PCW opens 2018 Campaign To End VAW with Bacolod Film Screening and Forum

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) together with the Interagency Council on Anti-Violence Against Women (IACVAWC) opened the 2018 observance of the 18-Day Campaign To End Violence Against Women (VAW) through a regional film screening and forum on gender-based violence (GBV) against women and girls, in partnership with the Bacolod City Government.

Around 250 individuals from the local government units, state universities and colleges, women’s groups and local communities participated in the “Cine Juana Film-screening and Forum on VAW” held at the Masskara Hall, Bacolod City New Government Center on November 26, 2018. 

The activity featured Cinemalaya independent film “Bagahe,” which narrates the story of an overseas Filipino worker who was subjected to investigations and public scrutiny when she was tagged as primary suspect for abandoning a new-born child. The story unfolds to reveal that she was victim of sexual abuse by her employer. She was sent home to the Philippines without getting justice for her abuse.

The film screening became a springboard for discussing VAW as a national issue in an open forum involving local service providers from the Philippine National Police, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education and Bacolod City Local Government Unit, among others. In the said forum, the service providers elaborated on the rights of women under the law as well as the mechanisms for victim-survivors to report cases of abuse.

“Bagahe” Film Director Zig Madamba Dulay and Line Producer Jed Medrano also joined the forum and shared their inspiration behind the multi-awarded film.

PCW is set to conduct the Mindanao leg of the CineJuana Film-screening and forum on VAW in partnership with the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte on December 12 at the Surigao City Gym.

Meanwhile, a rerun of the VAW Experiential Museum featuring interactive theatre plays on VAW is scheduled to be held on December 4 to 7, 2018 at the Mowelfund Plaza in Quezon City. This free event is sponsored by the PCW in partnership with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

For more information about the film screening and forum and other activities lined up for the 18-Day Campaign To End VAW, visit VAWFreePH.