Arlene Delloso-Uypitching had said she was “still in awe” of Eve Ensler’s visit to Dumaguete City.
It had been every VDay activist’s dream to see Eve in person. It was mine. Never did I think in my life, before Dec. 18, that I would meet Eve Ensler in person, talk to her at an intimate distance, hug her, and be hugged back and kissed on the cheek — and all of these happening right here in Dumaguete. Vday Dumaguete could not have asked for more.
VDay Dumaguete no longer has reason to give up. We have every reason to continue rising above violence, giving women and girls a better place to live in.
Most of us are still finding it surreal to have been able to know Eve Ensler at close range. J. Marie Maxino said she never thought that one minute she was reading Eve’s book, and the next minute, met her face to face.
When Eve and I hugged before she left, I whispered to her that I was very happy. She looked at me, touched my face, and kissed me on the cheek and said “Thank you.” I told her, “No. Thank you!” She continued saying, “Thank you, thank you for your work.”
We have our own stories to tell about our experiences with Eve Ensler. Millions of people in the world worship her, writers especially, and women most especially. For any VDay activist, she is our mother, goddess, and dream. On Dec. 18, she became our friend.
Far beyond the celebrity that she has become, Eve Ensler is incredibly loving and passionate. We get drawn to people who are brave and funny, but these people only change our lives when bravery and funniness are deeply entwined with love. That is Eve.
The forum with Eve Ensler, I believe, was meant to happen. The universe has acknowledged the work we have been doing in Dumaguete because when one looks at the events that unfolded, one can’t help but believe that everyone and everything just wove in, and fell into place: Eve had more days to stay in the Philippines; Ratz Salvarita came home at a good time, he with the magical hands who made possible the “vulva-nic skirt” we gave Eve; Annabelle Lee-Adriano dreamt of Eve dancing to a drumbeat, urging Arlene to hire a “rock band” just a day before the dinner, among many events that seemed to have come at a purpose.
Eve danced the night away. Many described it a “magical evening”. The whole day was actually indeed magical.
When we first staged The Vagina Monologues (TVM) in 2001 by New Voice Company, we had to go through the eye of a needle. We could not get sponsors because it was “vagina”. Some of the administrators at Silliman, even when they supported TVM, had suggested to change the title to The V Monologues or to print “Vagina” in smaller fonts, just so we could be successful at staging it.
Having watched TVM earlier, I knew that if people could not take reading the word “vagina” in public on huge streamers across the City, they would definitely have more trouble listening to the monologues.
To me, to alter the title on posters defeated the purpose. Ian Casocot had said, “In the beginning of the show, I felt I was being pushed back in my seat each time the actor repeatedly said ‘vagina’ to my face.” He said he was surprised to feel that way, knowing what his progressive views are about the world. Slowly, he gained comfort, and saw the value of fully understanding women’s experiences.
Our other challenges included being harassed in texts, mocked infront of people everytime we talked about TVM; and students being insulted in their classes by their teachers because they were part of the VDay movement.
If not for the love we had for each other by us few who started TVM and VDay in Dumaguete, we would have fallen apart.
As the years passed, we multiplied. Many men did not want to be associated with VDay because TVM was attached to it. (I wondered why they did not want to be associated with the vagina when in all aspects, they are connected to it!?)
Today, more men have joined VDay, and are no longer afraid to say ‘vagina’ at their dinner table. It has become a household name. We have come far.
Next year’s VDay theme is One Billion Rising (OBR) when one billion women around the world will rise together on Feb. 14, 2013.
The forum with Eve Ensler on Dec. 18 was the launching of OBR Dumaguete. We wish to see the entire community to strike, dance, and rise with us on Valentine’s Day.
With my experience with and in VDay, and my knowledge about the women’s movement, many women’s organizations break apart at some point of their existence. I have learned that bravery and courage are necessary values to fight for what one believes is right. It is only when those values are sewn with love that people can sustain being together for a cause, and remain friends above all, apart from being co-advocates.
Eve. Love. VDay. (Photos by Greg Morales, Hersley Ven Casero, Razcel Salvarita, RV Escatron)
Prof. Bing Valbuena
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