Art as a tool for justice

THERE was only one thing clear for most of humanity gathered at the Rizal Park yesterday. It was a cry in unison. An assertion for what is right. A unified declaration of strike against the continuing centuries-old scourge against half of the world’s inhabitants: the women, the nurturer of humanity, the vessel of life.

Clicking at the World Wide Web, one begins to realize the immensity of the women’s cry, small voices that were amplified a billion times over. It was mind-boggling, but the simultaneous dance shook the very core of the humanities’ consciousness, to say the least.

At the park, I saw a very familiar beautiful face beaming. “Donna” is a friend who went through hell in the hands of her abusers about a year ago. She is not only petite and pretty, she is also a very intelligent young woman who knew exactly what she needs to do in the face of adversity and life-threatening situations.

I was taken aback by the strength of her spirit when she recounted her ordeal and was moved to tears to learn that the people who are very close to her, those whom she has held in high esteem were the ones who did not believe in her and failed to give her the support that she needed very badly at the time she needed it most.

Hence, not knowing what to do after undergoing the most trying time of her life, but having a strong faith in herself, she decided to continue living and approaching life in a positive way, by struggling to regain her self-confidence and trying to push the sad experience back to the farthest reaches of her memory.

Watching her dance in protest together with the congregation of humanity who yearn to put a stop to the continuing blight against God’s most favored creatures, no one would ever suspect that this wonderful individual had been through the most daunting of challenge in her life.

Life is beautiful no matter what, and she made this clear to her detractors. They can eat their heart out at the sight of my beautiful friend succeeding, gaining ground in her search for perfection. Surely, it is coming her way, because “Donna” is as bright as the sun that breaks through the dark clouds.

She is the epitome of a woman rising from the dust where her tormentors have pushed her. She is the reality of dread that her detractors now feel, I suppose, because together with billions of women all over the world who went through similar struggles, she has come to reclaim her inalienable and fundamental rights that are clearly stipulated in the Philippine Constitution.

The violation of these basic human rights to dignity and respect must not be glossed over by the State, which is now being held responsible by the people. The failure of the highest authority of this land to protect its people from abuse is tantamount to committing the abuse itself.

That is why the women cannot but continue to be vigilant, especially now that the change of the “national guards” is about to commence. It is our duty, as citizens of this beautiful land, even with the ravage of calamities that wrought havoc on it, to pursue our advocacy against politicians who are out to enrich themselves in public service.