against a wall. Grace and Marie head to the restroom]

GRACE: Babalik lang kami, Gina – stay ka dito!

[Jose moves close to Gina]

JOSE: Mukhang kailangan mo ng sariwang hangin. Let’s go outside for a bit.

GINA: (Stumbles) I… okay… pero hintayin natin sila Grace…

[Jose leads her out quickly. Scene shifts – dim light, a door with “INN” sign. Jose pulls her inside, locks the door]

GINA: (Panicking) Saan tayo pupunta? Gusto kong makita sila Grace! Hayaan mo ako!

JOSE: (Grabs her arm tightly) Huwag kang arte – alam mong gusto mo rin ito.

[Gina struggles, screaming for help. Lights flash red briefly – then go dark. Sound of struggle, then silence. A piece of clothing is thrown across
the stage. Lights fade completely]

[NARRATOR steps forward as lights stay dim]

NARRATOR: Sexual violence is never the survivor’s fault – no matter where they are, what they wear, or what they drink. Jose’s actions
were a choice he made, and Gina was left to carry the pain. But even in the darkest moments, there is a way forward.

[CURTAIN – 7 minutes]

SCENE 4: PSYCHIATRIST’S OFFICE

[Lights up. Calm, warm setting – a comfortable chair, desk with plants. Gina and Mama Elena sit across from DR. REYES]
[NARRATOR speaks briefly]

NARRATOR: A week later, Gina and her mother visited Normal Day Recovery Center. They met Dr. reyes. A psychiatrist who
specializes in trauma. Seeking help is often the hardest step, but it is also the first step toward healing. And here is the nurse patient
interaction between gina and Nurse. Nicole

DR. REYES: (Smiles gently) Good morning, Gina. I’m Dr. Reyes. Thank you for coming in today. How are you feeling right now?

GINA: (Fidgets with her sleeve, avoids eye contact) Medyo natatakot ako… at kinakabahan.

DR. REYES: That’s completely normal – it takes courage to come talk about hard things. Gusto mo bang sabihin mo mismo kung paano ka
nararamdaman nitong mga nakaraang araw, or baka mas gusto mong simulan muna ng mama mo?

GINA: (Takes a breath) Susubukan kong sabihin. Lagi akong nanaginip ng masama… pare-pareho lang naman ang nangyayari sa panaginip.
Ayoko nang lumabas mag-isa – kahit makakita lang ng grupo ng mga lalaki, parang hihigupin ako ng hangin sa dibdib ko, parang hindi ako
makahinga.

DR. REYES: (Nods attentively, maintains eye contact but doesn’t stare) Those are very real responses to something traumatic that happened to
you. When we experience something as painful as what you’ve been through, our brains and bodies hold onto that fear para protektahan tayo – ito
yung tinatawag nating PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Nods attentively, hands resting calmly on her folder) Those nightmares and flashbacks are common responses to trauma – what we call symptoms
of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Your brain and body are still trying to make sense of what happened, and that’s why we’re here to
help you through it.

GINA: (Looks up, voice small) Baka po hindi ako mababalik sa dati… baka hindi na ako makakalabas dito.

DR. Reyes: : (Reaches out gently, pauses to let Gina decide if she wants contact) You know what, Gina? Many people come here feeling just like
you do – scared and worried they’ll never be okay again. But with the right care and support, most people are able to go back to their lives, and
even find ways to feel stronger than before. You’re not stuck here – we’re just giving you the space and help you need to heal.

Dr. Reyes: : We have a whole team looking after Gina – psychiatrists, therapists, activity aides, and us nurses. As her primary nurse, I’ll be
checking in with her several times a day to see how she’s feeling, help her manage any anxiety or distress, and work with her on daily goals.

GINA: (Looks up slightly) So hindi ako baliw?

DR. REYES: Absolutely not. What you’re feeling is your body’s way of processing what happened. Hindi ibig sabihin nun na sirang-sira ka na –
ibig sabihin lang kailangan mo ng suporta para gumaling.

MAMA ELENA: (Speaks up) Doctor, ano po ba pwede nating gawin? Gusto lang namin na maging okay ulit siya.
DR. REYES: May dalawang pangunahing bahagi ang paggamot. First, pwede tayong gumamit ng medication para ma-manage yung anxiety at
mapabuti yung tulog mo, Gina – para mas madali kang makapag-focus sa pagpapagaling. Second, at pinakamahalaga, ay therapy.

GINA: Therapy? Ano po ba gagawin dun?

DR. REYES: Gagamitin natin yung tinatawag na Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or TF-CBT. Ito ay espesyal para sa mga taong
dumaan sa trauma tulad mo. Isasagawa natin lahat ng bagay ayon sa bilis mo – pag-uusapan natin yung nangyari kapag handa ka na, matututunan
mo kung paano kontrolin yung emosyon mo kapag naramdaman mong nababagabag ka, at tutulungan ka para makaramdam ka ulit ng
kapanatagan sa sarili mong buhay.

