The road to sex trade: the Buntog experience

Mildred Megarbio, Ateneo de Davao University

A number of street teenagers in Davao City, are engage in casual sexual intercourse with friends and strangers in public places, they are referred “buntogs”. This study investigates the factors that influence the adolescent buntogs involvement in sex trade and its consequences using survey and in-depth interview to thirty referred buntogs. Result showed that buntogs seek refuge from peers who provided them sources of social activities that paved way to various relationships and sexual experiences. Almost half of the respondents admitted to have acquired STI but the threats of STI only slowed them down but have not encouraged them to stop engaging in sex trade. Their unique and highly risky means of self medication enhance their misconception that all STD is curable. Apparently, the pleasure attached to sex and the consent given by parents encouraged these adolescents to continue and indulge in different sexual activities.