May's Story
Published in Reality
(October 2003)
May Naig was sexually abused for several years before Fr Cullen rescued her. She told her story to Sue Leonard
When May Naig, from the Philippines, was 13, she left home to live with her school principal. "I was a very industrious student, and she decided to help me, to support my study," says 22-year-old May. "So I lived there for almost three years.
"But the principal's husband got a crush on me," she
says, lowering her eyes.
"That's what he said.
One time he was saying goodbye and he kissed me on my face.
It was another time that the deeper incident happened.
He started to touch all my body parts, and he tried to rape me.
I was screaming. He
told me if I told people or my parents, he would kill my parents. I was scared. So
for the moment I was quiet."
The abuse continued. Her principal was away a lot attending seminars and meetings
with other teachers.
"So she just wasn't there.
It used to happen at night.
I was still innocent.
I didn't know about sex. I
had read about it, of course, but I didn't know," she says, tears
pricking her eyes.
"When I was 16, 1 went back to my home and had a bad
dream. My mother said, 'you
had a dream last night and you said 'Uncle, stop it, uncle, stop it.' I
told her the story. She
cried, of course, and got mad at him and mad at me.
She said, 'I am your mother; you are supposed to tell me what is
happening.’”
Knowing about the work of Fr Shay Cullen, May's mother approached him for help.
"I lived in the house in PREDA for two years and Fr
Shay helped to support all my study," says May, proudly.
"I'm in college now, taking Social Sciences and Social Work.
I want to finish my studies so I can support my parents and my
brother and sisters, and get a stable job.
That's what I want."
May is gorgeous. And clearly happy.
But it's hard for her to forget what she has gone through, and
she has never had a proper boyfriend.
"Sometimes I forget what's happened to me - the
therapy has helped - but when I'm alone I always remember.
Maybe I'm a little bit scared of having a boyfriend.
Maybe the guy will not accept me for what I am.
"I hope I will marry and have a family in the future. But for now I am just trying to be happy."
