V

FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK

ANTI-VIOLENCE RESOURCE GUIDE FWN AFTER 5 YEARS: A PEBBLE’S RIPPLE EFFECT / Free Battered
Women from Prison / On the Rise: Technology in Stalking
API WOMEN COMMUNIT Y LEADERS JOIN FORCES WITH FWN’S ANTI-VIOLENCE C AMPAIGN

DIARIES
Elena, Sonia & Marily
FILIPINAS IN MOTION
6th anniversaRy issue | 2009
 M e s s a g e f r o m t h e P U B L I SHER

Moving Forward to Victory… out to our API sisters to launch a do what needs to be done.
As I reflect on the V-Day new partnership – women No fanfare. No complaining.
journey of the last five years, I am working together to end violence No drama.
Th e “ V” Team humbled. I am grateful. It is like against Asian women and girls. I am grateful most especially
looking through a photo album. Jan, Fiona and Emily were the to Al – we met in 2004 when he
. . . . ♥ . . . . As you examine each photo, you first to say yes. Mitos, Jane, Hydra, rescued the playbill and
discover something that somehow Mayette, Helen, Lia….and many transformed it into something
DeVoted Publisher you missed the first time. As you others followed. Taking the V-Day beautiful. He continues to
M a r i ly M o n d e j a r flip each page through, you FWN campaign to the next level. re-invent our message on paper.
remember details as if they Time for campaign 2.0. You don’t see his photo on the
Delightful Marketing Chair occurred yesterday. The album cover but his thumbprint is
S ONIA DELEN becomes a repository of Gratefulness implanted on all that you see.
knowledge and memories and you Al + Elena + Genevieve D + Filipina Women’s Network
DiVine Editor want to close the book to keep its Sonia = 2004. Franklin + would not have been able to get
C ONNIE Z H EN G Marily Mondejar treasures intact (see pp. 18-19). Genevieve J + Ken = 2005. to its 21st performance this year
President, Filipina Women’s Network Celebrating six years of I pay tribute to these precious without the loving support and
Angel Art Director collaboration with V-Day with souls – they are the heart of V-Day the beautiful hearts of these seven
all-Filipina performances of “The FWN. Every year when V-Season brave souls.
Al S. Perez
Vagina Monologues,” we reach comes around, they show up, they Mabuhay! M.
Graphic Designers
Alberic rivera
Carrie Doung M e s s a g e FRO M THE SAN FRAN C I S C O P RO D U C ER ELENA MANGAHAS
Board Chair, Filipina Women’s Network
Copy Editors This year’s production of “The are cause and awareness-promoting the production to Washington D.C. this
ELBER T C H AN
F RAN K LIN RI C AR T E Vagina Monologues” is sensitive organizations like the Filipina Women’s year, there is a continuing need to sus-
K E V IN Z H AN G to the frailties of our times brought Network (FWN) who struggle to tain the programs of FWN that endow
Leila Kang about by the global economic crisis bring community theatre produc- humanity as a whole. Please take time
that affect attendance to arts events. tions like our all-Pinay “The Vagina to see our many programs by going to
. . . . ♥ . . . . Arts advocates nationwide earned Monologues” to its soapbox spotlight our FWN website. Be a member! And
victory when U.S. Congress broadened year-in and year-out. This is our sixth for those in the show tonight, please
Heart Contributors the issue of economic recovery to year! While FWN receives tremendous join our unique blessing dance to
include arts jobs through the National support for the work it does to end bring wisdom and passionate direction
A D RIENNE A G UIRRE Endowment for the Arts grants. From a violence against women and girls, to the circle of women (and even men)
BE T S Y LAU
Bes Yap non-traditional arts perspective, there including a warm welcome bringing who carry on the mission of FWN.
Chris Le
G a r y C r u z (Cover Photo)
G LA D Y S D O D D S
G LORIA RA M O S M e s s a g e f r o m T h e w a s h i n g t o n , D . C . p r o duc e r s
K EE S A O C A M P O
K E V IN M AN
N a o m i Ta c u y a n U n d e r w o o d world – the message to end domestic We were shocked by the statistics our power.
P H ILI P AN D RE S violence. Somewhere, someone out when we first heard it. It is our hope that by empowering
RA Q UEL RE D ON D E Z there would have heard that we said One in three women will suffer women, and men, to speak out, we
Teresalina Marfori
NO – NO to violence against women some form of violence in her lifetime, can begin to stop this epidemic and
and girls. The cast and crew of “The whether it’s a casual put down, in help put an end to devastation and
Vagina Monologues” in Washington, emotional and mental abuse situa- tragedy.
D.C. drew from each other’s strengths tions, mutilations or even murders.
and courage to let our voices be Unfortunately, a lot of women,
. . . . ♥ . . . . heard. and men, especially in our patriarchal
What an empowering experience, culture somehow think that “women
FWN Board an experience of a lifetime – unfor- deserve the violence” or “that’s just
gettable, challenging, unbelievably the way it is.”
Marily Monde jar
GLORIA T. CAOILE life-changing and much, much more. If we can create awareness, if we
Genevieve Jopanda We will never forget all those who can create a buzz in our community
elena mangahas So many wonderful stories performed at Washington, D.C. That and beyond, that would be a good
have come out of this very special day will live on for a very long time start. Once we speak the unspeakable
maya escudero
journey. A community of extraor- and one message will never be lost – (what our culture or upbringing has
nini alvero dinary men and women rose to the we all will never stop doing our part conditioned us to think as unspeak-
bambi lorica challenge of coming together to get to stop the violence against women able), and reveal what is happening
PEARL PARMELEE a very important message out to the and girls. in the “dark,” we regain our voice, BAMBI LORICA
Al perez
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g

SONIA DELEN
Marketing Chair
As we celebrate our sixth year,
I’m continually in awe of FWN and
V-Day’s partnership in bringing Eve
Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues”
to the community. A kinship exists
among the growing alumni of our
cast and crew members since
2004, inspiring and breathtaking.
A beautiful, unbreakable bond of
love and compassion permeate this
“family” that unselfishly
contributes to ending domestic
KEN MARQUIS
Director
GENEVIEVE V. JOPANDA
Director
Five years ago when I first
joined the cast, FWN was getting
dirty looks and negative
comments about “The Vagina
Monologues.” My father got
involved in our campaign against
domestic violence by defending
our production and explaining its
purpose to Bay Area prayer
groups.
More than just encouraging
people to talk about the
“V-word,” the show details true
experiences of real domestic
violence survivors. Our V-Diaries
also shares some of those stories
of women from our cast and in
our own network. Like an onion,
we’re able to peel off layers and
ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE
M e s s a g e S f r o m t h e P RO D U C T I O N TEA M
violence against women and
children.
The evolution of our annual
production, which brings FWN’s
Social Justice Campaign to the
forefront, says it all. Six years and
counting, our 18th, 19th and 20th
performances have spanned the
West and East Coasts and uniquely,
we are involving Filipino men who
have embraced this cause and are
performing with the women, side-by
side. For the first time in FWN’s
history, the previous all-Filipina
show now features an Asian
American production this year.
I am reaching out to everyone
to support FWN, V-Day, and other
community organizations in
ending violence against
individuals. When more global
communities participate in
this effort, we truly become
ONE VOICE.
Times are tough. The financial
markets continue their spiral
downward as military conflicts
rage around the world.
Communities, families and
personal relationships are all
strained under the pressure to just
maintain. Unfortunately, during
times of economic and/or political
unrest, women and girls are at an
increased vulnerability for
layers of hidden words, isolated
emotions, and repressed feelings
to help surface healing. It’s
beyond just a theatre production
and an editorial circulation, it’s
sometimes the first steps toward
healing and direction to
unanswered questions.
FWN’s campaign against
domestic violence can’t be done
in a timid approach. It’s no longer
the “V-word” spoken in a shy,
embarrassing voice, but
“VAGINA!!!!” delivered
with conviction and
strength. I hope you walk
away watching the show
and reading the V-Diaries
speaking a little bit louder
against domestic violence.
CONNIE ZHENG
Editor
I am honored to serve as this
year’s V-Diaries editor and to be
part of the Filipina Women’s
Network’s growing movement
against domestic violence. This
annual anti-domestic violence
resource guide would not be
made possible without the
tireless efforts of our volunteers
– our editorial, production, PR
and advertising teams, gifted
writers and contributors,
domestic violence. This
production’s sole purpose is to
engage you in first recognizing,
then actually doing something to
stop or prevent the violence in our
homes, families, and communities.
To the men reading this, I call on
you to join me in doing all we can
to support the women in our lives
and to join them in their struggle
to live their lives free from
NINA NGUYEN LAGAC
Director
In this day and age, women
and girls around the world still
suffer tremendously. They are
beaten, sexually abused, raped,
mutilated, infected with STDs,
and murdered. Cultures know
about these, yet cultures accept
these. I am pained by these
occurrences but I am also
brazen with zeal to speak about
them. It is in this end I am very
grateful for the
chance to direct
the maiden
production of
FWN’s “The
Vagina
Monologues”
and “MMRP” at
detailed proofreaders and fact
checkers, talented graphic
designers, and those who
opened up their hearts to share
some of the most powerful,
touching, and heartbreaking
stories.
It is our hope to create an
informative and insightful
publication that not only
educates our readers, but
assists those in abuse situations
in need of help. If you know
someone in an abuse situation,
you can help. Let them know
they can find resources and
support groups from these
pages. Lastly, it is our hope
that through our words and
performances you will join our
movement in fighting domestic
violence.
violence. The cast and crew’s
efforts over the last few months
to bring this unique and theatrical
experience to the stage have been
nothing short of remarkable. I am
truly inspired by the talent and
dedication shown by the entire
team. To the audience, thank YOU
for supporting us. Now please sit
back and enjoy the show.
Salamat!
Washington, D.C. The
performance not only benefits
our local beneficiary and V-Day
globally, but it has created a
filial camaraderie among a
group of strong leaders in their
pursuit of ending violence
against women and girls. Being
part of the production has
certainly been a cathartic
experience that transcends time,
race and gender.
Ta b l e o f Co n t e n t s
v-day spotlight 2009
About FWN 38
Filipinas Against Violence 37
About V-Day 36
V-Day Mission 36
V-Day Spotlight: Women of the
Democratic Republic of Congo 36
About Eve Ensler 36
About DVRP 4
DC Playbill 23
SF Playbill 28
DC Cast & Crew Bios + Photos 24
SF Cast & Crew Bios + Photos 29
SF Conocimiento 32
O N TH E COV E R
FWN After 5 Years 20
V-FEATURES
Emerging Concern:
Technology in Stalking 9
Remembering the Comfort Women 11
Female Genital Mutilation 11
Language Access for DV Victims 12
Effects of DV on Children 13
DV Facts, Statistics and Myths 13
Perceptions of Abuse in
Asian American Culture 14
Vagina Warriors 2009 16
Men Against Violence Interviews 18
Interview with Fiona Ma 19
Profiles: Jane Kim, Hydra Mendoza 19
Free Battered Women from Prison 34
Abuse in Same Sex Relationships 35
V-court watch
Abha Appu: Indian Woman
Still in Critical Condition 10
Claire Joyce Tempongko:
Ramirez Sentenced 10
Teris Casco: Man Sentenced to
18 Years in Prison 10
Nicole: Outrage over
Lance Corporal’s Acquittal 10
V - J O U R N ALS
Birth 5
Time Heals 5
Have You Ever Experienced or
Witnessed Violence? 5
My V-Journal 13
From Darkness to Enlightenment 15
Break the Silence and Educate 15
I Am An Asian American Speaking
Out Against Violence… 33
V - R E SO U R C E S
San Francisco Bay Area 6
Washington, D.C. 8
Community Partners 4
FWN Advertisers 4
© 2009 The V-Diaries is a publication
of the Filipina Women’s Network.
All rights reserved.
AC KN OWL EDGMENTS:
WASH IN GTON DC
Anna Stuart
Annie SantoDomingo
Armand Rivera
Baby Herrera
Ben Caoile
Calvin Mata
Deanna Pineda
Gerry & Sony Florendo
Gerry Ramos
Grace Clavecillas
Jon Melegrito
Leia Lorica
Les Talusan
Lilia Alba
Luis Florendo
Mosaic Express
Muse Advertising Design
Nancy Gasper
Sandy Ogelvie
Sarah Gerardo
Victor Lorica, md
Virginia Hospital Center
Virginia Nephrology Group
S A N FR A N CISCO
PHILIPPINE CONSULATE
GENERAL IN SAN FRANCISCO
Consul Marciano A. Paynor, Jr.
Deputy Consul General Fred Santos
Consul Leah Victoria Rodriguez
Lynn Sesante
PHILIPPINE TRADE
COMMISSION
Nini Alvero, Jopin Romero
Mylene San Juan, Rosalie Say
HERBST THEATER
Stephanie Smith & John Bott
Gus Glimis & Lauren McQuade (CBO)
APIHF INSTITUTE ON
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Chic Dabby, Yanin Senenchai
CARNELIAN ROOM
Phil Ip, Manager
Marie Enriquez, Manager
Elsa Gualit, Ruby San Juan
V-DAY
Eve Ensler
Cecile Lipworth, Shael Norris
The Intramuros
Mark de Leon, Dr. Valerie de Leon,
Barry Picazo, Sonia Delen
Khadra Dance Studio
Roberto Divina
RICHARD GERVAIS COLLECTION
Richard Gervais
The SF examiner
Dave Ceccarelli
VOLUNTEERS
Alberic Rivera, Aris Garcia,
Carrie Doung, Chris Parado,
Connie Zheng, Don Cain,
Elbert Chan, Franklin Ricarte,
Gary Cruz, Genevieve Dwyer,
Jo-Ann Agcaoili, Kevin Man,
Kevin Zhang, Leila Kang,
Michael Tomas, TJ Simbulan
O u r Co m m u N i t y Pa rtNers
J ustice & C ourage
Oversight Committee
fwn’s 2009 beneficiary:
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCE PROJECT
Founded in 1995, Asian/
Pacific Islander Domestic
Violence Resource Project
(DVRP) is a local non-profit
organization in the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan
area that is committed to
ending domestic violence in
the Asian/Pacific Islander
communities.
DVRP’s mission is to address
and prevent domestic violence
in Asian/Pacific Islander
communities in the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan
area. DVRP’s goals are to
ensure that abused A/PI
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
D OM ES T I C
Women’s
Intercultural
V I O LE N C E
Network CONSORTIUM CALIFORNIA
WOMEN’S AGENDA
San Francisco’s
DEPARTMENT ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
recognizes the
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
for its work to end domestic violence.
Partnerships between public and
San Francisco’s
private agencies are critical to
DEPARTMENT ON THE
creating community-based solutions
STATUS OF WOMEN
to end violence against women.
CECIVIM
Asian Pacific Islander Institue on Domestic Violence
I F Institute for
Image
I M Management
The Consulate General Embassy of the
Outstanding
Women in the of the Philippines Philippines in
Nation’s in San Francisco Washington, DC
Service
Philippines M arciano A. P aynor J r . Wi l l y C . G a a
SALAMAT ADVERTISERS!
women have access to 39 AsianWeek
culturally and linguistically 34 Erick Dimalanta
responsive resources in order 39 Farmers Insurance
to make their own life choices, our communities. Among its 48 Intramuros
to raise awareness about the several programs and services,
34 Jennifer Ong, o.d.
problem of domestic violence, DVRP runs an advocates
and to unite A/PI communities program, a community
39 Johanna & Çağatay
against domestic violence. outreach program, and a 35 Mayette Almazan, m.d.
Through direct assistance, technical assistance program, 35 North American Motors
community engagement and providing bilingual advocates 7 Philippine News
training of service providers, who speak a range of 48 Ramar Foods
DVRP strives to address and languages including 27 Richard Gervais Collection
prevent domestic violence in a Cantonese, Farsi, Hindi, 7 Rodel E. Rodis, Attorney
manner that supports survivors Hmong, Japanese, Korean,
27 Sonia Delen
of domestic violence and Mandarin, Nepali, Punjabi, 37 Sony Florendo
promotes cultural competency Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese,
to meet the diverse needs of and Urdu.
| w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g
Time Heals
Rape Sur vivor, 2009 I was crazy for several years. I
thought I was ruined for life.
I am joining “The Vagina Now looking back, I realize that
Monologues” to serve my fellow I am a woman changed for the
Filipinas and the community. I better. I was able to survive this
didn’t know that I would end up trauma and come out whole and
having a lot of fun, powerful retrieve the depth of my true soul.
experiences, and “aha!” moments. Now I know I am able to handle
The readings from women in with grace other challenges I will
Bosnia and Ukraine showed that face in the years
this kind of violence does really to come.
happen to women. What you hear Healing is a process and a
in the news really does happen in journey that takes its own time.
real life. I had forgotten the violent It gets easier with each season,
trauma I experienced 30 years ago. especially with the love of dear
It is like another lifetime. ones and family. Friends,
I revisited the experience again community, therapy and support
through the readings of “The from my spiritual mentors also
Birth
Vagina Monologues” and the help me with my own inner
poignant stories the cast shared spiritual healing journey.
with each other. Now looking back, “Healing is to have closure and
ut our past
Not much can be said abo
it is just like a bad dream. I am no to let go.”
Such a dark place it is
longer so identified with my past I am so grateful to be a part of
complex
The ability to forgive is
painful experience, but I noticed the “The Vagina Monologues.” By my
scar is still there. At the time of the compels me
The courage to move on
participation in this important
ing miles away
trauma, it seemed impossible to uld hear the ocean churn
Sometimes, I swear I co
event, I am making a contribution
overcome its blows. I thought there to stop domestic violence and
was no way out of the darkness. making a difference. What an from my refuge
them
The grief was unbearable. There opportunity! My thoughts churn with
were no words to ease the pain. “Time heals all wounds.” But still...
My heart stays guarded
sunshine
Even after a weekend of
V-Day FWN 2009
HAVE YOU E It’s so easy to laugh
VER WITNES til the pain engulfs you
---------- SED To shrug off the past un
---------- OR EXPERIENCED VIOLE
---------- NC I tried to block it ger describe it
Yes, I was a v ---------- E? g tha t it doe sn’ t hu rt, while words can no lon
---- Preten din consent?
phoenix, I ros ictim. I was burned to th Do you have any remorse
for trespassing without
e fr e ed on my very soul
change what you’ve inflict
om the ashes co
to leave and
n ot . I escaped, emre but like a Nothing you do now can
b e ered
viding the moment it shatt
for help. I’m a fr a id powered
still growing. I leaned on friends and myself My spirit has been subdi
the essence of and learning family k up the pieces
who I am, wh how to go back For years, too weak to pic
ich is love. to can’t wash you away
Even the greatest floods
I grew up in a h However, I have grown tire
d of fearing
existed and I reaousehold where domestic I have decided it’s time to
fight back
degrading souls, lized the impact it has inviolence I will be silent no more d
spirits, and futu The finger that was used
to hush the rushing win
I ex pe ri en ce d em res. Will now subside
o ti on a l a b us e
for cleansing
The stage as my platform
h ea ri n g m y m w h il e I wa s gr
om a n d da d fig o w in g up. I w
wa s ve rb a ll y h ti n g ev er y si ok e up ang els
a b us iv e. My n gl e m or n in g. Standing with a cast of
w h a t ca us ed m om a n d da d My m o th er out into the light
me to m ov e a n ev I will call my skeletons
way fr om Mod er go t a lo n g. Th a t’s birth into a butterfly
Where the pain can finally
wa n t to br in g es to . N o m or
ev er y th in g to e h id in g. I
li gh t so a ll ca innocence
A place to restore lost
m y safe h a ve n h ea l. S a n Fr
n . I’m a su r v a n ci sc o is
iv or. I’m st ro ho me
Can now find her way
ev er y day. Th n ge r. I’m de te
e jo ur n ey is ve rm in
ry ed to h ea l s.
The audience as my witnes
Ta st in g free do h
m is br a n d n ew a rd . I do n’t wa n t to h ide a
h a ppy. I wa n to me a n d I lo n y m ore. Cast Member, 2009
t to fin d pe a ce ve it. I wa n t
. to be 07
S A N F R A N C I S C O B AY A R E A san francisco
v -resources
AASRA-Federation of
Indo-American
800. 313. 2772
510. 657. 1245
South Asian Languages;
Women and Children
(Priority to South Asian);
M-F intakes and overnight
emergency
Asian Women’s Home
Alameda County 2400 Moorpark Ave.
CHILD ABUSE Superior Court
San Jose, CA 95128
Berkeley Clerk’s Office 24-hour crisis hotline:
510. 644. 8999
Alameda County Social 408.975.2730
Services www.alameda.courts. www.aaci.org
ca.gov/courts
Hotline: 510.259.1800 Asian languages; emergency
alamedasocial services.org Filing for Temporary food, clothing & shelter for
24-hour confidential hotline vs. Restraining Orders women and children,
child endangerment Alameda County counseling, legal advocacy
Family Violence Prevention
Fund
383 Rhode Island St.,
Ste. 304
San Francisco, CA 94103
415.252.8900
TTY: 800.595.4889
www.endabuse.org
Haven of Peace Women’s
Emergency Home
San Joaquin County
7070 South Harlan Road
French Camp, CA 95231
209.982.0390
209.982.0396
18+ years accepted; 35 space
capacity; assist women with
food, clothing and counseling
La Casa de Las Madres
states, English & Spanish, with Support Network for
interpreter services in 140 Battered Women
languages, local access to 1257 Tasman Drive, Suite C
shelters, information for Sunnyvale, CA 94089
immigrants 24-hour Help Line:
800.572.2782
Next Door Solutions to Office: 408.541.6100
Domestic Violence Fax: 408.541.1333
234 E. Gish Road, Ste. 200 www.snbw.org
San Jose, CA 95112 English & Español; Crisis
24-hour hotline: intervention, counseling, legal
408.279.2962 services, emergency shelter
Office: 408.501.7550
Tri-Valley Haven
www.nextdoor.org
English & Spanish, 3663 Pacific Avenue
Livermore, CA 94550
comprehensive emergency
800. 884. 8119
assistance services, shelters in
925. 449. 5845
cities of San Jose & Santa Clara
925. 449. 5842
North American Islamic www.trivalleyhaven.org
Shelter for the Abused Cantonese, German, French,

