Women and Artists at the Anti-War Front

"I think now is the right time to speak out and show what we feel as artists,” says movie actress Cherrie Pie Picache during an anti-war protest participated in by hundreds of women activists, artists and children. “This is not the time for complacency." 

BY DENNIS ESPADA
Bulatlat.com

LINKING FOR PEACE:  (Above) (L-R) Showbiz personalities Malu de Guzman, Carlitos Siguion-Reyna and Cherrie Pie Picache join hands with militant women leaders Rep. Liza Maza and Gabriela secretary general Emmi de Jesus. 
(Right) Policemen block the way to the US Embassy                                                       Photo by Dennis Espada

Picache was among those who gathered at the historic Rizal Park in Manila afternoon of Feb. 19 to hold what they call a "peace link," the participants way of expressing opposition to the United States’ (US)-led war against Iraq.

The activity was initiated by the militant women's alliance Gabriela and the www.peace or Women Working for World Peace-No to US War on Iraq Coalition. They were joined by housewives, actresses, legislators, church and lay workers, health practitioners, other professionals, students, community leaders and activist women.

Picache, whose film and television credits include Anak, Tanging Yaman, Lagarista, Sana Maulit Muli, Saan Ka Man Naroroon and Mula sa Puso, told Bulatlat.com that she has been joining Gabriela for quite a long time in its campaigns affecting women, such as anti-sex trafficking and oppression of women migrant workers.

Meanwhile, www.peace spokesperson and convenor Sr. Nila Bermisa, MM, explained, "Women and children are linking arms against the war, not just here in Luneta (now Rizal Park) but all over the country. More and more Filipino women are expressing their concern for the repercussions of the war. Signatures to our unity statement and various forms of support to the campaign are pouring in." 

Other celebrities

According to her, the list of signatories is composed of celebrities from the local movie, television and music industry, which includes Malu de Guzman, Bibeth Orteza, Monique Wilson, Grace Nono, Pilar Pilapil, Leah Navarro, Gina Alajar, Maria Montelibano, Lourdes Carvajal (Inday Badiday), Jaclyn Jose, Kitchie Benedicto, and megastar Sharon Cuneta, among others.

In a  statement, Gabriela deputy secretary-general Emmi de Jesus asked, "How safe are the Filipino people? The war in the Middle East remains a threat yet oil prices have already increased four times in less than two months. War jitters have caused the value of the peso to slide down to P54 and might even reach P100 per dollar in the event of actual U.S. attack on Iraq. Consequently, the prices of goods and services are affected, due to high production costs, as the manufacturers and utility companies reason out." 

At least 1.5 million Filipinos in the Middle East -- 65% of whom are women -- are directly endangered. With no jobs or decent salaries to return to, they would rather sacrifice their lives and face the consequences of the war.

De Jesus said that despite all these, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo continues to echo the U.S. line that the war against Iraq is part of the global war against terrorism. "The government again dragged us into this unjust war that we neither believe in nor support by allowing U.S. troops to amass and 'train' in our shores. The new Balikatan exercises will take place in Sulu, right in the heart of our Muslim brothers and sisters’ land. Muslims are wary that the U.S. presence is a pre-text for exploitation of resources and pacification of anti-U.S. sentiments, reminiscent of the American colonial pacification campaign against Muslims in the early 1900s," she said.

At sundown, the crowd lined up on the sidewalk and proceeded to the U.S. embassy in a bid to send their message to American officials. But they failed to reach the embassy gates, as police forces blocked them by up to three lanes of the road causing traffic along Roxas Boulevard, which irritated many motorists. "Sa mga kapatid naming drayber, pasensya na po kayo sa trapik," one of the women protesters shouted in agitation. "Kase, nakaharang po ang mga pulis, sila na mga tuta ng Kano!!"

Irene Donato, spokesperson of Alerto Mamimili, a consumer's group, on the other hand, feared an enormous hike in the prices of basic goods and services once the war erupts. 

Another artist, Directors' Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) president Carlitos Siguion-Reyna, spoke up: "Nakikiisa kami sa pagrespeto ng demokratikong proseso ng United Nations tungkol sa peaceful disarmament ng Iraq. Huwag tayong maliligaw sa mga pangarap na ipinapangako sa atin ng dalawang bansa, ang US at ang UK, na makuha ang gusto nila sa pamamaraan ng dahas. (We respect the democratic process in the United Nations regarding peaceful disarmament of Iraq. Let us not be deceived by the promises of the U.S. and UK so they could get what they want through violent means.)" Bulatlat.com

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