Gabriela Women’s Party joined women leaders from different sectors in launching the third One Billion Rising global event to fight violence against women during a press conference at Romulo’s Cafe in Quezon City. The Philippines’ main rising will be held at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila on February 14 starting at 8:00AM.

“Women all over the world and women in the Philippines continue to rise as government neo-liberal policies spawn further violence, work against the people’s economic welfare and exacerbate anti-women laws and policies,” said GWP Representative Emmi De Jesus in a press conference in Manila.

“Bumabangon ang mga Pilipina para panagutin ang administrasyong Aquino dahil sa lumalalang kahirapan at papatinding karahasan na nararanasan ng kababaihan at bata. Sa One Billion Rising for Revolution,sasayaw ang kababaihan at sambayanan para ipakita sa mga tiwaling lider ang pagkakaisa at pakikibaka hanggang makamit ang gobyernong naglilingkod sa interes ng masa,” De Jesus

Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan for her part said the rising of Filipino women is very timely. “This time women are also rising to voice out our demands for truth, justice and accountability. Filipino women are facing the big challenge of making those responsible for the state of unpeace in this country accountable.”

“Our dialogues with women from Mamasapano reveal how women, children and their families have suffered and how they continue to suffer as the Mamasapano incident triggers one cover-up after another, practically jeopardizing their demands for just peace.”

Ilagan who joined the fact-finding mission led by Kalinaw Mindanao in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano in Maguindanao is set to join various risings in Mindanao and will be part of the women’s rising in Davao City on February 14.

The Gabriela congresswoman said the call for OBR in 2015 “Rise for Revolution” is a call for systemic change for genuine women
empowerment and not just change of faces and personalities.

“Women can no longer tolerate the lies of Aquino government that prolongs the agony of joblessness, falling wages, worsening
violence. On February 14, we drum, dance, and rise with one billion people to add to the call for truth and accountability of the ruling regimes everywhere,” De Jesus concluded.

============
Reference:
REP. LUZVIMINDA C.ILAGAN 0920.9213221
REP. EMMI A. DE JESUS 0917.3221203
Ed Atadero (Public Information Officer) 0915.1439219