4 5
Child Abuse Prevention Superior Court 1850 Mission St., #B
Family Court Clerks Asian Women’s Shelter P.O.Box 50515 Spanish, Tagalog, Hindi;
Council 3453 18th St., #19 San Francisco, CA 94103 Palo Alto, CA 94303 Emergency shelter for women
San Joaquin County 510. 208. 4935 24-hour Crisis Lines:
Restraining order application San Francisco, CA 94110 Helpline: 1-888-ASK-NISA and children of DV; 3.5 month
209. 464. 4524 877. 751. 0880 Adult Line: 877. 503. 1850 Or 888. 275. 6472 max stay
Emergency respite childcare, for self-filing Teen Line: 877. 923. 0700
415. 751. 7110 www.asknisa.org
parenting classes, court- Alameda County www.sfaws.org Counseling & supportive Support and help to those Women Escaping Violence
appointed advocates Superior Court Various Asian Languages services: 415. 503. 0500 who only speak Urdu, Hindi, (WEAVE )
Family Law Facilitator’s Office Emergency shelter in www.lacasa.org Arabic, Farsi, Pushtu, etc 1900 K St.
Child Abuse Training & 510. 670. 5150 confidential location Emergency shelter & safe Sacramento, CA 95814
Technical Assistance No-fee court affiliated housing; Domestic Violence Safe Alternatives to Violent 916. 920. 2952
(CATTA) Center assistance with custody, child Building Futures with Response Team; Environments (SAVE) 916. 448. 2321
707. 284.1300 support, etc. Women And Children / Spanish, Mandarin, 39155 Liberty St., www.weaveinc.org
www.cattacenter.org Sister Me Home Tagalog, French, Arabic Suite C310 Response team, temporary
Statewide resources against District Attorney’s Office 1395 Bancroft Ave. Fremont, CA 94538 housing, crisis counseling,
child abuse Domestic Violence Advocate La Isla Pacifica 24-hour hotline: employment services
San Leandro, CA 94577 Gilroy, CA
Oakland 866-A-Way-Out 510. 794. 6055
Family & Children Services 510. 268. 7276 24 hour Crisis Line: Office: 510. 574. 2250
City & County of San Francisco Contact: Ali 510. 357. 0205 408.683.4118 Woman Inc.
www.bfwc.org save-dv.org 333 Valencia St., Ste. 450
Hotline: 800.856.5553 Bilingual services, emergency Spanish, Hindi, Tamil;
www.sfhsa.org/174.htm Domestic Violence Shelter Spanish; Women and Children food, shelter up to 45 days, San Francisco, CA 94103

ghi
Child Abuse Hotline, respite care, City of Fremont
parenting classes, counseling
FamilyPaths (Formerly
Parental Stress Service)
Alameda County
Hotline: 800. 829. 3777
www.familypaths.org
Emergency respite childcare,
parenting classes, 24-hour
support & resource hotline
San Mateo County Child
Protective Services
Child Abuse Hotline
650.595.7922
www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/
smc/department/hsa/home advocacy and support to DV
510.574.2250
Contact: Rodney D. Clark
www.save-dv.org
Domestic Violence
Response Unit / Elder Abuse
SF Police Department
415.553.9225
sfpddvru@yahoo.com
Victim Services Division
San Francisco District
Attorney’s Office
850 Bryant St., Room 320
553.9044
Eden Info & Referral
Provides comprehensive
jkl
Emergency shelter & longer 24-hour Crisis Lines:
Community Overcoming drug and alcohol treatment, term housing, medical & legal 1.877.384.3578 or
Relationship Abuse outpatient domestic violence assistance
counseling, legal assistance. 415.864.4722
(CORA) www.womaninc.org
P.O. Box 5090 Saint John’s Shelter for
Marin Abused Women’s Bilingual, bicultural services,
San Mateo, CA 94402 Services Women & Children counseling, legal referrals,
24-hour Hotlines: 4410 Power Inn Road
734 A Street support groups
800.300.1080 San Rafael, CA 94901 Sacramento, CA 95826
650. 312. 8515 916.453.1482
Women’s English Hotline:
Legal Information Line: 415.924.6616 www.stjohnsshelter.org LESBIAN, GAY,
650-259-1855
Women’s Spanish Hotline: Emergency shelter up to BISEXUAL,
www.corasupport.org 415.924.3456 60 days TRANSGENDER,
English & Spanish spoken;
Men’s Hotline: Shepherd’s Gate & QUESTIONING
Emergency shelter, transitional 415.924.1070
housing, legal services, crisis 1660 Portola Avenue
www.maws.org Livermore, CA 94551 Community United
response Emergency shelter, legal Against Violence (CUAV)
925. 443. 4283
assistance, reeducation 888.216.4776 170A Capp Street
classes for batterers

8
San Francisco, CA 94110

7
570 B Street Hayward, Fax: 925. 449. 3114
victims CA 94541 www.shepherdsgate.org 24-hour Crisis Line:
Office: 510-537-2710 My Sister’s House Emergency shelter, job training, 415.333.HELP (4357)
COURT SERVICES / Referral services, daily updates Sacramento short & long term programs Office: 415.777.5500
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE of shelter availability in 916.428.3271 Fax: 415.777.5565
LAW ENFORCEMENT www.my-sisters-house.org
OFFICES SHELTERS East Bay Stand Against Domestic www.cuav.org
24-hour help line, provides Violence
24-Hour Emergency Shelter Emergency Shelter Program safe haven for battered Asian 1410 Danzig Plaza Maitri Hotline
Court Info 22634 2nd St., Suite 205 / Pacific Islander women and 234 East Gish Rd.,
www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ 4700 International Blvd. Concord, CA 94520
Oakland, CA 94601 Hayward, CA 94541 children 888. 215. 5555 Ste. 200
courts/trial/courtlist.htm 24-hour hotline: San Jose, CA 95112
How to contact courts statewide 510. 534. 6030 National Domestic Violence 925. 676. 2845
510. 534. 9140 – Fax 888. 339. SAFE www.standagainstdv.org Hotline: 888-862-4874
by county, searchable by zip Spanish; 90-day stay, women Hotline 408.436.8398
code/city Women and children 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) Emergency shelter, transitional
and children of domestic housing, Adelante Familia for 408.436.8393
violence / homelessness 1.800.787.3224 (TTY) www.maitri.org
24-hour access through all 50 Spanish speakers
South Asian Women

6 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g

b ay a r e a
education

Network for Battered

Lesbian & Bisexual
Women
3
Peer support / counseling
for domestic violence, Family
law, immigration domestic

def
violence issues, translation,
interpretation, transitional
housing and community

3543 18th Street, Suite 28

San Francisco, CA 94110
Napa, CA 94559
707. 259. 0579
707. 259. 1449 – Fax
legalaidnapa.org
Provides free legal services to
seniors, immigrants and
low-income residents of
Napa County
Napa Emergency Women’s
Services
1141 Pear Tree Ln.
Napa, CA 94558
707. 255. 6397
For families ineligible for
assistance from other
programs, but too poor to
hire a private attorney.

Office: 415.281.0276
www.thenetworklared.org
Support group
Pacific Center
2712 Telegraph Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94705
510. 548. 8283
707. 252. 3687
707. 252. 3069 – Fax
Contact legal advocate
Gabby Caro for help with
restraining orders
SEXUAL ASSAULT
Bay Women Against Rape
- Oakland
Hotline: 510.845.7273
510. 430. 1298
Serves rape and incest
victims; Intake: M-F 10-3;
10 free then sliding scale;
Short-term counseling,
referrals, accompaniment to
hospital, court advocacy
The Sage Project Inc.
1275 Mission Street

6
www.pacificcenter.org
Group and individual
counseling, narcotics
anonymous, HIV and Aids
group, social groups
Project Eden
22646 2nd St.
Hayward, CA 94541
Office: 510.247.8200
Counseling services for
LGBTQQ Youth
Sexual Minority Alliance
of Alameda County
(SMAAC) Youth Center
Alameda County
1608 Webster St.
Oakland, CA 94612
Office: 510.548.8283
LEGAL SERVICES
API Legal Outreach
1212 Broadway St.,
Ste. 828
Oakland, CA 94612
510.415.567.6255
Walk-in Clinic Rm 1-4; ;
Family, civil, and
immigration law restraining
orders, queer domestic
violence, Asian Languages
API Legal Outreach
1188 Franklin St., #202
San Francisco, CA 94109
415. 567. 6255
415. 567. 6248 – Fax
Family, civil, and
San Francisco, CA 94103
415. 905. 5050
www.sagesf.org
Recovery from sexual
exploitation & substance
abuse
Women Against Rape
3543 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415. 861. 2024
www.sfwar.org
24-hour Crisis Hotline:
415. 647. RAPE
Counseling, support groups,
legal advocacy
San Francisoco General
Hospital
Trauma Recovery Center –

mno
Support groups for immigration law; temporary Rape Treatment Center
LGBTQQ youth restraining order, Gay 2727 Mariposa St, Ste 100
Domestic Violence Project Crisis Line: 415. 437. 3011
SF LGBT Center 24-hour medical forensic
1800 Market Street Asian Women’s Home examination (SFGH
San Francisco, CA 94102 2400 Moorpark Avenue, Emergency Room), free
415. 865. 5555 Suite 300 services, Spanish / English)
www.sfcenter.org San Jose, CA 95128
Legal referrals, Temporary 408. 975. 2739
Restraining Order assistance Temporary restraining order
assistance; Counseling;
SF Network for Battered Serves all countries; 24-hour
Lesbians/Bisexuals crisis line, shelter; Works
415.281.0276 with translators to serve
various Asian-speaking
clients
LEGAL REFERRALS:
TEMPORARY Domestic Violence

9
RESTRAINING
ORDER ASSISTANCE
The Cooperative
Restraining Order Clinic
San Francisco
415.252.2844
Bilingual Service; Restraining
Order Assistance free of
charge; Paperwork served to
batterer at reduced fee
Legal Aid of Napa County
1001 Second St. Suite 335
Restraining Order Clinic
Richmond
137th St., Room 185,
Richmond, CA
510. 965.4048
Restraining Order clinic held
in Richmond Courthouse
Mon & Fri 8-5 pm
Law Center for Families
510 16th St., Suite 300
Oakland, CA 94612
510. 451. 9261
510. 763. 2169 – Fax
www.lcff.org

ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE 7

washington, D.c.
v -resources
resources FROM THE District of
Columbia Coalition Against
Domestic Violence | dccadv.org
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
HOTLINES
Crisis Helpline (Mental
Health)
888.793.4357
D.C. Crime Victims
Compensation Program
202.879.4216
4 5
District of Columbia
City-wide Sexual Assault
Hotline
202.333.RAPE
Gay and Lesbian National
Hotline
888.843.4564
House of Ruth
202.347.2777
My Sister’s Place
202.529.5991
National Domestic Violence
Hotline
800.799.SAFE
ghi
Sasha Bruce Youthworks
202.547.7777
Shalom Task Force
888.883.2323
Supporting Our Survivors
Network
202.783.3003
BATTERED WOMEN’S
SHELTERS/SAFEHOUSES
House of Imagene Shelter
1110A 6th Street NE, Ste. 4
7 8
Washington, D.C. 20002
202.518.8488
Fax: 202.543.2090
imageneshelter@aol.com
www.houseofimagene.org
House of Ruth
5 Thomas Circle, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
202.667.7001
24-hour hotline:
202.347.2777
Domestic violence support
center: 202.347.0390
www.houseofruth.org
8 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
My Sister’s Place
P.O. Box 29596
Washington, D.C. 20017
202.529.5261
24-hour hotline:
202.529.5991
Fax: 202.529.5984
rseabrook@
mysistersplacedc.org
www.mysistersplacedc.org
ASIAN/PACIFIC
ISLANDER RESOURCES terrific03@aol.com
Asian Pacific American
Legal Resource Center
(APALRC)
733 15th Street, NW, Ste. 315 202.638.2575
Washington, D.C. 20005
Hotline: 202.393.3572
Fax: 202.393.0995
www.apalrc.org
Asian Pacific Islander
Domestic Violence
Resource Project (DVRP) SUPPORT CENTERS
P.O. Box 14268
Washington, D.C. 20044
202.464.4477
Fax: 202.986.9332
info@dvrp.org
www.dvrp.org
Asian Women’s
Self-Help Association
1140 Connecticut Ave.,
Ste. 1200
Washington, D.C. 20036
202.207.1248
Hotline: 888.417.2742
Fax: 202.296.2318
coordinator@
ashaforwomen.org
www.ashaforwomen.org Fax: 202.237.2730
Boat People S.O.S., Inc.
6066 Leesburg Pike, Ste. 100 Afro-American
Falls Church, VA 22041
703.538.2190
Fax: 703.538.2191
www.bpsos.wordpress.com
CHILD ABUSE
Child Abuse Hotline
202.671.SAFE (7233)
Center for Child Protection
and Family Support
714 G Street, SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202.544.3144
ccpfs@centerchildprotection.org
www.centerchildprotection.org
For the Love of Children
(FLOC)
1816 12th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
202.462.8686
866.462.FLOC
Fax: 202.462.8369
www.flocoutdoors.org
Grandma’s House
1222 T Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
202.234.4128
Fax: 202.234.8145
www.grandmashouse.org dcrcc@dcrcc.org
Safe Shores: The D.C.
Children’s Advocacy Center Family and Child Services
Fax: 202.638.2718
team@safeshores.org
www.safeshores.org
COUNSELING AND
7-2-9 Club
New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church
1313 New York Avenue, NE House of Ruth
Washington, D.C. 20005
202.547.7012
www.nyapc.org
The Adele Lebowitz Center 202.347.2777
for Youth & Families
Washington School of
Psychiatry
5028 Wisconsin Ave. NW,
Ste. 400
Washington, D.C. 20016
202.537.6050
www.wspdc.org
Counseling & Washington, D.C. 20032
Psychotherapy Institute,Inc 202.561.3000 or
1717 K Street NW, Ste. 600 202.257.6790
Washington, D.C. 20036
202.723.0030
www.afroamericancounseling.com
Center for Mental
Health-Anacostia
2041 Martin Luther King 1111 16th Street, NW,
Jr. Ave SE, Ste. 307
Washington, D.C., 20020 Washington, D.C. 20036
202.678.3000
Fax: 202.678.2341
Community for Creative
Non-Violence
425 Second St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
202.393.1909
202.393.4409
Fax: 202.783.3254
www.users.erols.com
Community of Hope
1413 Girard Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
202.232.7356
Fax: 202.232.1014
www.communityofhopedc.org
D.C. Rape Crisis Center
PO Box 34125
Washington, D.C. 20043
202.232.0789
Hotline: 202.333.7273
TTY: 202.328.1371
Fax: 202.387.3812
www.dcrcc.org
of Washington, D.C., Inc.
929 L Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
202.289.1510
Family Violence
Prevention Fund
1101 14th Street NW,Ste.300
Washington, DC 20005
202.682.1212
Fax: 202.682.4662
www.endabuse.org
5 Thomas Circle, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
202.667.7001
24-hour hotline:
Domestic violence support
center: 202.347.0390
www.houseofruth.org
Ramona’s Way
Greater Southeast Hospital,
Medical Services Building
Domestic Violence Intake
Center
1328 Southern Ave, SE, Ste. 311
info@ramonasway.org
www.ramonasway.org/
WEAVE
(Women Empowered
Against Violence)
Ste. 410
202.452.9550
Fax: 202.452.8255
info@weavecorp.org
www.weaveincorp.org
Healing
202.624.0010
2
wa s h i n
Wendt Center for Loss and
abc
4201 Connecticut Ave. NW,
Ste. 300
Washington, D.C. 20008
Fax: 202.624.0062
www.wendtcenter.org
Whitman Walker Clinic
1407 S Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
202.783.6651
execdirector@
calvaryservices.org
www.calvaryservices.org
Camille’s Place
202.548.2400
Capitol Hill Group Ministry
421 Seward Square, SE
202.882.9649
www.catholicworker.org
Friendship House
619 D Street, SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
202.675.9050
Contact: Michelle Linzy or feedback@
Allison Beckoff friendshiphouse.net
Fulton House of Hope
512 I Street, NW
202.797.3500 Washington, D.C. 20003 Washington, D.C. 20001
Fax: 202.797.3504 202.544.0631 202.682.1190
wwcinfo@wwc.org www.capitolhillgroupministry.org
www.wwc.org Georgia Avenue/Rock
Church of the Redeemer: Creek East Family Support
The Women’s Center Northwest Church Family Collaborative
1101 15th Street,NW,Ste.202 Network 4422 Georgia Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20005 216 New York Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20011
202.293.4580 Washington, D.C. 20001 202.722.1815
Fax: 202.293.4583 202.347.5660 www.garcec.org
www.thewomenscenter.org
Clean and Sober Streets Hannah House
425 Second Street NW, 2 612 M Street, NW
North Washington, D.C. 20001
ELDER ABUSE Washington, D.C. 20001 202.289.4840
202.783.7343 Fax: 202.289.5425
Adult Protective Services www.cleanandsoberstreets.org www.hannahhouse.org
370 L’Enfant Promenade,
SW Community of Hope The Haven
Washington, D.C. 20447 1413 Girard Street NW, 4201 Albemarle Street, NW
Hotline: 202.541.3950 Washington, D.C. 20009 Washington, D.C. 20016
202.232.7356 202.328.7074
IONA Senior Services Fax: 202.232.1014 Fax: 202.686.2671
Isabella Breckinridge info@communityofhopedc.org selliott@columba.org
Center www.communityofhopedc.org
4125 Albemarle St., NW Mary House
Covenant House
jkl
Washington, D.C. 20016 4303 13th St. NE
202.895.0238 2001 Mississippi Avenue, SE Washington, D.C. 20017
Fax: 202.362.5232 Washington, D.C. 20020 202.635.0534
www.iona.org 800.999.9999 Fax: 202.529.5793
202.610.9630 casademary@aol.com
Office on Aging Fax: 202.610.9640 www.maryhouse.org
441 4th Street, NW, www.covenanthouse.org
Ste. 900S Mount Carmel House
Washington, D.C. 20001 Crime Victims 202.289.6315
202.724.5622 Compensation Program Fax: 202.289.1710
www.dcoa.dc.gov D.C. Superior Court, www.mtcarmelhouse.org
Building A
SOME (So Others Might 515 5th Street NW,Room 104 N Street Village
Eat) Washington, D.C. 20001 1333 N Street NW
71 O Street, NW 202.879.4216 Washington, D.C. 20005
Washington, D.C. 20001 Fax: 202.879.4230 202.939.2076
202.797.8806 www.dccourts.gov www.nstreetvillage.org
Fax: 202.265.3849
www.some.org Damien Ministries New Endeavors by Women
P.O. Box 10202 (NEW)
Washington, D.C. 20018 611 N Street, NW
202.387.2926 Washington, D.C. 20001
EMERGENC Y AND www.damienministries.org 202.682.5825
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING www.newendeavorsbywomen.org
District of Columbia
Bethany Women’s Center Shelter Hotline Rachael’s Women’s Center
202.483.3739 800.535.7252 1220 11th Street, NW
Fax: 202.319.1508 Washington, D.C. 20001
info@nstreetvillage.org Dorothy Day Catholic 202.682.1005
www.nstreetvillage.org Worker House www.rachaels.org
503 Rock Creek Church
Calvary Women’s Services Road, NW Sasha Bruce Youthworks
928 5th St NW Washington, D.C. 20010 Administration:
Washington, D.C. 20001 741 Eighth Street, SE
| w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g
gTon, DC
Washington, D.C.
20003.2802
Shelter:
1022 Maryland Ave NE
Washington, D.C.
20002
202.675.9340
24-hour hotline:
202.547.7777
www.sashabruce.org

St. Columba’s
Episcopal Church
3
HEALTH CARE

def
Unity Health Care
3020 14th Street, NW,
Ste. 401
Washington, D.C.
20009
202.745.4300
Fax: 202.462.6128
www.
unityhealthcare.org
Georgetown
University Law School
Domestic Violence
Clinic
111 F Street,NW,
Ste.334
Washington, D.C.
20001
202.662.9640
Fax: 202.662.9539

Jacob Burns
Community Legal
202.879.7851
SAFEdirector@
dccadv.org
www.dcsafe.org

Women & the Law

Clinic at American
University’s
Washington College
of Law
202.274.4140
Fax: 202.274.0659
shallec@wcl.
Emerging Concern:
Technology in Stalking
By Connie Zheng

4201 Albemarle Clinics at George american.edu

Street, NW Washington
Washington, D.C. LEGAL SERVICES University Law School
20016 Civil Litigation Clinic
202.363.4119 AYUDA Clinical Legal 2000 G Street, NW SEXUAL ASSAULT
www.columba.org Latina Washington, D.C.

W
1707 Kalorama Road, 20052 D.C. Rape Crisis

6
hile “twitterers” revel in about their victims and to post threatening
St. Martin’s House NW 202.994.7463 Center
116 T St., NE Washington, D.C. PO Box 34125 following one another in real messages.
Washington, D.C. 20009 Legal Aid Society Washington, D.C. time and worried parents track “The Internet is a great resource for
20002 202.387.4848 of the District of 20043 their children’s whereabouts stalkers to look up their victim’s history,
202.332.7333 or www.ayudainc.org Columbia Hotline: through GPS-enabled cell phones, a darker especially if that person is blogging,”
202.234.2399 666 Eleventh Street, 202.333.7273 trend is emerging from these technological Guillory said.
Fax: 202.234.3493 Bread for the City NW Ste. 800 202.232.0789 advances. Perpetrators of domestic violence In addition, stalkers send threatening
WeldegiorgisH@ 1525 Seventh Street, Washington, D.C. TTY: 202.328.1371 have increasingly turned to technology as text messages to victims’ cell phones, leave
CatholicCharitiesDC. NW 20001.4589 Fax: 202.387.3812 resourceful tools to stalk their victims, malicious messages on public sites like
org 202.265.2400 202.628.1161 dcrcc@dcrcc.org turning the conveniences of technology into Craigslist, fire off barrages of unpleasant
1640 Good Hope Fax: 202.727.2132 www.dcrcc.org
Willis P. Green Manor Road, SE info@legalaiddc.org a double-edged sword used for malicious e-mails, and add GPS locators to victims’
SRO Facility and 202.561.8587 www.legalaiddc.org Men Can Stop Rape purposes. cell phones and vehicles to track their
Transitional Housing www.breadforthecity. 202.265.6530 “It’s nice to connect to people you knew whereabouts.
4425 Nannie Helen org Office of the Attorney www. 20 years ago on Facebook,” said Marc “They use a plethora of technological
Burroughs Avenue, NE General, Family mencanstoprape. Guillory, Assistant District Attorney. “But tools to engage in stalking behavior because
Washington, D.C. Catholic Charities of Services Division org then stalkers can twitter they are going to they need access and proximity,” Guillory
20019 the Archdiocese of Domestic Violence harm you and that if you talk to another said.
202.397.7886 Washington Unit man, you are dead.” Access and proximity are two critical

mno
924 G Street, NW 1350 Pennsylvania Guillory is part of the Felony Stalking factors in stalking. With the advent of
Washington, D.C. Avenue NW, Ste. 409
20001 Washington, D.C. Prosecution and Threat Management unit, technology, stalking in effect becomes not
GAY, LESBIAN, 202.772.4324 20004 a task force in the San Francisco District only cheaper but easier.
BISEXUAL & Fax: 202.772.4402 202.727.3400 Attorney’s office that focuses only on “You can cyberstalk across the country,”
TRANSGENDER BishopJ@ stalking cases. Of all the stalking cases he Guillory said.
RESOURCES CatholicCharitiesDC.org The Public Defender currently has on his desk, he said all of them With all these tools at stalkers’ disposal,
www.catholiccharitiesdc.org Service for the involves technology in one way or another. Guillory and Stellini recommend people take
Crisis Intervention District of Columbia The prevalence of technology is similar proactive steps to protect themselves.
Line: Hotline Columbus 633 Indiana Avenue, in the cases over at the Domestic Violence Suggestions include getting a new phone
202.797.4444 Community Legal N.W. Response Unit (DVRU), a unit in the San number, keeping phone numbers unlisted,
Services, Columbus Washington, D.C.
Gay and Lesbian School of Law 20004 Francisco Police Department that changing e-mail addresses, and building
National Hotline The Catholic 800.341.2582 investigates domestic violence cases. a case against the stalker by documenting
888.843.4564 University of America 202.628.1200 In March and April, the unit received all stalking incidences to give to the police.
3602 John TTY: 202.824.2531 approximately 71 cases that involved “Don’t put personal information on the
The Lambda Center McCormack Rd. NE Fax: 202.824.2423 stalking. Of these cases, nearly 75 percent Web,” Guillory advised. “You have to
4228 Wisconsin Washington, D.C. involved technology, said Police Inspector assume that millions of people are going to

9
Avenue NW 20064 Victim Witness Arthur Stellini at DVRU. be able to find something about you. Such
Washington, D.C. 202.319.6788 Assistance Unit These cases contained an array of information becomes identification markers
20016 Fax: 202.319.6780 (VWAU) of the US technological tools. Increasing numbers of to find out about you. Information can hurt
202.885.5610 barry@law.edu Attorney’s Office
877.2LAMBDA 202.514.7130 stalkers are using Spoofcard.com, a service you when it comes to stalking.”
www.thelambdacenter.com Domestic Violence that changes or spoofs what someone sees These proactive steps are essential,
Intake Center SAFE (Survivors on their caller ID display when they receive because the use of technology in stalking
Whitman-Walker D.C. Superior Court and Advocates for a phone call, Stellini said. will not be going away any time soon.
Clinic 500 Indiana Avenue, Empowerment), Inc. From Twitter, the free micro-blogging “I expect some use of technology in
1407 S Street NW Room 4235 D.C. Superior Court website that lets users send and read one every case,” Guillory said. “Technology
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Domestic Violence another’s updates, social networking sites brings the whole world closer together, but
20009 20001 Intake Center like Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn, one consequence is it also brings crimes
202.797.3500 202.879.0152 500 Indiana Avenue, personal blogs, to the Internet in general, together and it brings crimes closer to you.”
Fax: 202.797.3504 Room 4235
www.wwc.org Washington, D.C. stalkers use these tools to glean information
20001

ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE 9

 COURT WATCH
THE MURDER OF
CLAIRE JOYCE TEMPONGKO
Ramirez Sentenced
to Second-Degree
Murder
By Co n n i e Z h en g
Claire Joyce Tempongko, a San
Francisco resident and Filipina
American, became a victim of
domestic violence when she was
killed by her ex-boyfriend Tari
Eddy Casco
Sentenced 18
years in Prison
for Murder of
Teris Casco
Teris Casco, a young Filipina
who was brutally beaten to death
by her husband on January 20,
2007 after a night out celebrating
her 33rd birthday, finally received
justice as Superior Court Judge
Peter Vasquez sentenced Eddy
10
Murder-Suicide
Leaves Widow
in Critical
Condition
By Co n n i e Z h en g
For reasons that still remain
unclear, 42-year-old Devan
Kalathat, a Yahoo engineer, killed
his two children and three relatives
Ramirez on October 22, 2000.
She was 28 years old.
When Tempongko returned
with her two children to her
apartment in the Richmond District
on October 22, 2000, Ramirez
was waiting after having broken
into her apartment. He attacked
Tempongko with a knife in front of
her then 5-year-old daughter and
10-year-old son. The police found
her dead in her living room.
Ramirez fled to Mexico after
Tempongko’s murder and eluded
A Witness to History:
Justice for Nicole Update
Controversy
Surrounds Acquittal
of Daniel Smith
By R aq u el R ed o n d i e z
Filipina Americans in the United
States express our disgust and
anger at the news that the Court
of Appeals in the Philippines
has acquitted Lance Corporal
Daniel Smith in the 2005
rape case of “Nicole.” Lcpl.
Smith was convicted of raping
“Nicole” on December 4, 2006,
and legalities around custody and
Casco to 18 years in prison for
aggravated manslaughter in 2008,
as part of a plea agreement.
On March 30, 2008, Eddy
Casco pleaded guilty to the
aggravated manslaughter charge,
admitting that he beat his wife
Teris to death, and provided a
gruesome account of the battery
and fatal injuries, including broken
ribs in 20 places and a broken
nose. It was only because of their
two young sons, who returned
from the baby-sitter and asked
what was wrong with their mother
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
before shooting himself in a
murder-suicide on March 29 in his
Santa Clara home. Only his 34-
year-old wife, Abha Appu survived
the shooting massacre, sustaining
multiple gunshot wounds, and she
remains in critical condition still at
a local hospital.
Among those found dead at the
scene were Kalathat and Appu’s
11-year-old son, Akhil Dev; their
4-year-old daughter, Negha Dev;
capture for nearly six years.
Finally, on June 15, 2006, with
the help of the FBI, Ramirez was
arrested in Cancun where he had
been living under an alias. In April
2007, Ramirez was extradited
to the U.S. During a preliminary
hearing in the San Francisco
Superior Court in November 2007,
a judge determined there was
sufficient evidence to try Ramirez
for Tempongko’s murder. Trial
began on September 8, 2008,
nearly eight years after her murder,
sentencing has been ongoing for
the past three years. Due to the
highly contentious Visiting Forces
Agreement (VFA), Smith has
been in the custody of the U.S.
Embassy instead of a Philippine
prison. However, on March 12,
2009, a questionable recantation
by “Nicole” was released while
in the same month, monetary
compensation and the termination
of her legal counsel casted doubt
on who prepared the content of
the affidavit.
In this long and dirty case,
U.S. and Philippines collusion
through loopholes in the VFA
have demonstrated that in the
who they saw covered in blood
while lying in bed, that prompted
Eddy Casco to call 911, but it was
already too late.
Community representatives
from the San Francisco-based
Filipina Women’s Network (FWN),
Filipino American Health and
Human Services (FAHSI), and the
Philippine American Friendship
Committee attended the sentence
hearing in a show of support to
Teris Casco and her family.
Nina Nguyen Lagac and April
Anne Tiamzon of FWN were at
their brother-in-law, 35-year-old
Ashok Appu Poothemkandi; their
sister-in-law, 25-year-old Suchitra
Sivaraman; and the couple’s
daughter, 11-month-old Ahana
Ashok.
Signs of trouble in the family
had surfaced last year when a
weeping Appu called Sunnyvale
police during a domestic dispute
with Kalathat on July 15, 2008
from their Sunnyvale home.
and ended on September 18,
2008.
After deliberating for three
days, the jury split 6-6 between
first and second-degree murder.
After taking a week-long break,
the jury returned with a guilty
verdict, finding Ramirez guilty
of second-degree murder. In
December 2008, Ramirez
received a sentence of 16
years to life. His attorney
has not filed an appeal.
Philippines, the rule of law
and justice are commanded by
American interests and corrupt
politicians. The Court of Appeals
has failed Filipino women
worldwide. Instead of holding
Smith accountable of rape, the
appellate court has repealed the
justice that was already rightfully
won by “Nicole” and her family.
After years of struggling and
fighting with huge and broad
support from Filipino organizations
like GABRIELA in the Philippines
and worldwide, Smith’s acquittal
from his legitimate conviction
in 2006 is a betrayal to both
“Nicole” and her loved ones, but
the sentencing. Lagac gave a
statement to the court on behalf
of Teris Casco and other victims of
domestic violence.
“Good morning Judge. On
behalf of all Filipinos who are
afraid to speak out against
domestic and intimate partner
violence and for everyone who fell
victim to their abusers, we thank
the Court for the opportunity
to have the Filipino American
community be heard,” Lagac said.
“Teris Casco – mother, wife,
daughter, sister, and friend – didn’t
| w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g
“Crying female indicates
that her husband has taken her
passport and all documents,” the
one-paragraph police report said.
“Two police units respond and
contact the involved parties; Devan
Kalathat and a female believed to
be his wife.”
However, police found no signs
or threats of domestic violence and
resolved the dispute in15 minutes.
also to all of the Filipino women,
children and men who have been
victims of sexual assault and
crimes by US military servicemen.
Although the family of Nicole
has been through enough and
are tired of the trickery, Filipino
women’s organizations from
the Philippines to the U.S. will
continue the fight for justice for
“Nicole” and all victims of sexual
crimes under U.S. occupation.
Raquel Redondiez is the
Chair of GABRIELA USA,
a Filipino organization based
in San Francisco.
have to die. Her memory lives
on in us forever. We, therefore
urge this honorable court to
impose the maximum sentence
as recommended by the state in
the plea agreement. We further
believe that such sentence will
serve as a deterrent to batterers
and encourage victims of domestic
violence to come out, and speak
up, and no longer be afraid,” she
added.
Reprinted from The Filipino Express
Female Genital Mutilation
BY A D R I EN N E AGU I R R E
F
emale genital mutilation, also known as
“female circumcision” or “female genital
cutting,” is the practice of partially or entirely
removing the female external genitalia, or
causing any other harm to the female genitals
for cultural or non-medical purposes. Although the
practice is most commonly done in countries in Africa,
hundreds of thousands of women and girls in the U.S. and
millions of females around the world are affected by this
gruesome form of violence against females and gender
discrimination that violate their mental and physical
health.
Female genital mutilation is mostly practiced on young
girls between four and 15 years old. In countries such as
Ethiopia, more than half of female circumcision incidences
are performed on infants under one year old. The World
Health Organization estimates that up to 140 million
women worldwide are living with the consequences of
female circumcision, with another two to three million
more at risk each year. The practice has been documented
in over 40 countries, predominantly in 28 countries in
Africa. In some of these countries, up to 97 percent of all
women have been circumcised. Female genital mutilation
also occurs in Asia in the Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan,
India, and Indonesia. A 2003 study by the international
research group Population Council revealed that in
Indonesia, 96 percent of families surveyed reported their
daughters had undergone some form of female genital
mutilation by age 14.
Female genital mutilation occurs in the U.S. as well.
An estimated 168,000 women and girls in the U.S. had
undergone female genitalia cutting or were at risk in
1990, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. With many females emigrating from countries
ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE
where female genital mutilation is practiced, the numbers
of females in the U.S. who have experienced the practice
or are at risk for it are rising. Although these females are
in a different country, cultural expectations and family
obligations that fuel this practice often remain unchanged.
Addressing the problems of female genital mutilation in
the U.S. is further complicated by language barriers.
Although female genital mutilation is commonly
connected to religion, the practice itself predates most
major religions and is not associated with any one
religion in particular. In communities where the practice
is common, it is more of a social practice rather than a
religious one. Undergoing the procedure often means
upholding family honor and avoiding mockery and
isolation from peers. These communities regard the
practice as a cultural tradition or an “initiation” into
womanhood. Girls must undergo the procedure to be
considered beautiful, modest, or feminine. If girls remain
uncircumcised, they are viewed as unclean, masculine,
or unchaste. Female genital mutilation is often used to
control a woman’s libido, preventing premarital sex or
infidelity. For example, infibulation, a surgical procedure
that partially seals the vagina, provides a physical barrier
to intercourse. Some societies believe female genital
mutilation increases fertility.
No health benefits associated with female genital
mutilation have been identified and the women and
young girls who have undergone the practice are very
likely to suffer severe physical, sexual, emotional, and
mental trauma. Most girls almost never receive anesthesia
or antibiotics to treat infection. Medical treatment for
victims is rare. The practice usually occurs in unsanitary
environments and, since it is not uncommon for the same
cutting implement to be used multiple times on many
R emembering the C omfort W omen
LEFT: Board member Nini Alvero presents a check on behalf of
V-Day FWN to Richie Extremadura, president of Lila Pilipina.
ABOVE: Nini visits with surviving comfort women in Manila.
girls at once, the likelihood of transmitting HIV and other
blood-borne pathogens is sharply increased. Broken
glass, thorns, tin can lids, rusty or blunt knives, scissors
and razors are common instruments used to perform the
operation. Due to the pain of the procedure, victims often
go into shock.
Victims of female genital mutilation face a variety of
short and long-term effects, including hemorrhaging,
benign nerve tumors, cysts, excess scar tissue, sterility,
labor complications, and sexual dysfunction. In partially
sealing the vagina, infibulation in particular causes the
retention of menstrual blood and urine, resulting in chronic
pelvic infections and urinary tract infections. Infibulated
women, who must have their vaginal openings repeatedly
cut open and sewn together, find childbirth exceedingly
painful; giving birth often results in tearing around
the anus. Labor subsequently becomes prolonged and
newborn deaths are not uncommon. Repeatedly closing
and reopening the vagina for childbirth and intercourse
result in excessive buildup of scar tissue on the genitalia
of these women. Psychologically, victims often experience
post-traumatic stress disorder, humiliation, a sense of
betrayal by their parents, and depression when removed
from their communities.
Over the years, awareness of female genital mutilation
has increased with more and more laws passed to
stem the practice. Over a dozen countries in Africa have
banned the practice. More than 16 states in the U.S. have
passed criminal sanctions against the practice, including
California, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Texas, and
Wisconsin. In 1996, a federal law made the practice of
female genital mutilation against a person under age 18
a federal crime. Slowly, the outcries against female genital
mutilation have been heard and galvanized governments
and organizations to take steps toward creating the day
when this abominable practice will be abolished in all
corners of the world.
Adrienne Aguirre is a writer living in San Francisco.
On July 30, 2007 the U.S. House of Representatives
passed House Resolution 121, a resolution that called on
Japan to apologize for forcing thousands of women into
sexual servitude to its soldiers before and after World War
II. Most of these girls were taken from Japanese-occupied
China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and
Indonesia. They are now women in their 80s and 90s.
In 2009, the Filipina Women’s Network visited Filipino
comfort women at the LOLA Center in the Philippines.
Board Member Nini Alvero donated $1,000 on behalf of
FWN to Lila Pilipina, Inc., an organization of Filipino comfort
women, victims and survivors of rape and military sexual
slavery by Japanese troops during World War II, advocating
for justice and freedom for victims of domestic violence in
war and armed conflict situations.
11
Language Access for and legal interpreters can help battered
women attain a temporary protection

Domestic Violence Victims

order valid for two weeks against their
abusers, who risk arrest or fines for
contacting or seeing their victims.
BY BETSY LAU After the two-week period it is

A
battered immigrant woman
often feels linguistically and
culturally isolated from the
very people and agencies
she seeks help from. 9-1-1 is
the only number she knows can help
her, but when she calls she is unable
to communicate to officers. They do
not understand her and she does not
understand them. She fears for her life
but does not know where to go or who
can protect her from a vengeful partner.
Among Asian and Pacific Islander (API)
women, a call to the police signals a
desperate plea for help against the
abuser she no longer can protect with
her silence.
Claire Joyce Tempongko reported
her abusive ex-boyfriend Tari Ramirez
to the San Francisco Police Department
six times, only to be killed by Ramirez
after law enforcement failed to charge
him. After Tempongko’s death in 2000,
the city formed the Justice and Courage
to provide interpretive services and
forms translated in multiple languages
for the Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese,
Korean, French and Amharic speaking
residents. In October 2007, the City and
County of San Francisco announced
government partnership with Language
Line Services, a phone interpretation
service for over 170 languages.
Police officers receiving calls from
victims with limited or no English
proficiency can easily access the
Language Line through phones
connected to the service. Although
the Language Line is ambitious, many
factors still mar the convenience of
phone interpretation: unavailable
interpreters, long wait times and a
failure by police officers to call.
In life-threatening situations, calls
should always be made to the police.
However, many proactive resources
exist beyond law enforcement. The
National Domestic Violence Hotline
operates a toll-free 24-hour help line
for women who are in need of local
domestic violence resources or who
simply need to talk. The hotline utilizes
Language Line Services to provide
interpretive services for non-English
Francisco operates a toll-free 24-hour
emergency help line for Asian women in
need of shelter and provides bilingual
advocates for over 30 languages
and dialects. Abused women often
worry about child custody, financial
independence and attempts at
vengeance from their partner. Abused
immigrant women have additional fears
of deportation and cultural judgment.
Bilingual advocates provide the
most comprehensive help to battered
immigrant women because they
help abused women through the
entire process while possessing a full
understanding of their experiences.
Advocates provide peer support, create
a safety plan, offer interpretive services, accessibility.
help with family support, as well as refer
language-appropriate shelters and legal
aid when available. The Asian Women’s
Shelter in San Francisco and the Asian/
Pacific Islander Domestic Violence
Resource Project in Washington, D.C.
are nonprofit organizations structured
on the Multi-lingual
Access Model (MLAM)
that encourages face-to-
face interpretation from
DV: FACTS, STATS
bilingual and culturally AND MYTHS
possible to obtain a full protection order
for a year or more. The nationwide
Violence Against Women Act allows
battered spouses to file for permanent
residency without dependence on their
abusers who are U.S. citizens. Perhaps
the most dangerous barrier to those
seeking help with limited or no English
proficiency is their perception that no
one will be able to help them. Lack of
sensitivity and lack of interpretation
from criminal justice officers enforce the
perception of isolation.
City governments are taking a step in
the right direction by training officers to
call third-party phone interpreters, but
in the long run cities will require a pool
of bilingual staff to facilitate language
Betsy Lau is a recent graduate of the
University of California at Santa Cruz,
where she studied literature and history.
She loves to travel and learn.

Project in 2001 to better combat
domestic violence. One of the project’s
key goals is to provide interpreters who
understand the victim’s language and
culture.
Language access in metropolitan
areas across the United States has
improved since the Justice and Courage
Project elucidated the language barrier
problems in communication and
comprehension. According to 2000 U.S.
census data, 19.7 percent or over one
million APIs in the U.S. speak English
“not well” while 5.1 percent or nearly
300,000 APIs do not speak English at
all. In 2004, the District of Columbia
passed the Language Access Act
requiring major government agencies
speakers, and is susceptible to the same
problems. The help line requires some
English to navigate and may discourage
callers with limited or no English
understanding.
Help lines designed specifically for
immigrants’ use are better equipped to
accept calls from non-English speakers.
The “Peace in the Home” toll-free
hotline launched in January 2009 by
the city of Seattle features a menu
in 14 languages including Japanese,
Khmer, Lao, Mandarin, Tagalog, Thai
and Vietnamese. The city-funded hotline
connects callers to one of seven county
domestic violence agencies offering
interpreters in the appropriate language.
The Asian Women’s Shelter in San
D
sensitive advocates.
The complicated
bureaucratic legal system
and language barrier
deter immigrant women
from understanding
legal proceedings or
completing un-translated
forms. The Asian Pacific
American Legal Resource
Center in Washington,
D.C. operates a
multilingual legal help
line staffed by bilingual
law students who make
referrals in Chinese,
Hindi, Urdu, Vietnamese
and Korean. Advocates
omestic violence is a pattern of
violent and coercive behaviors
between individuals involved in
intimate or familial relationships.
It involves the use of verbal, emotional,
psychological, sexual, economic and/or physical
forms of abuse by one individual or group of
individuals to maintain power and control over
another person.
Examples of domestic violence can include:
criticizing, humiliation, pushing, shoving, hitting,
forced sex, rape, intimidation, name-calling,
isolation, threats of physical harm, threats of
deportation, economic control, verbal attacks,
and threats to harm or remove children. Abusive
behavior can include a combination of these
behaviors or other controlling actions not listed.

