We Want Safe Cities: Time To Shed Light on Neglected Issues

"Hey Sexy!"

"Psst! Ms. Beautiful!"

"Hi Beh!"

These are just some lines I hear on the street every morning as I walk my way home right after taking my son to school. Actually this isn't new to me anymore as I've experienced hearing these things way back my younger years. I always question myself, "what do these guys get out of it?" "does it make them feel like a real man?" and so on. Some men would defend that it's just a form of compliment, but in reality it's not. It's making women feel uncomfortable, uneasy and afraid... well in my case. But am I doing anything about it? No! I just shrug it off my shoulder and try to walk fast as possible because of the fear that something worst might happen if I react against it. I know a lot of women has experienced it but chooses to keep quiet that's why this incident keeps on happening over and over again. 

Little did we know these occurrence is considered as a form of sexual harassment, yet this issue has been long neglected.

This is why the LGU partnered with UN Women to implement the Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Global Initiative. Quezon City is the pilot city in Metro Manila to be one of over 24 cities around the world in the programme to stop street harassment and sexual violence against women and girls (SVAWG) in public spaces with funding from Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID).

To shed “light” on the issue the LGU and UN Women held back-to-back events last March 7, 2016: (1) A press conference at the QCX Museum, “Presentation of the First-Ever Data on Sexual Harassment and SVAWG in public” (2) Lighting the Ways To Safe Cities. where 1000 supporters released sky lanterns to light up the Quezon City skyline and called for safe cities where women are free from fear and free from all forms of street harassment and sexual violence. Both events were to commemorate International Women’s Day (#IWD2016) as well as to kick-off the celebrations in March as the National Women’s Month.

The Press Conference launched the research on “How Safe are Women in our City Streets? – A Baseline Study on Street Harassment and Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls in Public Spaces” and according to the research, three out of five women have experienced a form of sexual harassment while commuting in Metro Manila. The research reported that eighty-eight percent (88%)of women aged 18-24 years, have experienced some form of sexual harassment in their lives, but more than half do not report or do anything about it. 

Whether due to shame or fear, women traditionally ignore and keep silent about catcalls, wolf-whistling, stalking, repeated harassment for their numbers, male public exposure, rubbing or groping (panghihipo) inside the MRT/ jeepneys, even bearing indecent language being yelled at them by men as they walk by.Women experience all these forms of sexual harassment as they move about in the city, using public transport, terminals, markets/malls, and even just walking home in their own neighborhoods.          

Photo Credits to Pat Buenaobra 

During the press conference Glaiza De Castro was revealed as the new celebrity supporter of UN Women Safe Cities. according to her "We know about it, we are offended by it, but we don't know how to prevent it."

Photo credits to Pat Buenaobra

The evening’s grand assembly was a visual spectacle where supporters of women’s right to safety in the city banded together to celebrate the spirit of community fighting to stop street harassment of women. Hosted by PTV4’s Good Morning Boss talents, Jules Guiang and Karla Paderna, the event was graced by musical performances from Cooky Chua, Bayang Barrios and Glaiza de Castro.

The Quezon City Local Government just passed amendments to the Gender and Development Code increasing penalties for sexual harassment and sexual violence against women in public spaces to a range of one to five thousand pesos (Php1,000 to Php5,000) for the varying severity of offenses.

Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice Media Launch at SM North Edsa

Photo credits to SM City North Edsa

SM Supermalls in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, DC Entertainment and licensing representatives Pacific Licensing Studios (PLS) in the Philippines, have worked in conjunction to present a touring mall event themed as "Choose You Side". 

Batman vs. Superman.... Whose side are you on?

I made my choice last Saturday, March 12, 2016 as I attended the Media launch of Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice Launch at SM North the Block.

Guess whose side I chose...

#Superman!

I came in wearing blue together with other #TeamSuperman and for #TeamBatman supporters wore black. 

SM North The Block was impressively designed as the Dark Knight's Gotham City sitting side-by-side to the Man of Steel's Metropolis. It gives a Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice experience walking through the amazing displays set up at the event. 

Photo credits to SM City North Edsa

During the event there was a not-to-be-missed fashion show as they also launched their collection of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice branded limited edition apparel and accessories in collaboration with Penshoppe ; and a collection of trendy watches from Axis by Newtrend. 

Aside from the fashion show, fans of LEGO including my son Tristan enjoyed the immersive  play area set up by the LEGO group, alongside the display of their Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice product line and an exclusively created LEGO mosaic featuring the two iconic Super Heroes. 

Before the event ended we were all excited as they revealed the incredibly detailed 1:1 scale replica of the Batmobile, then afterwards a lot of picture taking took place. 

The event will be toured around 12 Supermalls across the country.

And the Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice film opens in Philippines on March 26, 2016.

Watch out for it!

Children at the Crossroads: Windows to Healing in Mindanao

Amidst the hustle and bustle in the city life, little did we know that there is a growing outcry for war with our co-Filipinos in Mindanao.

War is not clean, war is not easy. War does not involve only armed combatants. War affects everyone: men, women, especially children. Armed and unarmed.

Thus, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) feels the need to take action and in little ways spread the awareness and open the hearts and minds of people who have limited knowledge and experience about the Mindanao conflict.

A child walking along the road of displaced families. A five-year old boy in Camp Afghan by the side of his grandfather, a combatant of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces. Children praying at dawn by the side of their makeshift tents along the highway. These snapshots were captured by the lenses of the celebrated photographer, Jun de Leon, as he visited Maguindanao, days after the Mamapasano incident in January.

Entitled, “Children at the Crossroads: Windows to Healing in Mindanao,”  Jun de Leon’s photographs with stories by An Alcantara was put on display from March 7-8 at the Fisher Mall, Quezon City. 

This exhibit is the 3^rd of the series of exhibits and people from the media, students and mall goers were able to witness the Opening Program of the exhibit which aims to raise awareness on the effects and impact of armed conflict in the Bangsamoro on children.

The exhibit was laid out in crossroads formation and was composed of 28 photographs. The exhibit also featured a 10-minute video capturing the faces of children, the scenery, and the people who speak about the conflict outside and within.

They are planning to show the exhibit and reach as many people as possible, and plans to take it to as many cities across the country at the soonest possible time.

This exhibit is organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), in partnership with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Fisher Mall and URC Jack ‘n Jill Puff corn.