Japanese soldiers pose with girls abducted to serve as comfort women. It has been over half a century since the Japanese Imperial Army invaded the Philippines and caused the nightmare we call "Japanese time" or panahon ng Hapon. The sharp edge of Japanese atrocities during World War II, has dulled over time from our national consciousness. But the hurt from one group of victims, lingers on. Scores of young girls barely in their teens were systematically abducted and forced into sexual slavery by Japan. These adolescents were forced to endure humiliation and exploitation as "comfort women" for Japanese soldiers. They endured torture, beatings and rape by as many as 40 men each day. For those who survived, the trauma they suffered left deep emotional and psychological scars they carried with them for the rest of their lives. The current demonstrations against Japan in both China and South Korea highlight Japan's dark past in the region. A past that it tries to deny or at the very least gloss over whenever it can. While Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's apology during the recent Asian and African summit in Jakarta has assuaged some of the concerns of Japan's Asian neighbors, surviving Filipina comfort women as well as those from other Asian countries continue to seek recompense and an official apology from the Japanese Government--so far without success. Japan's current bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council however, has opened up an opportunity to bring this topic to the center of the world stage. Online petitions are currently being posted by the Philippine and other Asian websites to oppose Japan's UN bid absent an officially apology and legal compensation for its victims. You can sign-up online at the Lolas Kampanyera website. Japan must face up to its past and sixty years is a long time to be waiting for an apology. Published 2005