And ang isa kay gestalt therapy.

GINA: (Thinks for a moment) Talagang makakatulong ba ito?

DR. REYES: Maraming survivors ang nakakaramdam ng ginhawa sa pamamagitan ng TF-CBT. Hindi mo makakalimutan ang nangyari, pero
matututunan mong hindi na ito mamamahala sa buhay mo. Would you be willing to give it a try?

GINA: (Looks at her mama, then back at Dr. Reyes) Opo. Gusto kong maging normal ulit.

DR. REYES: (Writes on a notepad) That’s wonderful, Gina. Isusulat ko na yung reseta mo para sa gamot na makakatulong sayo, at ma-schedule
na natin yung unang therapy session mo next week. For the meantime, eto isang card na may mga breathing exercises na pwede mong gawin
kapag naramdaman mong kinakabahan ka – gusto mo bang ipakita ko sayo ngayon?

GINA: (Nods) Opo, please.

[Dr. Reyes guides Gina through a simple breathing exercise. Gina’s shoulders relax a little]

NARRATOR: Healing often means facing what we’ve been avoiding – not just in our minds, but with our hearts and voices. Weeks into
her care, Gina’s therapist suggested Gestalt therapy, a practice that helps people connect with unspoken feelings by engaging with parts
of their experience represented in the space around them. Today, she faces an empty chair – and what it stands for.

Scene: Gestalt Therapy

GESTALT EMPTY CHAIR SESSION

[LIGHTS dim to warm, soft glow. A simple room with two chairs facing each other – one occupied by GINA, the other EMPTY. NARRATOR
steps forward to the side of the stage]

NARRATOR: Healing often means facing what we’ve been avoiding – not just in our minds, but with our hearts and voices. Weeks into
her care, Gina’s therapist suggested Gestalt therapy, a practice that helps people connect with unspoken feelings by engaging with parts
of their experience represented in the space around them. Today, she faces an empty chair – and what it stands for.

[GINA sits forward slightly, hands folded in her lap, eyes fixed on the empty chair across from her. She takes a shaky breath]

GINA: (Whispering at first) I… I know why this chair is here. They said I can talk to him – to Jose. Or… or to the part of me that’s still scared of
him. (Pauses, grips her chair arms) I don’t even know what to say. You took so much from me. (Voice rises a little) My birthday… my trust… the
way I used to walk through the world without looking over my shoulder.
[She leans back, then forward again, as if speaking directly to someone in the chair]

GINA: You told me I wanted it. You said I was being dramatic. But I wasn’t. (Tears well in her eyes, but her voice steadies) I was just a girl who
wanted to celebrate with her friends. I said no – I said I didn’t want to drink, I said I wanted to wait for my friends. You didn’t listen. You didn’t
care.

[She reaches out a hand toward the chair, then pulls it back]

GINA: For so long, I thought it was my fault. That if I’d been stronger, or smarter, or just… not there… it wouldn’t have happened. But I know
now – you made the choice. Not me. (Sits up straight, looks directly at the empty chair) I’m not going to let you live in my head anymore. I’m not
going to wake up screaming because of you. I’m healing, and you don’t get to stop me.

[She takes a deep, steady breath, closes her eyes for a moment, then opens them with a calmer look]

GINA: I don’t forgive you – not yet, maybe not ever. But I’m letting go of the hold you have on me. This is my life now. And I’m taking it back.

[She stands slowly, nods at the chair, and steps away, her posture a little taller than before]

[NARRATOR steps forward again as lights soften]

NARRATOR: Gestalt empty chair work helps survivors give voice to feelings they’ve kept hidden, creating space to separate themselves
from the trauma and reclaim their power. For Gina, this moment is another step toward writing her own story – one of strength, not
suffering.

[CURTAIN – 6 minutes]

REVISED SCENE 4: Therapy

TF CBT

NARRATOR: Trauma - Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based treatment that helps survivors process trauma,
manage symptoms, and build skills to live full lives again. For Gina, this was the start of learning to take back control.

*NURSE CARLA:*

(Greets her with a warm, steady smile) Hi Gina, I’m Carla. Ako ang nurse na mag-look after sa imo while you’re here. Kumusta ka today? Gusto
ka ba ug tubig before ta mag-start?

*GINA:*

(Sits quietly, hands folded in her lap) Medyo kulba ko diri… daghan kaayo ug tao sa hallway.

