WITH the intent to create awareness of the existing violence against women, the Vday Cagayan de Oro and Oro Teatro Bulawanon will once again stage The Vagina Monologues at the Superstar KTV Lounge & Club in Cagayan Town Center on Friday, March 8, just in time for the National Women’s Day celebration.
The Vagina Monologues (VM) is an award-winning play based on the more than 200 stories gathered by Vday founder and playwright Eve Ensler from women all over the world.
These stories are of “women who are either victims or still are victims of abuse, all forms of abuse or violence.”
This year’s VM will not only feature the masterpieces of Ensler but also highlight the original pieces written by Kagay-anons Rhona Canoy, Adeva Esparrago, Aicy Soriano and Bex Espino.
“VM is actually a collection of stories of real women or real people. It is not made up stories, these are real stories,” Maia Fortich Poblete, the director of the Vagina Monologues and founder of Oro Teatro Bulawanon, said.
With their continuous fight against violence on women and girls and raising awareness on issues such as rape, harassment and discrimination, the VDay Cagayan de Oro has been working with all genders: women, men, and the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer).
“We call it (VM) inclusive because we include stories that are from the point of view of man or LGBTQ. We also have male cast members,” Poblete said.
“Because for us, it is easier to work towards our goal if we work together regardless of gender, belief, and background. So para namo, the place is not just for women, it is for everyone who supports the cause, kanang (that is the) movement against violence,” she added.
The Vday Cagayan de Oro also worked with the senior high school arts and design students of Liceo de Cagayan University and two young girls who will be performing a piece called “Six-Year-Old Girl” and “The Little Miss.”
Poblete said it is the first time that girls as young as seven years old are included in the show.
The Vday Cagayan de Oro, through The VM, also aims to make the public conscious of the idea that the word “vagina” is not a “bad word” or “taboo.”
“So the people will understand that there is nothing wrong with the word vagina. It’s a part of the female body. It is not bastos (vulgar). It is not taboo. It’s one of the essence of being a woman,” Poblete said.
The donation tickets for the show are available at Superstar KTV and which costs P175. Vday Cagayan de Oro is also selling personalized T-shirts at P150.
At least 10 percent of the proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Vday Worldwide Fund while the rest will be used for their programs for their beneficiary: The Home Care for the Girls.