12
 u E v e r E x p e rienced
Have Yo Vio lence?

I
Or W it n e s s e d
th
e hell is wrong wi “What th
ed!” he yelled.
t wa s on e of m y this food you cook cut it...”
n’t
favorite meals –
an “I can’t cut it, I ca feel it
uld
omelet of sorts –
made he mumbled. I co
only 8, I’ve
with eggs, mixed
with coming. Though
ough of these
onions, ground
beef seen and felt en
s coming
sp ic es . M y m other made si tu at io ns to know what wa
an d th m but he
zzling moons wi hed out to help hi
small circles of si ying pan. A small next. I reac ediately glaring at me
e fr stood up imm
crispy edges in th nly on the ow what the f--k
is
pot of rice bu bb le d so le m
sm ok e an d started. “You kn ye lled, “Is
wafts of gentle ,” he
next burner with here, the problem
ea ge rly at th e table wrong to o stup id to do anything...”
ng . I wa ite d th at yo u’ re
escapi d ngly at my mom
oons, napkins an He pointed accusi
– plates, forks, sp lle d “Not in
of ke tc hu p were ready to be ca
wh o fi na lly broke her silence.
bott le dad, t of our
usly, I eyed my e kids, not in fron
into action. Nervo r, with his empty front of th cried, helplessly dropping
reclining in the
chai dinner...” she what!” he scream
ed
is ke y gl ar in g at me. I hoped utensils. “What,
bottle of wh t he he r intin g a cr ooke d
rough dinner bu stumbled, still po r. My brother
he would sleep th dy in g as he he
up, shakily, stea finger at my ge
ntle mot
didn’t. He stood hi s ba ld he ad . wn while I started to
bb ed looked only do
himself as he ru “It ’s diatribe, one
“Where’s dinner
?” he yelle d.
cr y. H e co ntinued his old
y . Like a
t he re ,” I an sw ered, knowing m I’v e he ar d since I was a child is to me
righ wn he has sung th
silent. He sat do horrible lullaby,
mom would keep ly ho ld in g ou are nothing
with both elbows
bent, ba re
si nc e I was a baby. “Y d grabbed an
in his chair and ,” he screamed an ed, with
himself upright o sl in ke d out but sh-t and rush
yelled for my br
othe r wh om elet in his hand
mother, still in he r y mother’s side
of his room. My e an d am azing speed, to m ce. It crumbled.
ked off the st ov to her fa
work clothes, clic to and rubbed it in to her soft
to br in g the tray of om el et
Pi eces fe ll as he pushed it in
ru sh ed
her, husky at ag
e r omelet and
the table. My brot sk in . H e grabbed anothe
down and my m
om hand and he
10, kept his eyes m y m other grabbed his
us. He smelled; hi
s her face and I
nervously served e sh ov ed it up and down I was being
d the aroma of th ed like
smell overpowere hu p and screamed. I scream ke up shaking
bo ttle of ke tc aliv e. I wo
S TAT I S T I C S Advocating Respect and Empowerment)
food. I lifted the wo rt h on gutted open ing how I got
k blot te st no t kn ow
plopped a whole in d trouble as I eyed in my bed, e everyone was.
•• Nearly one-third of women in the U.S. in Washington, D.C., conducted an
cate wher
my plate – it indi to cut his omelet. there and
anonymous survey from 2000 to 2001 to
report being physically or sexually abused r, 2009
examine the experiences of abuse, service d stru gg lin g – Cast Membe
by a husband or boyfriend at some point m y da
in their lives. needs, and barriers to service among
Asian women. Using a sample of 178
•• In 2005, 12.8 percent of Asian and
Asian women:
Pacific Islander (API) women reported
experiencing physical assault by an »» 81.1 percent of the women reported violence themselves, 64 percent said »»16 percent of the respondents reported
intimate partner at least once during experiencing at least one form of they knew of an Asian friend who had having experienced “pressure to have
their lifetime; 3.8 percent reported having intimate partner violence (domination/ experienced intimate partner violence. sex without their consent by an intimate
been raped. The low rate for API women controlling/psychological, physical, Smaller proportions of respondents partner.”
may be attributed to underreporting. and/or sexual abuse) in the past year. reported that their mothers (9 »»12 percent of respondents reported
»» 67 percent “occasionally” experienced percent) and sisters (11 percent) had that an intimate partner had hurt or had
•• 85 percent of domestic violence survivors
some form of domination or controlling experienced intimate partner violence. attempted to hurt them by means of
are women.
psychological abuse; 48 percent »» 28.5 percent of the survey participants hitting, kicking, slapping, shoving, object
•• The percentage of female murder
experienced it “frequently” in the past knew of a woman who was being throwing, or threatening their lives with a
survivors killed by intimate partners has
year. abused by her in-laws. weapon.
remained at about 30 percent since 1976.
»» 32 percent experienced physical or •• The National Asian Women’s Health »»27 percent experienced emotional abuse
•• 50 percent of the men who frequently
sexual abuse at least “occasionally” Organization (NAWHO) interviewed 336 by an intimate partner.
assaulted their wives also frequently
during the past year. Asian American women aged 18 to 34
abused their children.
»» Of the 23 women who reported not who reside in the San Francisco and Los continued on next page
•• Project AWARE (Asian Women Angeles areas in 2002:
having experienced intimate partner
continued from page 13
MYTHS
Myth: Domestic violence does
not happen often.
•• One out of three women has
experienced physical or sexual abuse by
a husband or boyfriend at some point
in her life.
Myth: Domestic violence only
affects lower-class, minority
communities.
•• Domestic violence can affect anyone
regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-
economic status, religion, sexual
orientation, or educational background.
Myth: Batterers abuse their
partners because of alcohol/drug
use or stress.
•• While substance abuse does lower
inhibitions and may increase the
severity of the abuse, domestic violence
is not momentary or temporary loss of
control. Domestic violence is a pattern
of power and control over another
individual.
Myth: If she just leaves her
abuser, everything would be fine.
•• Leaving an abusive relationship is not
easy. Many factors, such as economic
dependency, immigration status,
cultural or religious perceptions,
children, love, fear, and a lack of
resources or support system, make
this decision difficult for most abused
women.
•• Statistics show that some women try to
leave abusive relationships six or seven
times before they leave for good.
•• Studies show that violence often
escalates at the time of separation.
Often, when a woman tries to leave, an
abuser increases his tactics to maintain
power and control and to convince the
woman to return to the relationship.
Myth: Domestic violence is
accepted in Asian/Pacific Islander
communities.
•• Domestic violence happens in all
communities and in every social group.
Culture may be used to justify or
dismiss domestic violence. However,
the fact that domestic violence exists
in a community does not mean that all
people from that community agree that
it is OK to use violence in relationships.
Adapted from a publication by the
Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence
Resource Project
Abuse through the
Asian American Lens
By Chris Le
A
couple arrives home
after attending a party.
The husband is quietly
livid, having noticed his
wife fraternizing with another man in
a way he deemed too friendly, almost
flirtatious. Unable to assuage his jeal-
ousy, he confronts her. She denies any
wrongdoing, stating she was just talking
and having a good time. The situation
escalates and he loses his temper and
strikes her across the face. Immediately
regretful, he stares at his hand and then
at his wife. He rushes to her, begging
for forgiveness.
Incidents like this are not rare. They
occur every day in every city in all coun-
tries. But the question is: is this a case
of abuse?
It may seem straightforward, but
the answer to this question varies with
ethnicity.
In a 2001 study conducted by
Professors Pauline Agbayani-Siewert and
Alice Yick, 171 Filipino men and women
were presented with a scenario similar
to the one above. The results showed
that, overall, while Filipino men did
not condone physical harm, they were
“more likely to justify violence if the fe-
male intimate partner was found flirting
with another guy or having an affair.”
In a separate 2000 study with 289
Chinese American and 138 white col-
lege students, Agbayani-Siewert and Yick
found that Chinese American students
had a lesser likelihood of “defining
dating violence in terms of psychological
aggression compared with their white
counterparts.” Additionally, Chinese
American students were more inclined
than white students to warrant violence
in cases of infidelity, nagging, and
drunkenness.
Agbayani-Siewert and Yick’s research
provides a quick glimpse into an Asian
consciousness that has a different set of
definitions for abuse, in which nonvio-
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
lent and “justified” abuse is condoned.
This cultural contrast could be one of
the reasons behind the relatively low
number of reported domestic violence
incidents among the Asian American
community.
Ever since the 1970s, when abuse
hotlines and shelters were first es-
tablished, infrequent reports of abuse
by Asians led to the assumption that
violence is not prevalent within Asian
American homes. This assumption
is wrong.
Surveys conducted by the Asian
Task Force Against Domestic Violence
concluded that, of 607 men and women
of Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, South
Asian, and Vietnamese descent, 38
percent reported knowing a woman
who has been shoved, pushed, slapped,
hit, kicked, or suffered other injuries
from her partner. Thirty-three percent
said they knew a woman whose partner
insulted or humiliated her regularly.
But a deeper, underlying problem
exists. Only a small handful of victims
notify the authorities, let alone separate
from their husbands. A study conducted
by Professors Anita Raj and Jay G. Silver-
man found that, out of 160 South Asian
women in the Greater Boston Area,
40 percent reported being a victim of
domestic violence, but only 3.1 percent
of the abused ever took legal action
against an abusive partner.
Domestic violence occurs in Asian
American communities, but why are
there not more reports? Why do these
victims remain invisible?
The root of this problem and of
the disparate definitions of abuse may
be found in cultural values. Tuyen D.
Nguyen, Assistant Professor of Human
Services at California State University
at Fullerton and author of Domestic
Violence in Asian American Communi-
ties: A Cultural Overview, claims that
Asian cultures “heavily emphasize denial
| wwwFilipinaWomensNetwork.org
of self, loyalty, and consideration to the
good of all people involved...these val-
ues may only support the minimization
and hiding of [abuse].”
Battered Asian American wives
fail to speak out to avoid risking the
separation of their household. Feeling
the burden of family duty, they stay with
abusive husbands for the good of their
children. Some view reporting a partner
as an act of betrayal. Most of all, they
are afraid to defame their family name
within a society that, as Nguyen asserts,
“does not allow disintegration of mar-
riage under any circumstances.” This
silence and inaction stem from a fear of
ostracism and being an outcast.
In the worst cases, abuse isn’t even
viewed as abuse. Further studies by Yick
have indicated that Khmer and Laotian
women believe spousal abuse is com-
mon. Vietnamese women, on the other
hand, appear more accepting of physical
violence, believing it is to be tolerated
periodically.
Asian American women are entering
marriages knowing there may be a high
probability of physical and emotional
harm from their partner. Violence to
them is seen as common, so there is no
need to make a fuss out of the ordinary.
This mindset of acceptance needs to be
overcome. The problem is not merely
ending the physical and emotional
abuse that is universal across all ethnici-
ties. The difficult part is reversing the
prevalent cultural perceptions among
Asian Americans of guilt and ambiva-
lence toward seeking help.
Chris Le is a freelance writer, who
previously reported for the AsianWeek
Newspaper. In 2007, he co-founded
SportsCouch, a popular sports blog.
He received his B.A. in English from the
University of California, Irvine. He lives
in San Jose, CA.
 April 14, 2009

It is never late to make a change, to live life the way you

V
want to live it, to tend to wounds that are many years old, to
make a difference in other people’s lives. From Darkness to
I used to see violence as something physical, leaving DIARIES
marks, bruises, and scars on the body. But violence can do
all of these things and not have them seen. It’s on the inside,
Enlightenment
BY P H I L I P A N D R E S , R . N .
the emotional and mental damage. It’s much harder to heal
the unseen. And as I found out, even when you think they

E
unpro ducti ve life.
are healed, they are not. You carry them with you and they ight years ago in 2001, I was living a very chaot ic and
r of a six-month -
affect your life from that point forward. I was 19 years old and a drug addic t. I was also the fathe
to a very rocky
Have I ever experienced violence? Yes. I used to consider old baby boy. My addic tion to meth amph etam ine led
t. Our relat ionsh ip turne d
the unhealthy relationship I had with an old boyfriend in relat ionsh ip with my girlfr iend, moth er of our infan
One day while I was high on
college as violent. It’s not as bad as what you would see into arguments that became horri ble every single day.
intim idate d her. I was
on the news, but there was definitely physical fighting.
drugs, I threa tened to harm her with a gun replic a which
nt couns eling . Howe ver,
incarcerated and was ordered to atten d anger manageme
Eventually, realizing that we brought the worst out of each
other, we broke up. That was the easier experience. It was couns eling . I conv inced
acknowledged, discussed, and dealt with. I was in such great denia l that I thought I did not need
myse lf that I did not
Age 5. How can a grown man touch a child of 5 years ed couns eling , misse d
gently, leaving no marks, and have it be violent? It is do anyt hing wron g. So why should I go? There fore, I skipp
tive peers and to do drugs .
attention given to an unsupervised, attention-starved child. my court dates, conti nued to surro und myse lf with nega
arres ted seven more times .
I’ve experienced orgasms even before I knew what they were. That vicious lifest yle of mine resul ted in my getti ng
isco Bay Area . Those
Was it wrong? Confusion. Silence. I was wanted in three diffe rent count ies in the San Franc
my mista kes, I got
Age 10. A foreigner claiming to be a photographer days were the dark est days of my life. I didn’t learn from
ated from frien ds,
complimented me and wanted me to go with him to his room term inate d from couns eling a couple of times; I was separ
to take my picture. Thank goodness I was too engrossed
famil y, and wors t of all, from my youn g son.
playing in the arcade at that time to be wooed by the offer.
life into a diffe rent
Thinking back years later, I realized what it could have Upon my last conv iction in 2003, I decided to turn my
rd enligh tenm ent was not easy.
been. I was ignorant, but lucky. direc tion towa rd enligh tenment. Chan ging towa
recor ds. I was not able to see my
Age 14. I didn’t know about date rape at that time, never I was unable to get a job because of my crimi nal d, I perse vered
getti ng disco urage
heard of the term. I was in shock and didn’t struggle so I grow ing baby boy on a regul ar basis . Inste ad of es in my life.
ome these hurdl
never thought of it as violence. He wasn’t even a date. He was and conti nued to believe that I will some day overc
a friend’s boyfriend who was 7 years older than me. I was ce group couns eling .
taken advantage of. Was it violence? Silence… I tried to become more invol ved with my dome stic violen
ed to shift my thoughts and
Silence… Ignorance… Silence. A deadly combination. With the help of my couns elor, Paulit a Malay, I learn
and to understand that
behavior from nega tive to posit ive, to respe ct others,
start s, finall y, I comp leted
Break the silence! any type of violen ce is unacc eptable. With stops and
back to schoo l. I atten ded
Two years later I learned about date rape. It was a relief to my Alter natives to Viole nce progr am. In 2004, I went
and gradu ated in 2006
be able to talk about it with a professional and to be assured
City Colleg e of San Franc isco for my pre-n ursin g class
ted at San Franc isco State
for my AA degre e with the highe st hono rs. I got accep
that it wasn’t my fault. People always assume that women
could have done something to prevent it from happening. . Last Decem ber of 2008,
Unive rsity for the nursi ng progr am in the fall of 2006
It’s shameful when it is “allowed” to happen. Victims don’t . I also got induc ted to the
I gradu ated with a B.S. in Nursi ng, Summ a Cum Laude
“allow” things like these to happen. They cope the best they ng. In Marc h 2009, I passe d
can to survive and live normally afterwards. Sigm a Theta Tau Inter natio nal Hono r Socie ty of Nursi
the Board Exams and I am now a Regis tered Nurse .
an advo cate again st
Educate!
I have been drug free for almos t six years now. I am now
Thirty-one years later I found someone special, someone violen ce couns eling class
dome stic violen ce. I still visit Mrs. Malay’s dome stic
who won’t judge me and still accept and love me for who with the group’s participan ts. I also
I am, someone who I’d like to know the whole “Me.” For every now and then to share my exper ience
educa te my famil y and frien ds abou t dome stic
the first time I was able to share my earliest experience. see my eight-year-old son
violen ce and abuse . I now
I never thought it would affect me as much as it did to my nega tive peers
on a regul ar basis . I repla ced all
actually verbalize the experience. It was a relief, a big
burden lifted. I broke the silence and I am able to talk with posit ive ones.
about it more freely now, to share my experience and to Above all, I am now in a healt hy relat ionsh ip. I
help avoid the same thing from happening to others.
believe that as long as you surro und yours elf with
Violence takes many forms and can happen to anyone
at any age. Watch your children closely, educate them, nurtu ring and posit ive people, it is possi ble to
love them unconditionally, and give them the attention chan ge. As Mrs. Malay state d, I am living proof
they need every day. of that trans form ation .
It’s never too late to start. It is never too late to find peace
and happiness.
FILIPINA WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE
V-Day FWN 2009 For more on Paulit a Malay, see the Vagin a
Warr iors story on page 16.
2009 VAGINA WARRIORS
By connie zheng and keesa ocampo

