Masskara Hall, City Government Complex, Bacolod City
25 May 2017
Just four months ago, I was here in Bacolod City for the induction of new officers of Pilipinas kong Mahal United Coalition. And just like my every visit in Bacolod, I feel very glad and recharged because of the unwavering support of Ilonggos.
Ngayon, magkahalong emosyon po ang aking nararamdaman. Malungkot, dahil hindi ako nakarating sa inyong pagtitipon, upang makibahagi sa mahalagang kabanata sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa, partikular na sa mga kababaihan. Isa pa, gusto ko rin sanang muling makasama ang mga minamahal kong Ilonggo.
[In Ilonggo]
Pero nalipay man ko gihapon tungod sa sige niyo nga pagpati. Wala man ko di subong, nabatiyagan ko man gihapon ang inyo nga pag suporta. Tungod sa inyo, klaro gid nga: Hindi ako naga-isahon.[1]
As I said: It does not surprise me—not even a little bit—that the most immediate and most vocal support I have been receiving is from my fellow women. Kaya naman sa inyo pong lahat, maraming salamat po.
Eighty (80) years ago, the law recognizing women as equal voting citizens of this country was enacted. This made the Filipina the first in Asia to gain the right of suffrage.
Isa po iyon sa pinakamalaking hakbang upang makamit ang pagkakapantay-pantay ng lalaki at babae sa bansa.
After that historic legislation, Filipinas have been continuously given the opportunity to expand their role in Philippine society. One clear proof is the increase in the number of women occupying decision-making and leadership positions in government. We had women Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Justices, Senators, Congressmen and many other public officials.
Women are seen, at least ostensibly, as important as men in this country. I could have said the same thing without a doubt a year ago when I was elected into office, just like many other female elected officials.
Pero sobrang nag-iba na nga po ang kuwento. Bumaligtad ang mundo ko sa nakalipas na halos isang taon.
The truth is: the Philippines is still a patriarchal society. There are still people who are backwards in their thinking—including a President who unapologetically catcalls female members of the press, who makes a remark about it being a pity that a beautiful missionary woman was raped—na “Mayor dapat nauna” and a lawmaker who pokes fun of those “naano lang ang may anak at walang asawa.”
What is really disturbing is that there are people in power who are brazenly unapologetic in their mistreatment and insensitivity toward women. Ang masaklap ngayon, ang pinakamataas na pinuno ang halimbawa ng kawalan ng paggalang sa kababaihan, kasama pa ang ilan sa mga kapwa ko mambabatas.
Before, in events like this, I basically spoke from my own experiences as a public servant, a lawyer, a daughter, a mother, a sister and as a woman. But now, it is totally a different story. I am now speaking in the perspective of being a victim.
Sabi ko nga po, mapagbiro ang tadhana. With all the lessons I’ve learned, difficult roles I’ve played, successes that I’ve achieved, I thought that there were no longer any lessons left to be learned.
Yun po ang aking maling akala. Kung dati, ako ang takbuhan o tagapagtanggol ng mga biktima ng pang-aabuso sa karapatang pantao, ngayon, ipinaramdam sa akin ng kapalaran ang maging isang biktima.
As you well know, I have been—and continue to be—on the receiving end of attacks and lies against my person and womanhood. Due to the President’s vendetta and obsession to take revenge on me because I had him investigated over human rights violations—first when he was a mayor and then again when he became President—this administration has thrown everything against me to destroy and pin me down. They have used government resources to imprison me.
Kaliwa’t kanan ang isinampa sa aking mga kaso, lahat po, walang basehan, at halatang gawa-gawa lang. Iba na po talaga ang panahon ngayon sa rehimeng Duterte: ang mali, nagiging tama, at ang tama, binabaluktot para gawing mali.
Ok lang po sana, kung ako lang ang nasasaktan at naaapektuhan. Pero pati po ang pamilya ko, kasama na ang aking mga anak, pati na ang aking apo, apektado. Ang nanay ko, walang kaalam-alam sa tunay na mga nangyayari. My family and I are afraid that if she finds out the truth about my incarceration—because she is told her daughter is on study leave abroad—she will fear, worry and despair at the risk of her health and well-being.
Pero sa kabila ng lahat, kailangan kong magpakatatag. Just as my mother and father had taught me, I should have faith, and stay strong for my family. I need to prove to my enemies: They can’t put a good woman down.
Walong dekada na po ang nakakaraan nang pagkalooban ang mga Pilipina ng karapatang bumoto. Kaakibat ng ating pagboto ang tungkulin at pananagutan na protektahan ang ating demokrasya. Hindi natatapos ang lahat sa pagboto lamang.
Ngayon na laganap ang patayan at karahasan sa ating bayan, maraming ina, asawa, kapatid, at anak ang biktima. Gustuhin man nilang makamit ang hustisya, lalo lamang naipaparamdam sa kanila ang kawalan ng pag-asa. Hindi na nga nila magawang makaahon sa kahirapan, lalo pa silang nalulugmok sa kawalan ng katarungan.
According to Audre Lorde, a writer, feminist, and civil rights activist:
“I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves. We’ve been taught that silence would save us, but it won’t.”
Not just Filipino women, but women all over the world are always among the first to speak out against oppression and they are the loudest and bravest in their opposition whenever democracy is under siege.
Right now, we are seeing how, despite the threat of persecution, Filipino women are key in resisting the evils of this regime—from the misogyny to the state-sponsored killings.
In this time that we face a crisis of democracy where citizens are silenced amid the prevalence of violence in our society, we are called to speak up for what is right even if it is unpopular, and to stand up for our ideals and values.
This is not my fight alone, but a fight for #EveryWoman, for all Filipinos who deserves a genuine change, and a humane and just society.
[In Ilonggo]
Magsig-ulopod kita tanan, ipagbato naton ang aton nga kinamatarong, ang aton nga dignidad, ang aton pagkababae. Ipakita naton ang kusog sang Pilipina, sakdagon ang tsakto kag may basehan, kag magbuligay sa pagpanami sang aton buwas damlag.[2]
Muli, maraming salamat po, mabuhay ang mga Pilipina, mabuhay ang Pilipinas.
[1] Pero masaya na rin po ako dahil sa patuloy ninyong pagtitiwala. Wala man ako ngayon dito, ramdam ko pa rin ang inyong suporta. Dahil sa inyo, malinaw po: Hindi ako nag-iisa.
[2] Sama-sama, ipaglaban natin ang ating karapatan, ang ating dignidad, ang ating pagkababae. Ipakita natin ang lakas ng Pilipina na itaguyod ang tama at makatwiran, at makiambag sa pagpapaganda ng ating kinabukasan.