A group of church women dance in Quezon City Feb. 12 ahead of the global "One Billion Rising" campaign on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, when women and men around the world dance to call for an end to all forms of violence against women and children. (Photo by Mark Saludes)
Women from various church groups in Manila have called attention to the plight of indigenous people, especially in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao, by dancing.
"We see this as an opportune time that we, the women of the church should speak and register our firm opposition to violence against indigenous people and their women and children," said Darlene Caramanzana of the Association of Women in Theology.
Caramanzana and several other church women gathered in Quezon City on Feb. 12 ahead of the global "One Billion Rising" campaign on Valentine's Day, when women and men around the world dance to call for an end to all forms of violence against women and children.
The global campaign is in its fourth year and is held in more than 200 countries and territories, including the Philippines.
Caramanzana said indigenous women in the southern Philippines have experienced violence not only in their homes but also through "state-instigated violence."
"As church women, we find it incompatible with the teachings of our faith," she said, adding that women in tribal communities have been victims of rape, detention, and exploitation during military operations against suspected rebel-controlled areas.
"In the name of the government's anti-insurgency program, women, their leaders, and community members were killed," said Norma Dollaga, a deaconess and member of the Ecumenical Women's Forum.
In May 2015, some 700 tribal families in Talaingod, Davao del Norte province, fled their homes after government-sponsored paramilitary groups occupied villages, resulting in the closure of tribal schools.
Sister Fatima Somogod of the Missionary Sisters of Mary congregation said cases of harassment of tribal women and children are often ignored or not given enough importance by the media.
"The church should help tribal communities expose such violence and atrocities. We should stand for the rights of our women and children especially those who have no voice in society," said Somogod who is coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines in northern Mindanao.
The nun said the church has an important role because it is the only institution "that has the strongest will to call on the government, private business, and society to act together to end violence against women."