“Vagina Warriors: The New Revolution” celebrates new activists and Filipino community, and to the city of San
Francisco. In recognition of Rodel’s many
leaders who are working to end violence against women in the Filipino and achievements, Mayor Gavin Newsom has
Asian communities. Vagina Warriors are the women and men who have declared January 27, 2009 as Rodel Rodis
often experienced violence personally or witnessed it within their Day in San Francisco.
communities and dedicated themselves toward ending such violence through A role model, Rodel has enhanced the
image of Filipino and Asian Americans in
effective, grassroots means. The Filipina Women’s Network is proud to the U.S. He inspires Filipino Americans to
honor four individuals who personify such courage and conviction. They run for office and to come together to
have faced and overcome adversity in their lives and are actively involved
better the community. Of his many
contributions, Rodel considers his legacy to
in or heading efforts to end violence against women and girls. be his years of involvement with the
community, but his proudest achievement
is being the father of his three sons Carlo,
American to be appointed to a major Daniel, and Eric.
RODEL RODIS commission in San Francisco. Within a year,
Rodel was elected president of the GENEVIEVE JOPANDA
Considered the “Godfather” of the Filipino commission in 1988 and re-elected in
community, Rodel Rodis is a true Vagina 1989. As president of the commission, Genevieve’s definition comes from her
Warrior. He has and continues to devote Rodel sponsored a resolution that familiarity of different kinds of violence
countless pro bono hours in helping transferred 15 acres of land from the and the capable courage to communicate
women and girls in domestic violence South Balboa Reservoir to the City College through the issues. What makes her stand
situations and low-income clients. A of San Francisco. As the most congested out is her genuine compassion for people
talented and dedicated attorney, Rodel has campus in California, the acres became she meets and the energy with which she
over 28 years of legal experience in City College’s future site of the new pulls them up and forward. Gen is the
immigration, family law, and civil litigation.Performing Arts Center, the new Joint Use events coordinator for the Palo Alto
His injunction against the U.S. government Facility, and the new Science and Chamber of Commerce, with previous Clockwise from top left: Rodel Rodis, Genevieve
over the unjust and discriminatory firing of Technology Center. experience with companies like Zipcar, Jopanda, Paulita Lasola Malay and Liz Aguilar-Tarchi
non-citizen airport screeners is just one of Hertz, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Her
Rodel’s many instances of fighting for Rodel has 18 years of service as a trustee peers know that the excellence she brings
equality. But Rodel is more than an to the San Francisco City College and to the corporate world is equaled by the
attorney. two-time president. In 1991, Mayor Agnos brilliance she holds in the community.
appointed Rodel to a vacant post in the Arts Exposition and Pistahan as its talent
He is an author, an educator, a performing City College Board. Rodel ran for general Gen began as a volunteer for the Filipina coordinator and executive producer for the
artist, a community leader, a role model, elections the following year and won, Women’s Network and immediately got Sine! Sine! Film Festival.
and a powerful advocate for fairness, becoming the first Filipino American to win involved with the “The Vagina
education, equity, and anti-domestic elected office in San Francisco. Rodel Monologues” and its board. The V-Diaries Clearly a jack of all trades, Gen’s
violence. Rodel has been a columnist for a continued to win re-elections in 1996, is her brainchild. Gen came up with the motivation has always been to break the
Filipino community newspaper since 1987. 2000, and 2004. During 1998 and 2002, idea of a playbill that was also an cycle of culturally ingrained myths and to
He co-founded the National Federation of he served as the President of the Board. attractive resource guide with an help women communicate and handle
Filipino American Associations and Under Rodel’s many years of leadership appealing cover backed by full content internal frustrations. In all that she does,
founded the Global Filipino Networking and service, he helped secure over $700 about anti-domestic violence. Since 2005, Gen works to connect people to elevate
Convention. In 2008, he captivated million dollars in grants and city bonds to Gen has been directing the annual stage the community at large.
audiences performing in the monologues fund the largest infrastructure construction production of the “The Vagina “You are your own cockblocker,” she said.
“The Closet” and “The Perfect Marriage” program in the history of City College. The Monologues.” “You have to believe in yourself first
in the Filipina Women Network’s funds enabled the construction of many
production of “A Memory, A Monologue, A new sites for City College, including the Gen is currently the President of the Young before anyone can believe in you.”
Rant and A Prayer” in San Francisco. new Chinatown/North Beach campus Filipino Professionals Association, a An emerging leader of the community,
expected to open in 2011. Politicians and member of the San Francisco-Manila Sister Gen’s youth and vitality have been
In 1987, Rodel was appointed by former City Committee, a member of the Filipino undeniable assets as she betters the
San Francisco Mayor Art Agnos to the San community leaders from local, state, and American Political Action Committee, and community with her passion and an
Francisco Public Utilities Commission national levels have lauded Rodel for his
lifetime of service to education, to the founding member of Citizen Hope. She unapologetic ferocity of standing up for
(SFPUC), becoming the first Filipino works with the annual Filipino American those around her.

16 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g

 emotional end to an infamous case that Asian in the field of domestic violence
....... tu .......
lasted nearly a decade, shaking up San treatment and prevention in San Mateo
Francisco law enforcement. She County. Through her work, Paulita strives 2008 Vagina Warriors
successfully prosecuted Tari Ramirez for to enable others to create better lives and Annalisa Enrile
the murder of Claire Joyce Tempongko, a to help them transform their relationships Ken Marquis
28-year-old Filipina, in front of her two into happy, healthy ones. Through the Ken Theisen
young children. years, Paulita has given to the community M. Evelina Galang
over 880 hours of workshops on Mona Pasquil
“I want to dedicate this award to the education, prevention and intervention of Nenette Flores
children of domestic violence,” Liz said. domestic violence and on providing Sonia Delen
“Often times, they are the silent victims.” culturally sensitive services. Justice Tani Gore
Liz has worked tirelessly for years to Cantil-Sakauye
In 1998, Paulita began her solo private
influence and shape law enforcement’s practice where she sees individuals,
tools against domestic violence in ..................
couples and families. Men and women
California. A former board member of the seek her expertise in cross-cultural and
California Partnership to End Domestic interracial relationships, anger 2007 Vagina Warriors
Violence, Liz is considered an expert in the management and in attaining healthy Al S. Perez
area of domestic violence prosecution and relationships. Bettina Santos Yap
trial litigation strategies. She has trained Elena B. Mangahas
attorneys, paralegals, police officers and Previously, from 1997 to 2002, Paulita Laureen Laglagaron
law students throughout the country in worked as a Filipino outreach coordinator Perla De Jesus
domestic violence, stalking and trial and bilingual community educator at the Rudy Asercion
litigation strategies. She has also trained Center for Domestic Violence Prevention Bincy Jacob
hundreds of police officers at the San (now called C.O.R.A.) in San Mateo. Krittika Ghosh
Francisco Police Academy in the During those five years, she focused her Venessa Manzano
investigation and collection of evidence in efforts on helping victims of violence and
domestic violence cases. in educating the community about ..................
domestic violence and its prevention.
Of all her achievements, Liz regards two to Along with founding the agency’s Filipino
be her most significant contributions. She Outreach Program, Paulita also established 2006 Vagina Warriors
is proudest of creating the specialized and facilitated a support group in Daly City Beverly Upton
mandatory police report that is now used for women in abusive relationships. Dorka Keehn
by the city police department for all cases Gloria Megino Ochoa
involving domestic violence. Previously, Although Paulita is a foremost expert in Imelda Oppenheim
police officers had been using a generic domestic violence treatment, she Jonah Oliverio
form. Liz also established a vertical acknowledged she fell into the field by a Ligaya Hattari
prosecution court for all misdemeanor touch of serendipity. She didn’t start Sarah Jane Ilumin
domestic violence cases – a critical concentrating in the field until 1995 Tess Crescini
ELIZABETH “LIZ” component in establishing trust and when she began facilitating intervention
AGUILAR-TARCHI cooperation – in which there is only one groups for Filipinos charged with
key initial contact person for all witnesses domestic violence misdemeanors. Since
..................

Elizabeth “Liz” Aguilar-Tarchi has been an and victims. 1990, Paulita has served as a therapist at 2005 Vagina Warriors
Assistant District Attorney in San Francisco Pyramid Alternatives, a non-profit Kamala D. Harris
for over 22 years. Currently assigned to Liz grew up in the Los Angeles city proper organization in Pacifica. She leads three
as a So-Cal girl and one of six children in a board-certified batterers’ intervention and Giovannie Pico
the general litigation unit, she serves as Gloria Ramos
the unit’s hate crimes specialist. large family. After graduating from UCLA treatment groups. Two of these groups
in 1979, she moved north to pursue her Rita Villavicencio Schmidt
Previously, Liz served as the domestic are for Filipino men who are mandated Velma Roset Veloria
violence unit’s managing attorney for two law degree at the Hastings College of Law by the courts to go to counseling after
administrations and head of the narcotics in San Francisco where she fell in love with having been arrested for domestic
unit. Before her career at the district the Bay Area. After obtaining her J.D. in violence misdemeanors. Paulita has
..................
attorney’s office, Liz worked at a civil rights 1982, she decided to make the Bay Area changed and transformed countless lives
firm and as chief aide to former San her home where she now lives with her working to teach offenders alternatives to 2004 Vagina Warriors
Francisco supervisor Jim Gonzalez. She husband and two teenage kids. violence. One such past offender, Philip, Blesidla Ocampo
found her passion in public service where accompanied Paulita when she received Cherie Querol Moreno
she put herself in the frontlines of fighting PAULITA LASOLA MALAY her Vagina Warrior award on April 25 and Clara Tempongko
domestic violence. stood as a testament to the lives she’s Genevieve Dwyer
With counseling experience that spans transformed. Since working with Paulita, Tisa Mendoza
A gifted attorney, Liz holds the record in over 30 years, for the longest time, Paulita he transformed his life and graduated Vangie Cononizado Buell
San Francisco for obtaining the longest Lasola Malay has provided comfort to Leni Marin
sentence, 100 years to life, in a case. summa cum laude from the San Francisco
countless Filipina women in domestic ..................
Despite her success in all the various units violence situations with her expertise as a State University with a degree in nursing.
she’s worked in, Liz found her niche in (Read his story on page 15).
marriage and family therapist. She is the
fighting domestic violence. Liz brought an only Filipina psychotherapist and the only

ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE 17

Men Against Violence
By Gladys Dodds

O
n April 11, 2009, Emmanual Batulan, Ben De Guzman, Jon
Melegrito and other male cast members joined forces with the
Filipina Women’s Network to perform in their production of
Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” and “A Memory, A
Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer” (MMRP), the first ever all-
Filipino production at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Batulan, De Guzman and
Melegrito discussed their thoughts and experiences in an interview.
EMMANUAL BATULAN who portrayed a character that was both
the oppressor and the oppressed in
“True.”
When Emmanual “Eme” Batulan first
heard about the “The Vagina Most of all, Batulan will remember the
time he spent with his fellow Filipino cast
Monologues,” he wasn’t sure what the
production was really about. members. As Batulan ended his
experience with FWN, what will stand out
“At best, I had the impression it was a
show that talks about the female the most for him will be the time spent
working with a fantastic cast.
anatomy,” Batulan said. “Instead, I
learned it was about violence committed
against women and girls.” JON MELEGRITO
Performing in “Rescue” by Mark
Matousek and “True” by Carol Michele “No matter how miserable or
Kaplan, he hoped the production would frustrated you are, you never have the
educate the public about such forms of right to do violence to another human
violence. being,” said Jon Melegrito.
“Hopefully, they realize the gravity of Melegrito, Communications Director
violence committed against women all for the National Federation of Filipino
over the world and do a self-analysis of American Associations, was one of several
their own relationships with women and male cast members who performed in
girls,” he said. the Filipina Women Network’s V-Day
Batulan also found the production to production on April 11 in Washington,
be art that makes a powerful statement, D.C. A dedicated community activist and
despite his slight discomfort, which he still celebrated writer, he had answered to
has, with some of the words used. casting calls to support the campaign to
“Using the word ‘puki’ in a public end violence against women and girls.
forum still makes me uncomfortable,” Performing in “The Closet” written by
Batulan confided. “But I guess that’s Howard Zinn, Melegrito played a little boy
really the objective – to make it an living the hard life of an immigrant family
in-your-face statement.” in the tenements during the Great
“The production is art with a social Depression. His character witnesses
conscience,” he added. domestic violence when his father slams a
Although Batulan is no novice on the piece of cardboard on his mother’s head.
stage, with years of experience performing “Some boys are raised thinking they
dance and music with the Filipinescas are superior to women, because they
Dance Company, Batulan said his model themselves after their fathers, and
experience with this production was think it’s a normal attitude,” Melegrito
different. said. “With layers and layers of
“The range of emotions I had to conditioning, a lot of boys grow up with
muster was both challenging and at the that attitude society has deemed as
same time exhilarating,” said Batulan, normal.”
Melegrito found some resonance with was casting male members for “The
his character, recalling his own memories Vagina Monologues” in Washington, D.C.,
of his father who was a soldier during he initially ignored casting calls.
World War II. “I didn’t think I would be able to do it
“My father never laid a hand on my because it was a woman thing,” confided
mother, but there was a lot of mental Guzman, who had grown up in a house of
abuse,” Melegrito said, noting that all boys. “The only woman in my family
domestic violence could manifest in many life was my mother.”
forms besides the physical. “I am not However, when he heard that the
trying to rationalize his actions, but he production needed more men in the cast,
bore the psychological effects of war.” he decided to jump in. Casted to play in
Recounting his father’s explosive Edward Albee’s “The Perfect Marriage,”
temper, Melegrito spoke of how his De Guzman found the experience to be a
mother kept quiet and suffered in silence, transformative process.
accepting her husband for who he was no “I could feel the progression which
matter how terrifying his temper. was very trippy to experience,” De
“I have forgiven him, knowing his scars Guzman said. He realized the production
of war,” Melegrito said. “But I always gave people the license to talk about the
wanted to have a conversation with him issue of domestic
about it. I wanted to ask those questions, violence in a very
connect the dots with his past, know why fundamental way.
he behaved the way he did, why my He discovered
mother behaved that way, and how they a whole new
tried to overcome it.” world listening to
But Melegrito never got the chance to women candidly
do so. The elder Melegrito lost his talk about issues
memory, and the bonding and discussion that were usually
with his father about his experiences in not within his
the war could never happen. earshot.
Melegrito began his own gradual “It’s very
transformation in understanding gender interesting how
roles, a process that has helped his women talk to
relationship with his wife of over 40 years. each other and
As his FWN production drew to a close, how they perceive
Melegrito reflected on his experience and their bodies,”
hopes. He hoped the provocative manner De Guzman said.
of the show will bring awareness to the “Even some of the
commonly hidden secret in the Filipino plumbing stuff!”
community of domestic violence. He De Guzman,
hoped the positive waves made from the Executive Director
performance will open up more of the National
possibilities for other related initiatives Alliance for
to educate the community and challenge Filipino Veterans
culturally-accepted gender norms. Equity, works
“The experience has been liberating to ensure that
with a tremendous and affirming cast,” Filipino World War
Melegrito reflected. “What stands out is II veterans receive
seeing the women I’ve known for years their recently
transform in a matter of weeks.” awarded
payments
from the U.S.
BEN DE GUZMAN government.”
When Ben De Guzman first heard FWN

