Thursday 10 July 2003

Melvin Macatiag is no longer with Typecast


For anyone asking why Melvin is not part of Typecast anymore, please read below.
He was fired from Typecast for physically abusing his wife.

Ana Estela Corazon Concepcion, we're proud of you & we're here to support you all the way.
I’ve seen a lot of misperceptions and assumptions floating around since Typecast announced that they were parting with their drummer, so I felt compelled to speak. If anyone’s wondering why things went down the way they did, this might help clear up some things.


Melvin Macatiag did not leave the band, which seems to be what everyone is thinking. He was asked to leave because he physically abused me.

While I am not interested in listing the specifics of my experience here (that’s something that I will do in court: see RA 9262) or exactly how the conversation between him and the rest of Typecast went (it’s their business and they will talk about it if and when they are ready), the above article bears striking parallels to what it was that led to his termination.

I have stayed silent on this matter, because what I have gone through and still am going through is/was embarrassing, humiliating, and painful. However, I can no longer stand idly by when there are all these false assumptions going around about Typecast’s motives and reasons for terminating their drummer. I am breaking my silence because they had my back when I needed them and they should not be questioned for doing the right thing.

I’ve come to realize that I do not need to be embarrassed about having endured and survived physical abuse. I am grateful to Steve, Pakoy, and Chi for doing what they did and for realizing before even I did that what happened to me was not my fault. Women should not be expected to silently endure physical abuse from their partners, and I owe it to my parents, brothers, relatives and friends who supported me (Typecast only being a few among the many friends who have reached out to me) and to all women out there who may have experienced this to speak out. Most of all, I owe it to myself to acknowledge that, yes, what I went through was horrible. But I am so much stronger now for having survived it.

So the lesson here is:

Girls, we have to take care of ourselves and each other. Speak up. Don’t put up with abuse from anyone, because you are worth so much more than that.

And, guys, don’t hit girls, and don’t just shrug it off or look away when you see a girl or woman being abused. If you justify your inaction by saying it’s none of your business, just ask yourself, “What if it was my mom or my sister or my daughter or any of my other female loved-ones being knocked around? Would I still ignore it?” The answer is (or at least should be) no. So you need to speak up and protect your loved ones if they are incapable of protecting themselves, just like Typecast did.

This is the bravest thing I have ever done, but I feel it is necessary to say something to clear the air since Typecast is being asked questions that are not theirs to answer.

xx
Ana
PS - Reposting for sharing.