By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
AT the 2026 Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclamation signing ceremony Friday at Saipan World Resort’s Taga Hall, Department of Public Safety public information officer Fred Sato stepped forward to break the silence surrounding his experience as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.
Hosted by the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, this year’s SAAM theme is “Rooted in community, grounded in care for survivors.”
Sato, the event’s inspirational speaker, said he was invited to reflect on how his life has changed since he first spoke publicly about his abuse in March 2022.
“It was an interesting request, because during a recent committee meeting, I actually suggested bringing back past speakers to share how life has changed since telling their stories,” he said. “And I thought, if I’m going to suggest it, who better to start than me?”
‘I worried my tough exterior would be stripped away’
Sato spoke candidly about the emotional burden of coming forward as a male survivor.
“The day I first shared my story, I was overwhelmed with emotions. I had second thoughts,” he said. “I worried that my tough exterior would be stripped away, leaving me open to judgment, gossip or shame. I wasn’t sure what to share or whether my story would even make an impact.”
Instead, he said, the response from the community changed him.
“The outpouring of support and appreciation was overwhelming,” he said. “For the first time in my life, the emotional weight I had carried for decades was lifted. I no longer felt ashamed or embarrassed about being a survivor.”
Opening the door for others
Sato said speaking publicly did more than help his own healing — it also opened the door for others, particularly male survivors, to come forward.
“After speaking out, I began receiving phone calls and messages from parents of male survivors asking for guidance,” he said. “Adult men, survivors of childhood sexual abuse, also reached out asking how I found the courage to share my story.”
Through those conversations, he said, he came to understand how many others had also been living in silence.
“There were silent male victims and survivors here on our islands,” he said. “They were burdened by shame and fearful they would not be heard or believed.”
He emphasized the power of something as simple — and as important — as being believed.
“When you see a young boy or a grown man shedding tears, you know they’ve been carrying an incredible weight for far too long,” he said. “Simply hearing them and saying, ‘I believe you,’ can offer a powerful sense of hope.”
‘I believed I had no choice but to stay silent’
Sato also shared that he did not report the abuse he experienced as a foster child.
“I was afraid. I was told that if I said anything, I would be removed,” he said. “As a foster child without my biological parents, I believed that I had no choice but to follow the rules and stay silent.”
It was only later, as a teenager, that he said he began to understand the weight of what had happened to him — and the shame, anger and isolation that followed.
“In school, when classmates made inappropriate comments about sexual experiences, I felt exposed and deeply uncomfortable,” he said. “What they joked about was something I had lived with, yet I had no one to confide in.”
‘God had a different plan for me’
Sato acknowledged that many survivors face difficult and painful paths.
“Statistics often show that victims of sexual assault may struggle with substance abuse, violence, suicidal thoughts, or even become perpetrators themselves,” he said. “But God had a different plan for me.”
He added that healing is not always linear.
“There are still days when I feel defeated, when I isolate myself, when the darkness feels heavy,” he said.
He said his greatest source of strength has been his partner and their two children.
“My partner has been my greatest supporter since the day I opened up to her,” he said. “She encourages me to spend more time with family and close friends, especially when I retreat into my own space.”
‘We must act’
In remarks following the proclamation signing, Gov. David Apatang thanked the coalition for its continued advocacy and support for survivors.
“Your advocacy, education and direct support for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence … continue to bring attention to issues that are often difficult to discuss but very important to the safety and well-being of our people,” he said.
Apatang said the community must move beyond awareness and into action.
“We must do more than just listen. We must act,” he said. “That includes continuing our work in advocacy, healthcare and law enforcement — improving our response to reports, how we support healing, and how we strengthen prevention efforts across our islands.”
SAAM events continue through April
The Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence has scheduled several events throughout April as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month:
April 11: SAFE Jamboree at Airport Field
April 12: SAAM Day of Prayer at San Antonio Church
April 29: Wave, Walk & Roll Against Sexual Violence at Oleai Beach Pavilion
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