18 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g


J
oining the Filipina Women’s
Network’s campaign against
domestic violence, a plight that
affects women, men, and children
from all walks of life, are Jane Kim
and Hydra Mendoza, two pioneers and
leaders in the Asian American community.
JANE KIM
Jane Kim is currently Vice President of
the Board of Education in the City and
County of San Francisco. She is the first
Korean American elected in San Francisco.
Before being elected to the Board of
Education as the top vote-getter in
November 2006, Jane was the Youth
Program Director at the Chinatown
Community Development Center, a 28
ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE
INTERVIEW AND PROFILES OF API LEADERS AND CAST MEMBERS
Interview with Cast Member: Fiona Ma
By Connie Zheng
I
n her fight against domestic
violence, California Assemblywoman
Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) makes
her theatrical debut in the Filipina
Women’s Network’s (FWN)
production of the “The Vagina
Monologues” on May 2 in San Francisco.
Joining FWN’s first production that
features an all-Asian American cast, Ma
portrays a 72-year-old woman who
reminisces about her “down there” in
“The Flood” monologue.
“I am honored to be part of the
production to support the fight against
domestic violence,” Ma said.
Ma has heard of Eve Ensler’s “The
Vagina Monologues” for a number of
years and was intrigued by its content and
message. When invited by Marily
Mondejar, president of FWN, to perform in
its production, Ma saw it as an
opportunity to raise awareness about
domestic violence.
“I want to help in any way I can in the
fight against domestic violence,” Ma said.
“Until we confront it, we cannot end the
From top: Cast members Fiona Ma,
Jane Kim and Hydra Mendoza
year-old affordable housing nonprofit that
also engages in community organizing,
education and planning. For six years, she
worked with over 200 San Francisco high
school students developing youth
leadership, advocacy and civic
engagement through youth-initiated
community service projects. Previously,
Jane was a fellow at Greenlining Institute,
where she advocated for a range of
issues, including consumer protection,
access to higher education and universal
life line issues, for low-income
communities of color and immigrant
communities. She is also a co-director and
co-founder of Locus Arts, a volunteer-run
venue in San Francisco that showcases
emerging musicians, writers, filmmakers
and actors. Now, in its ninth year, Locus
has showcased over 450 artists and
reaches over 1500 audience members.
cycle of violence.”
A passionate advocate for anti-
domestic violence, Ma currently serves as
chairwoman of the Select Committee on
Domestic Violence in the state assembly, a
position she’s held for the past two years.
The committee conducts public hearings
about domestic violence and educates the
public about domestic violence statistics.
Ma first became involved with
domestic violence work when she learned
of the murder of Filipina American Claire
Joyce Tempongko in 2000 by her
ex-boyfriend Tari Ramirez. Although
Tempongko had reported Ramirez’s
multiple threats and violent acts against
her to the police, law enforcement and
the district attorney’s office had dropped
or disregarded many of these incidents.
Ma was appalled to learn that, despite
all these reported incidents, Ramirez had
continued to terrorize Tempongko up to
her murder.
“Ramirez was still out there in the
streets stalking her, threatening her,”
Ma said.
The experience compelled Ma to join
the fight against domestic violence. Upon
being elected San Francisco Supervisor in
2002, Ma joined the city’s Justice and
Jane is the past President of the San
Francisco People’s Organization and a
past board member of the Asian American
Theater Company and the Stanford Asian
Pacific American Alumni Club. In addition,
she has served on the Proposition H
Community Advisory Committee, Women’s
Foundation Community Action Grant
Committee and the Full Circle Fund.
HYDRA MENDOZA
Hydra Mendoza is currently a
commissioner of the San Francisco Board
of Education. The first Filipina American
to be elected to the San Francisco Board
of Education, she received the second
highest number of votes in the November
2006 election. In 2005, Hydra was
appointed as Education Advisor by San
Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Lauding
Hydra, “Hydra’s personal experience as a
Courage Oversight Panel. Through 2006,
Ma and the panel worked to create a
seamless criminal justice response to
domestic violence to ensure cases like
Tempongko did not fall through the
cracks again.
In addition to her work against
domestic violence, Ma dedicates herself
to raising public awareness of issues
important to the Asian American
community.
“I want to bring into the public
conversation topics that are considered
taboo in the Asian community, such as
domestic violence, mental illness and
elder abuse,” said Ma. “I have
responsibilities as a public official to
talk about issues important to people,
to inspire people to get help.”
Ma encourages people to open up
about domestic violence and to lend
a hand.
“If you see someone in a domestic
violence situation, offer assistance to help
the victim so he or she is not suffering
alone,” Ma said. “Because domestic
violence has no zip code, age, category,
demographics, or ethnicity, it can happen
to anyone at any time. It crosses all
cultural and sexual boundaries.”
mother, pre-school teacher, community
organizer and active parent locally and
district-wide make her the best person for
this job,” Newsom said at the time.
Her work with the school district
include serving as a community member
on a number of important policy-changing
committees and task forces like the
Weighted Student Formula, Student
Assignment Task Force, Family Hardship
Appeals Committee, Thurgood Marshall
Community Task Force and the Citizen
Bond Oversight Committee.
Previously, Hydra served as Executive
Director of Parents for Public Schools.
Involved with the Japanese Community
Youth Council and the Mayor’s Policy
Council on Children, Youth and Families,
Hydra is deeply committed to serving the
community and bettering education for
our children and city.
19
A Pebble’s Ripple Effect Filipino events, some shunned me and
turned the other way.”
The word puki means vagina in
FWN’s journey in its campaign to end violence Tagalog and the production caused a
against Filipina women and girls. huge stir during its first year.
“The first time the play came out, it
by gloria ramos
was such a taboo,” reflected Al Perez,
graphic designer who has been involved
extent that the production is no longer
seen as shameful. Slowly but steadily, its
mission has become a success through
the years, spurring community leaders
from all walks of life to perform.
“Now the show is very well received,”
Perez said. “We have more and more
women auditioning.

W
hen Marily met Eve Ensler and homes through its performances. Three with the production and its V-Diaries It’s exciting that the
Jane Fonda at a women’s trailblazing women in particular – Elena publication since their inception. “We production has come
conference in 2003, her life was Mangahas, Sonia Delen and Marily had a lot of negative feedback in our a long way. People
changed forever. Eve had just Mondejar – have been with the community on why we were doing a play get the message
returned from a trip to the production since day one and have been that dares to utter ‘vagina,’ considered now. Women are
Philippines where she met with the instrumental in making the productions by many as a vulgar word.” now more open to
Filipina comfort women, women who the success they are today. Now entering “It was a struggle to get our message talking about
had been forced into sexual slavery its sixth year of production, FWN’s received by the community,” Mondejar sexuality. They are
during World War II. Eve promised the performances have been a large success, said. “One prominent Filipina leader breaking the silence
“lolas” she will spotlight their story and inspiring spin-offs in other Filipino refused to touch our flyers and pushed and shame around
she did in 2006 with the V-Day Spotlight: communities and expanding productions my hand away when I tried to give her domestic violence
Justice for Comfort Women. nationally. But the path to such success one. She said she did not want to touch and are seeking help.
The Filipina Women’s Network has not always been such an easy road. something nakakadiri, or dirty. She It’s not such a taboo
launched its first production of Eve During its first year, FWN received little reprimanded me for putting on a show anymore and there’s
Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” support but much negative feedback with Filipina women calling out puki. less stigma. Our
with an all-Filipina cast in San Francisco from the Filipino community for She didn’t know what our production work has given the
in 2004. Brimming with vision, producing the “The Vagina Monologues.” and our message is all about.” whole community
determination and energy, FWN sought “I was called the vagina lady and puki Step by step, FWN worked to spread the freedom to talk
to bring awareness and urgency to lady,” said Marily Mondejar, president of its message, etching domestic violence
domestic violence issues in Filipino FWN. “When people saw me coming at into the public consciousness to such an continued on p.33

2004 2005 2006

» March 30 – » March 13: First » March 13 & 14: » FWN goes coast-to- at New York University.
First all-Filipina publication of the 2nd V-Day Filipina show coast! Two V-Day Two shows!
production of V-Diaries, FWN’s becomes ambitious! productions – » Presented the first Pinay
“The Vagina anti-violence resource Two English shows at San Francisco and Transgenders to read a
Monologues” in guide. Instead of a the Herbst Theatre! New York. poignant monologue
Taglish at the typical souvenir » Vagina Warriors » February 26: Two “They Beat the Girl Out
Herbst Theatre to mark program, FWN (6 honorees) shows in San Francisco of My Boy.”
Women’s History publishes a magazine » Marily Mondejar, (English and Tagalog). » FWN requires cast and
Month. 36 cast that captures the stories president of FWN, is » Launched “Usaping crew members to
members, 12 of domestic violence appointed to the Justice Puki” – the first Tagalog participate in anti-
production team survivors and advocates & Courage Oversight version of “The Vagina domestic violence
members. including resources of Panel of the San Monologues.” training to deepen
» “Handprints” – how and where to seek Francisco Commission » June 12-27, New York: understanding of
Men Against Violence counseling and help. on the Status of Joined Eve Ensler’s campaign and learn
collected signed 30,000 copies were Women. The panel two-week festival of intervention principles
pledges on canvas and printed and inserted has oversight “Until the Violence when faced with issues
paper that “These in The San Francisco responsibilities on Stops: NYC.” around domestic
Hands Will Not Hurt Chronicle, The Examiner, San Francisco’s » June 16: Tari Ramirez violence.
Women and Girls.” and the Bay Area system-wide response arrested in Cancun, » December 4: A witness
» Vagina Warriors Business Woman. to domestic violence. Mexico. to history – Justice for
launched (7 honorees). » March 13: Launched » FWN’s CourtWatch » June 24, New York: Nicole. Marily Mondejar
» Gloria Macapagal “Filipinas Against is created – Track Launched first attends sentencing of
Arroyo, President of the Violence” Campaign to domestic violence all-Filipina production U.S. Marine Lance Cpl.
Philippines, signed into support the family of cases involving of “The Vagina Daniel Smith in the
law the Anti-Violence Claire Joyce Tempongko Filipina women. Monologues” and “Nicole” rape case in
Against Women Law. who was murdered in “Usaping Puki” at the Makati, Philippines.

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MILESTONES: V-Day FWN
“Filipinas Against Violence” Campaign

ABOVE: The cast of the first FWN production of “The Vagina

Monologues,” with Eve Ensler. RIGHT: 2005 cast and crew.
FROM TOP:
2006 San Francisco cast;

2004 – 2009 2006 New York cast;

press conference with
Eve Ensler in 2008.
6 years
18 productions of “The Vagina
Monologues” and “Usaping Puki”

3 productions of “A Memory,
A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer”

2007 2008 2009

» FWN continues its » CourtWatch –
coast-to-coast March 14: William
campaign – Corpuz’s jury conviction
San Francisco and of first degree for
New York. murdering his Filipino
» Court Watch – wife was reduced to
January 22: Teris Casco, second degree by
28-years-old, battered Superior Court Judge
to death by her Jerome Benson. Corpuz
husband on the night of was sentenced to 15
her birthday after she years to life.
told him that she was » March 26: FWN press
leaving him. conference with Eve
» March 30 & April 14: Ensler to protest Judge
New York shows held at Benson’s ruling to
the Philippine reduce the Corpuz
Consulate to bring conviction to second
anti-violence message degree.
closer to “home.” » April 4: Premiere of the
» Two shows (English and new show “A Memory,
Tagalog). A Monologue, A Rant
» Cecivim in collaboration and A Prayer” (MMRP).
with FWN holds first Men supportive of
anti-domestic violence FWN’s anti-violence
workshop for men. campaign are invited to
read for V-Day.
» Courtwatch – May 6:
Eddy sentenced to
18 years in prison.
ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE
» Courtwatch – » April 11:
September 29: Tari
Ramirez convicted of
second degree for
murdering Claire Joyce
Tempongko.
» Courtwatch –
December 12: Tari
Ramirez sentenced to
18 years in prison. » May 2:
$214,742
total funds raised through
April 2009 to benefit:
First V-Day 2004: (CORA) Community
FWN show in Overcoming Relationship Abuse
(San Mateo County);
Washington V-Day 2004 Spotlight:
D.C. at The The Missing & Murdered Women
John F. Kennedy in Juarez, Mexico
Performing 2005: West Bay Pilipino
Arts Center. Multi-Service Center;
Sold-out show! V-Day 2005 Spotlight:
Women of Iraq: Under Siege
First all-Asian 2006: My Sister’s House –
American Women Sacramento’s First Shelter for
cast for Battered Asian Pacific Islander
“The Vagina Women and Children;
Monologues” The Outstanding Women in the
Nation’s Service (TOWNS) Foundation:
at the Legal Fund for “Nicole” Rape Case
Herbst Theatre. in Subic, Philippines;
V-Day 2006 Spotlight: Justice to
Comfort Women
2007: Filipino American Human
Services, Inc. (FAHSI) – New York
V-Day 2007 Spotlight:
Women in Conflict Zones
2008: Lila Filipina: Comfort Women
Survivors in the Philippines;
V-Day 2008 Spotlight: Katrina Warriors –
Women of New Orleans & the Gulf South
2009: API Domestic Violence Resource
Project (DVRP) – Washington, D.C.;
V-Day 2009 Spotlight: Stop the
Rape of Congo Women and Girls
 TAMA NA! STOP! V-Day Filipina Women’s Network is proud to present
Asian Americans
Against Violence Eve Ensler’s

THE VAGINA
An Asian American community event in
collaboration with V-Day’s Global Campaign

MONOLOGUES
And a Benefit Reading of
A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, A RANT AND A PRAYER

Change the Story of Women!

Join us as we raise funds and awareness to end violence against women and girls.

