Xyriel Manabat’s Experience Is Why Sexual Assault Awareness Month Still Matters

When people think of an offender of the reprehensible crime that is sexual assault, there’s a tendency to liken him to the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood’s story: he approaches with obviously dangerous intentions, fangs already bared as he tries to charm Red into compliance. The hood-wearing character, in her innocence, initially chooses to trust him. 

And while that comparison still resonates for many victims, therein lies a nuance that a simple childhood fairy tale cannot capture. The Big Bad Wolf is actually an ordinary man, perfectly capable of having normal interactions. He doesn’t sit near women with nefarious plans already brewing in his mind. He might even believe that he’s genuinely a “good guy” because there are worse men out there. So, he smiles and minds his own business in the moment, and women feel more at ease around him. The chances of a man such as he harming you are slim.

But never zero.

The Incident

Just days ago, actress Xyriel Manabat climbed into a Grab ride on her way to a taping. She asked the driver for a quick selfie, nothing more than a courteous exchange between two people within the same vehicle. He agreed, took the photo, and later posted it on his Facebook account with a caption that stripped away every bit of that mundane moment and turned it into something ugly. “Ang LAKI ng bata na yan (that girl is so big),” he added, referring to Manabat’s breasts.

In the comments that followed, he tossed out vulgar replies while others piled on, as if the whole thing was harmless fun worth sharing and snickering over.

Manabat didn’t see the post until later. She admitted she’s not the type to check her phone constantly, and her battery had died that day. When the screenshots finally reached her, she said she would not let it pass.

She pointed out that she had been polite, even tipped the driver, and was simply heading to work in her outfit for the job.

Grab Philippines moved quickly once the story spread. The company issued a public apology to Manabat and placed the driver on preventive suspension, describing the incident as a grave violation that could lead to a permanent ban. They promised to review their training on driver conduct after trips and to strengthen safeguards so passengers feel truly safe.

Women’s groups also spoke up. Gabriela condemned the comments as part of a deeper pattern of disrespect that women encounter. Only last March, similar disgusting comments were directed at Anne Curtis by Quezon City 4th District Rep. Bong Suntay.

RELATED: What Happened to Anne Curtis Is a Sad Reminder Why We Still Need Women’s Month

The Bigger Picture

April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), a time when the focus naturally turns to the most extreme violations. Those crimes demand attention, of course. Yet the deeper issue lies in everything that surrounds and shields them: the casual jokes and the collective chuckle that treats bodies as property. Each time someone laughs along or dismisses the moment as no big deal, it makes space for worse things to grow unchecked. This culture of sexual harassment and victim-blaming prepares the soil of future crimes, one offhand remark at a time.

Manabat has long been vocal about protecting women from sexualization and harassment. It was her decision to speak out. Curtis chose the same path. Their refusal to stay silent matters, but so does the space for those who process things differently and choose not to go public.

What truly counts is solidarity. Whether someone decides to call something out loudly or handle it in their own private way, the rest can choose to believe them and to stop excusing the “harmless” comments. If public figures refuse to brush these incidents aside, the expectation should extend to all. Awareness this month means recognizing how the smaller, everyday crossings of the line add up and deciding, together, that they no longer get a free pass.

Photos: XYRIEL MANABAT (via Instagram), Photographed by DAVE GRACIADAS