“We are rising and resisting against our own President who doesn’t seem to know how to respect women’s vaginas.”
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — “Rise! Resist! Unite!”
Filipino women channeled their rage and disgust for President Duterte’s recent remark degrading women as they celebrated One Billion Rising 2018 on Feb. 14 at Remedios Circle, Manila.
“We are rising and resisting against our own President who doesn’t seem to know how to respect women’s vaginas,” said OBR global director Monique Wilson in her speech.
Read: ‘Duterte. Most dangerous macho-fascist in gov’t – Gabriela Women’s Party
She also lambasted Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque’s defense of Duterte to not take “the shoot vagina remark seriously.” She said it is unacceptable.
“That is why we continue to resist because people in power is worsening the notion that violence against women is normal,” she added.
An effigy of Duterte with tongues laid out symbolizing what they described as habitual sexist tirade against women, were also cut-off.
Former Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and satirist Mae Paner were also present during the event and performed Pepe Monologues patterned after Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues.
Women from different sectors joined the event. The same event was also held in different schools, cities and provinces in the country.
They also paid tribute to their fallen sisters who joined the armed struggle.
One Billion Rising is a global campaign to end violence against women. It was launched on Valentine’s Day in 2012. Every 14th of February, women around the world gather and dance to signify their struggle in ending violence against women in all forms, social, economic, cultural and political.
(Click here to read more about the One Billion Rising in the Philippines.)
