One billion rising: Strike, dance, rise

February 14, Valentine’s Day, this year, we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the decision to end violence against women. We celebrate through “One Billion Rising”. The campaign is about solidarity. OBR is a joyous celebration that invites all, the entire planet, to creatively express disapproval of violence against women. The whole world will rise up in joyous celebratory dancing to declare the demand to end violence.

Last Wednesday this global campaign was launched with the following conveners: Gabriela, Cebu; Sidlak Region VII Gender Resource Center; UP Gender and Development Office; BISDAK Pride; Good Shepherd Welcome House; Antonia Oviedo Foundation; Cebu Urban Poor Women’s League; and Gabriela Women’s Party.

We opened the activity with a colorful audio-visual presentation of images of women of Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. At first they are victims, but they rise up, realizing that the time had come for the violence to stop. They show this decision through vigorous body movements. Scenes from various parts of the Philippines follow, including the various units of the UP System (UP Los Baños and UP Diliman). The movements of those in the Philippines are based on Oriental body movement. Both were very exhilarating.

The participants were warmly welcomed by the new UP Cebu dean,  Liza Corro. She expressed affinity with the group and the issue at hand recalling that she was one of the  lawyers in the case of Atty. Arbet Sta. Ana-Yongco who was  assassinated in her law office. Arbet had been defending family members of the slain Alona Bacolod in a parricide case against cult leader Ruben Ecleo.

Leny G. Ocasiones, of Gabriela, Cebu, the lead convener, started the statements.  Leny reminded us: “One woman somewhere in this country is beaten every 43 minutes. One in five at least once in their lifetime. Four per cent while pregnant. One in ten has been sexually abused at least once since the age of 15. Eight per cent by their own husbands. Eleven die every minute due to childbirth complications. Sixty per cent suffer poverty, and many become OFWs to escape it, only to face more violence at the hands of foreign employers.”

“Central Visayas posted the third highest number of VAW cases last year in the country. While 1,447 cases seems to suggest that more women are coming out to report violence, we know that hundreds of women in the region still suffer in silence. With the social stigma and shame associated with rape and sexual abuse, and the lack of education on women’s rights, the majority of victims are still out there.”

“More than the physical, sexual, and emotional violence, many still do not recognize economic deprivation is the worst form of violence. It is also often the cause of domestic violence. We women suffer the brunt of poverty, everyday we wring our hands at rising prices of food and commodities, unemployment, cost of education…”

She called all of us: “We must say STOP! Enough OF THE VIOLENCE!

WOMEN, CEBUANO WOMEN, FILIPINO WOMEN, WOMEN OF THE WORLD, WE HOLD HALF THE SKY; IT’S TIME FOR US TO RISE! Together with our male and LGBT friends and partners, let us join the global revolution against gender discrimination, sexual and all forms of violence! Strike, Dance, Rise!”

Several testimonies further intensified our awareness of the prevailing violence. From prostituted women came the revelation that many of them experienced sexual violence as children. From the urban poor women we heard of violence inflicted by drunken husbands; in demolitions they experienced toughness not only in the destruction of their homes, but also in the squeezing of their breasts. Amidst the chaos within informal settlements, incest caused a young girl to lose her mind. A female vendor narrated how she struggled with a friend who tried to rape her. She felt ashamed that this happened to her; she did not want to tell anyone. Feeling alone and lost, she wanted to commit suicide. A young woman assisted by Antonia Obviedo Foundation, revealed her being victimized by her own father from the age of 9 to 17. She felt trapped for she could not even confide in her own mother who had a heart ailment. From BISDAKPride we heard of stories regarding the violence experienced by gays: They experience not only rejection, but also murder threats; even being pursued like a fugitives.

Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee chairperson  Portia Dacalos talked about the violence in sexual harassment and job discrimination. She asserted that to exclude women from certain occupations or sports; presuming that females will not do well in these activities can be very belittling, frustrating, and painful.

The UP Cebu Gender and Development Office and Committee, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee together with Sidlak GRC VII have committed to actively participate in this Valentine’s Day activity: One Billion Rising. Sidlak partners attended with representation from as far as Bohol Island State College. We are excited to be involved in this very refreshing way of letting our entire bodies speak to oppose violence against women and children. We have started with the campus with an information campaign on violence against women and their children. The Physical Education teachers have joined us and have started teaching the students the body movement. Let us all join this creative call to put an end to the violence against women and their children everywhere and the jubilation of our empowering awareness.