*NURSE CARLA:*

I understand. Usahay overwhelming gyud ang new place. Busy gyud usahay ang hallway, pero naa pud mi quiet spaces diri. Later, pwede tika
ipakita sa garden — usually peaceful kaayo didto. By the way, kumusta imong tulog since naa naka diri?
*GINA:*

(Looks down) Dili gihapon maayos… usahay magmata ko sa gabii tungod sa panaginip. Bisan naa ko diri, murag mubalik gihapon sa akong mind
ang nahitabo.

*NURSE CARLA:*

Thank you for sharing that, Gina. First nato buhaton is to make sure nga safe ka diri. Maghimo ta ug routine nga comfortable para sa imo.
Tudluan pud tika ug *grounding techniques* nga pwede nimo gamiton kung ma-overwhelm ka. Later, ang therapist nato mag work with you
using *Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*, para matabangan ka ma-process ang nahitabo. Mag coordinate pud mi sa doctor about
possible medication para sa sleep ug anxiety, kung okay ra pud sa imo.

*GINA:*

(Speaks softly) Unsa man nang grounding techniques?

*NURSE CARLA:*

I can show you one karon. Simple ra ni, ug pwede nimo buhaton anytime, anywhere. Tan-awa sa palibot sa room. Can you tell me *five things
you can see*?

*GINA:*

(Looks around slowly) Ang kurtina… ang bintana… ang ballpen… imong folder… ug ang chair.

*NURSE CARLA:*

Very good! Now, *two things you can touch* — maybe imong clothes, the chair, or the table.

*GINA:*

(Touches her sleeve, then the chair arm) Lambot ang chair… ug lambot pud akong blouse.

*NURSE CARLA:*

(Smiles) Great job, Gina. Mag practice pa ta ani together. Gusto pud nako nga mahibalo ka nga *naa kay choice sa imong care*. Kung naa’y
butang nga lisod para sa imo, pwede ta mohinay. Ikaw ang mag-decide sa pace sa imong healing.

*GINA:*

(Takes a small sip of water) Okay… pwede ba nako makita ang garden mamaya?

*NURSE CARLA:* Of course! After ani, sabayan tika padulong didto. Pwede pud ta magdala ug book kung gusto nimo. Siguraduhon pud nako
nga makatawag ka sa imong mama anytime, ug atong istoryahan kung kanus-a siya pwede mubisita regularly. 🌿

NARRATOR: At Normal Day Recovery Center nurses play an important role in providing holistic care – ensuring safety, building trust,
coordinating treatment, and supporting patients through every step of their recovery. For Gina, having Nurse Carla as a consistent,
caring presence helps her start to feel secure enough to work toward healing.
SCENE 5: HOME - LIVING ROOM (SEVERAL WEEKS LATER)

NARRATOR: Six weeks later… Healing isn’t linear – there are good days and hard days. But with consistent therapy, support from her
mother, and time, Gina was starting to find her way back to herself.

MUSIC: FIX YOU BY COLDPLAY

MAMA ELENA: Etong kape mo, anak. Kamusta naman ang therapy session mo ngayon?

GINA: (Smiles genuinely) Okay naman po, Mama. Nag-usap kami tungkol sa mga small goals na pwede kong gawin – sabi ko sa kanya na
susubukan kong pumunta ulit sa tindahan next week, kasama ka.

MAMA ELENA: (Hugs her) That’s amazing! Sobrang proud ako sa’yo.

GINA: Tinuruan din niya ako ng grounding techniques kapag naramdaman kong natatakot ako. Like naming five things na nakikita ko, four na
hawak ko…

[There’s a knock at the door. Gina tenses slightly, then takes a deep breath and stands up]

GINA: (Calmly) Ako na po ang bubukas ng pinto.

[She opens the door – it’s Grace, carrying a cake]

GRACE: Surprise! Dinalhan ka namin ng cake para sa birthday mo – alam naming hindi namin naibigay nung nakaraang buwan.

GINA: (Tears of joy in her eyes) Thank you… Miss na miss ko kayong lahat.

MARIE & TIFFANY (Entering behind Grace): Miss na rin kita, Gina! Pasensya ka na talaga sa nangyari – hindi namin dapat ika-iiwan mag-isa.

GINA: (Hugs them) Okay lang… alam kong hindi ninyo sinasadya. I’m working on moving forward.

[They all sit down together, laughing and talking. Gina looks peaceful – still healing, but clearly on the right path]

NARRATOR: No two journeys of healing are the same, but one thing is true – survivors are not alone. With support, understanding, and
access to care, people like Gina can rebuild their lives and find hope again. Sexual violence is a crime, but healing is a right.
NARRATOR: As we recognize Women’s Month, we honor survivors like Gina – and all women who carry strength in their stories of
struggle and resilience. Every woman has the right to safety, dignity, and healing. Trauma does not define us; our courage to keep moving
forward does. Together, we can build a world where support replaces stigma, and every woman knows she is seen, heard, and valued.