[“The Vagina Monologues”] is a work which is inexpli-

cably universal for women, and manage to be feminist
withoug being man-hating, entertaining without being
trite, and political without being earnest. April 11, 2009 – Saturday
FEATURING THE FIRST DIRECTORS 7:30 pm “The Vagina Monologues” with a reading of “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer”
ALL-ASIAN WOMEN CAST Genevieve Jopanda The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Terrace Theater
INCLUDING: Ken Marquis 2700 F Street, NW, Washington DC 20566
Nina Nguyen Lagac
ARLENE “BAMBI” LORICA Tickets $38 – $88 (VIP), www.kennedy-center.org, (202) 467-4600
ELENA MANGAHAS PRODUCERS
EMILY MURASE (Washington DC)
FIONA MA
GENEVIEVE JOPANDA
Gloria T. Caoile May 2, 2009 – Saturday
Bambi Lorica, md 7:30 pm “The Vagina Monologues” – all-Asian American Women Cast
GLADYS DODDS
HELEN ZIA EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102
HYDRA MENDOZA Elena B. Mangahas
JAJA BOLIVAR Tickets $25 – $88 (VIP), www.cityboxoffice.com, (415) 392-4400
Marily Mondejar
JAN YANEHIRO
JANE KIM
JENNIFER ONG
BENEFICIARIES
V-Day 2009 Spotlight: Stop May 9, 2009 – Saturday
LIA SHIGEMURA the Rape of Congo Women 7:30 pm “The Vagina Monologues” (Usaping Puki)
MAYETTE ALMAZAN and Girls; API Domestic
MITOS SANTISTEBAN The Intramuros, 101 Brentwood Drive, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Violence Resource Project;
NINA NGUYEN LAGAC Filipinas Against Violence Tickets (with Filipino dinner buffet) $28 – $68 (VIP)
SHEILA CHUNG HAGEN www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org/events (415) 278-9410
SIWARAYA ROCHANAHUSDIN
SONIA DELEN
STACEY HOANG
VALERIE DE LEON
 Wa s H i N gt oN , D c
04|11 Musical Foreplay
Andrew Lorica, Christine Lorica
Deanna Pineda, Jeffrey Flores,
Maligayang Pagbati
Elena Buensalido Mangahas,
Marily Mondejar
FWN CourtWatch Update:
Teris Casco Domestic
Violence Murder Case
Reclaiming Cunt
Les Talusan (Tagalog),
Nina Nguyen Lagac (English)
Leia Lorica, Michelle Lorica Annalisa Vicente Enrile, Ph.D., m.s.w.,
A Memory,
A Monologue,
Welcome to V-Day Filipina
The Vagina My Angry Vagina /
A six-year-old girl
was asked…
A Rant and
A Prayer Women’s Network Monologues Ang Aking Puking Galit Marianne Celce Thomas,
Marily Mondejar Regine Biscoe Lee, Solita Wakefield
with Introduction / Vangie Ganuelas
THE VAGINA A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, Introduksyon Intro – The Woman Who
MONOLOGUES A RANT AND A PRAYER: Full Cast Intro – My Vagina Was My Loved to Make Vaginas
Writings To Stop Violence Village Happy
7:30 pm Against Women and Girls Intro – Hair Leia Lorica, Michelle Lorica
The kennedy Center
Estela Sanidad The Woman Who Loved to
for the Performing Arts
Terrace Theatre Monologues My Vagina Was My Make Vaginas Happy
Hair Village Junelle Cavero, Meggie Pleyto
Introduction: Words. Naomi Tacuyan Charmaine Manansala,
Words. Words. (Eve Ensler) Wilma Consul Intro – I Was There
Bambi Lorica MD, Gloria T. Caoile, The “Wear and Say” Lists In the Room
Nina Nguyen Lagac Leia Lorica, Marlyn Aguilar, Esq. Lullaby – Leia Lorica and Michelle Lorica
Melanie A. Caoile, Michelle Lorica Ili–Ili, Tulog Anay*
Celia (Edwidge Danticat) Regine Biscoe Lee, Solita Wakefield, Bambi Lorica, m.d. I Was There In the Room
Charmaine Manansala, Sonia Soriano, m.d., Sonia Aranza, Sonia Soriano, m.d.,
Jeffrey Flores Verna Samson Intro – The Little Coochi Verna Samson
Snorcher That Could
The Closet (Howard Zinn) Intro – The Flood Lucille Gonzalez Filipino Lullaby –
Jon Melegrito Melanie A. Caoile Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan**
The Little Coochi Bambi Lorica, m.d.,
Rescue (Mark Matousek) The Flood Snorcher That Could Christine Lorica
Andrew Lorica, Eme Batulan, Gloria T. Caoile Estela Sanidad, Iryll Umel,
Ernie Cordero, Hubert Santayana, Marlyn Aguilar, Esq., Meggie Pleyto, 2009 Spotlight
Jeffrey Flores The Vagina Workshop Regine Biscoe Lee, Solita Wakefield Ninotchka Rosca, Wilma Consul
Dawn Perlas, Iryll Umel,
UNTITLED (Nicholas Kristof) Junelle Cavero Intro – Say It 2009 Spotlight
Jason Garcia Ignacio Tessie Marfori Monologue: Baptized
Vagina Happy Fact Rozita Villanueve Lee,
True (Carol Michele Kaplan) Rozita Villanueva Lee Say It Gloria T. Caoile
Eme Batulan and Ernie Cordero Annalisa Vicente Enrile, Ph.D., m.s.w.,
Intro – Because He Liked Gloria T. Caoile SPEAK OUT
The Perfect Marriage to Look At It Marily Mondejar
(Edward Albee) Lucille Gonzalez Film Clip: Comfort
Ben de Guzman, Hubert Women in the Philippines CURTAIN CALL
Santayana Because He Liked to with Eve Ensler Cast and Crew
Look At It
Fur Is Back (Eve Ensler) Sonia Aranza WN CourtWatch Update:
Bambi Lorica, m.d., Comfort Women
Gloria T. Caoile Not-So-Happy Fact / Survivors in the V-Day Filipina Women’s Network
Isang Hindi Nakatutuwang Philippines is supported by V-Day, the
HANDPRINTS Katotohanang Puki Ninotchka Rosca Filipino American Arts Exposition
“These Hands Will Not Hurt Meggie Pleyto and the AsianWeek Foundation.
Filipina Women and Girls” Outrageous Vagina
Elena Buensalido Mangahas, Intro – Crooked Braid Fact / Update *Text: “Ili-Ili, Now Go To Sleep”
Marily Mondejar Christine Lorica Rozita Villanueva Lee, (Cebuano). P. Magdamo, Arranger
Vangie Ganuelas ** Text: “From The Cradle”
Men Against Violence Pledge Crooked Braid (Tagalog). Lucio San Pedro,
led by Robert Borje with all Estela Sanidad, Les Talusan, Intro – Reclaiming Cunt Composer; Levi Celerio (Lyrics)
Filipino men cast members Lucille Gonzalez, Melissa Long Dawn Perlas
Naomi Tacuyan, Tessie Marfori,
Intermission Vangie Ganuelas, Verna Samson

ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE 23

DC Cast & Crew Bios
ANDREW LORICA has three doting
sisters who thinks he’s the coolest brother. A
member of the award winning Show Stoppers of
Churchill High, his singing and dancing is worthy
of American Idol. A budding chef, Andrew enjoys
playing golf and traveling with his family. He is
happy to do his part to help STOP the VIOLENCE.
Arlene Marie “Bambi”
Antonio-Lorica, M.D., FAAP,
is a holistic pediatrician and a physician
entrepreneur currently working to incorporate
alternative medicine into the medical curriculum.
A peace advocate, she serves as medical adviser
for Asia America Initiative, committed to working
for peace in Mindanao through education,
economic development and community building.
She assisted in developing the first Cancer
Treatment for the Poor Program in Asia and
was a Chicago FilAm Hall of Fame Awardee in
2008 for Medical Diplomacy. One of FWN’s 100
Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S., she
is passionately committed to effecting positive
social change by helping initiate and drive
innovative solutions on globally-oriented issues,
including health and development. A devoted
mother of four accomplished children, Michelle,
Leia, Andrew, and Christine, she is very grateful
to her loving, supportive, and understanding
husband of 24 years, Dr. Victor Lorica..
Dr. ANNALISA ENRILE is the National
Chairperson of Gabriela Network, an anti-
imperialist women’s organization and on the
initiating committee of the Mariposa Alliance.
Annalisa is currently an Associate Professor at
the USC School of Social Work. She believes a
woman’s place is in the struggle!
BEN DE GUZMAN has been involved
in local, regional and national organizations
serving Filipinos and other Asian Pacific
Americans in the DC metropolitan area for over
10 years. He’s proud to have been part of the
recent passage of legislation for Filipino WWII
veterans and is more grateful for his family and
friends than they can ever know.
A California transplant, CHARMAINE
ARIVAN MANANSALA lives
and breathes politics. Inspired by fierce
grandmothers, mother, and sisters, Charmaine
continues to work on behalf of Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders and the working families.
Honored as one of the 100 Most Influential
Filipinas in the U.S., she most recently served
as the National AAPI Vote Team Director for
Obama for America. Charmaine minored in
Theater at Smith College, so performing at the
Kennedy Center has been a long-time dream.
Post politics, you can find her hanging out with
turtles in the North Shore.
CHRISTINE LORICA is thrilled to be a part
of this production. She inherited her passion for
the arts from her musical family. Christine has
appeared in many productions, including “Willy
24
WasHiNg
2 0 0 9
Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” where she
played Veruca Salt, and “A-Haunting We Will
Go” where she played the lead role of Norma
Corwin. A consistent honor student, Christine is
a 2008 José Rizal Youth Awardee.
DAWN PERLAS is an associate director
at a corporate research firm who moved
to the United States from Manila in 1996.
Outside of her professional persona, her
interests include music, art, writing, travel, and
food. She is thrilled to be part of the Filipina
Women’s Network’s production of “The Vagina
Monologues” at the Kennedy Center.
DEANNA PINEDA is “Made in the
Philippines” — conceived in the P.I. but born in
Washington, D.C. after her mother landed a job
at the Embassy, Deanna Pineda is president of
Muse Advertising Design in Arlington, Virginia
and is thrilled to be part of this production. BEN DE GUZMAN CHARMAINE MANANSALA CHRISTINE LORICA DAWN PERLAS
Activist National AAPI Director, 2008 Jose Rizal Youth Associate Director for a
EMMANUEL “Eme” BATULAN is an Obama for America Awardee corporate research firm
accountant/financial analyst who has performed
in major cities all over the world as a dancer
soloist/musician with the Filipinescas Dance
Company; at the UP Dramatic Club he played
the lead role in Wilfredo Ma Guerero’s “Three
Rats” directed by Joonee Gamboa; he has
appeared in “Ang Kiri,” “Panhik Ligaw” and
“Ang Daigdig ay isang Mansanas” all directed
by Sarah Joaquin.
ERNIE CORDERO is a 72-year-old retiree
who is a past president of the Ilocano Society EVANGELINE FABELA- GLORIA T. CAOILE HURBERT SANTAYANA IRYLL UMEL
GANUELA Senior Political Director, Financial Analyst National Field
Of America and Progressive Alliance of Filipino Board Secretary, Asian Pacific American Representative,
American Inc. In 2008 he was the Chair of Feed the Hungry; Labor Alliance (APALA) National Treasury
the Philippine Festival and was voted Most Tech Aide, UAW Employees Union
Outstanding Ilocano of the Year. He has
appeared in the following productions “Walang
Sugat,” “The Dawn” and “Luto, Linis, Laba.”
ESTELA SANIDAD has been with the
World Bank since 1975, and is currently
assigned in the Corporate Secretariat as senior
coordinator for memberships and capital
subscriptions. She is a graduate of the University
of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, with a LES TALUSAN LUCILLE GONZALEZ MARIANNE CELCE THOMAS marlYN T. aguilar, esq.
bachelor of arts in economics (1968) and a DJ/Sound of Everything, Hospital Administrator Student Attorney,
bachelor of laws (1973). She is a member of Photographer U.S. Environmental
the Board of Directors of Feed the Hungry, Inc., Protection Agency
an all volunteer organization, which is a 501(c)
tax-exempt, non-profit charitable organization
based in Washington, D.C. She is married to
Mario Prado Sanidad, and they have three
children: Marc, Maritel, and Matthew.
EVANGELINE FABELA-GANUELAS ,
aka Vangie, is principally mom to EJ and
better-half to Ernie, both strongly supporting
her penchant for anything and everything she
can try her skills on. She dabbled in stage
performance as a cast member of “Luto, Linis,
Laba,” a QbD production. A World Bank retiree
but not totally retired, as she quickly points
out, she is now a proud Union member and
a UAW staff member. She is a product of the
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g
gtoN, DC WASHINGTON, D.C. UST (BSMT) and AU, here in D.C. (MSOD). In
addition to being a CCD Teacher at SLCC, vice
president of OLM Praesidium of the Legion of
Mary, board secretary of Feed the Hungry and
an Avon rep, the spare time she’s left with is
spent nurturing her passion for piano, bowling,
Who’s Who mahjong, travel, audio books, and more.
in the Cast
Gloria T. Caoile is the Senior Political
Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor
Alliance (APALA), a national organization of
Asian Pacific American labor union members.
ANDREW LORICA ANNALISA ENRILE, ph.d. ARLENE “BAMBI” LORICA
Student, Budding Chef Associate Professor, Holistic Pediatrician, A founding member of the Asian Pacific
USC School of Social Physician Entrepreneur, American Women Leadership Institute
Work Coloratura Soprano (APAWLI), the only national organization
dedicated to nurturing and developing
leadership skills among Asian American and
Pacific Islander women, Gloria also served on
the boards of several civil rights groups
including the Filipino American Civil Rights
Advocates and the National Federation of
Filipino-American Associations. A wife to Ben,
a mother to Melanie, a community activist, a
DEANNA PINEDA EME BATULAN ERNIE CORDERO ESTELA SANIDAD
mentor, a volunteer, a friend, a breast cancer
President, Accountant & Past President, Ilocano Corporate Secretariat, survivor, and a women’s rights, worker’s rights,
Muse Advertising Financial Analyst Society of America; World Bank and human rights advocate, Gloria is very
Design Chair, Philippine Festival passionate in engaging in projects that
empower the Filipino American community
nationwide. A community leader, she has been
president of numerous organizations and has
organized countless events globally. She has
received, among other awards, the Presidential
Linkapil Awardee in 1997, the Achievement
Award for Community Service from Filipinas
Magazine in 2001, Filipina First Awardee from
the Philippine American Foundation in 1999,
and TOFA in 1990. She was honored by the
JASON GARCIA IGNACIO JEFFREY T. FLORES JON MELEGRITO JUNELLE CAVERO consultant and a business development
Professional Dancer, Student, Staff Writer, AFSCME; Nonprofit Consultant Filipina Women’s Network as one of the 100
City Dance Ensemble University of Maryland Communications Most Influential Filipinas in the U.S. in 2007.
Director, NaFFAA
HUBERT SANTAYANA (his preferred
stage name is Michael Sarmiento) is no stranger
to theater. A member of Tanghalang Pilipino
from 1984-1994, and Bahaghari Productions
from 1994 to 1997, he has appeared as the lead
actor in numerous plays directed by no less than
Didi Coronel and the late icon Sarah Joaquin
and has served as producers in some of them.
Most notable among his performances was
his portrayal of the lead, Pepe, in “Ang Kiri,” a
meggie pleyto melanie anne caoile melissa topacio LONG MICHELLE LORICA zarzuela. Since 1998 he sings the lead vocals for
Entrepreneur, Director, Youth & AAPI Outreach Teaching Fellow, The Chosen Few Music Ministry and he performs
Marketing Partner, Consumer and On-Line Director; Coordinator, New York City regularly for the FilAm Community.
Designer, Choir Director Group, Microsoft DNC Internships
IRYLL UMEL is a national field
representative for the National Treasury
Employees Union in Washington, D.C. Her
involvement in the movement to end violence
against women includes her AmeriCorps VISTA
service at the Center for the Pacific Asian Family
(CPAF), a Los Angeles-based shelter for domestic
violence and sexual assault survivors of APIA
background, and anti-trafficking work at the
Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking. As
part of CPAF’s Lotus Café, she has performed
stories of survival. Iryll graduated from UCLA
School of Law and UCSD.
Jason Garcia Ignacio was born
and raised in Manila, Philippines. Currently a
ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE
professional dancer with CityDance Ensemble,
his talent for dancing was discovered when
he was 12. In January 2001 and at the age of
19, Ignacio moved to New York City where he
continued his dance training with a scholarship
at Ballet Hispanico, a fellowship from the Ailey
School, and apprenticed for the Bill T. Jones/
Arnie Zane Dance Company. He lived in New
York until he moved to Washington, D.C. in
November 2007. Jason’s résumé includes work
with several American dance companies: the
Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company, Diversity of
Dance, Cortez & Co., Zig-Zag Ballet, Connecticut
Ballet, Verb Ballets, and the American Repertory
Ballet. He also currently teaches dancing classes.
In 2008 Washingtonian magazine named
Jason Garcia Ignacio one of Washington, D.C.’s
Top 20 Showstoppers.
JEFFREY TOPACIO FLORES studies
Literature at the University of Maryland. He
has appeared on stage in many different roles:
as a comedian, a musician, and an actor —
forever exploring the various uses of spotlight.
An accomplished songwriter, he is thrilled to
be a part of this production and expresses his
sincere gratitude to his loving family for their
unwavering support.
JON MELEGRITO is a proud grandfather
of Maya, two-year-old daughter of Desiree and
Jonathan Halcomb. Married to Elvira Perez for
almost 40 years, Jon grows ampalaya (bitter
melons), loves to doodle and strum the guitar.
A son of a World War II veteran, Jon writes for
a union publication.
JUNELLE CAVERO is a nonprofit
strategist. Formerly an Indiana political director
for President Barack Obama’s presidential
campaign, Junelle has a master’s in public
administration from American University and
a B.A. from New York University. She serves as
D.C. State Chair for the NaFFAA and has a 2nd
Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. On her spare
time, she enjoys painting, playing basketball,
and traveling.
LEIA LORICA will graduate from Stanford
University this June and is already making her
mark as part of the corporate communications
team at Ruder Finn, Inc., a PR firm in New York.
A fashion aficionado, she worked with both
Vera Wang and Reem Acra as a PR and global
marketing intern. Prior to the crash of the stock
market on Wall Street, she interned at UBS and
was offered a position at Morgan Stanley. She
is currently the regional director of Foundations
for Education, a program for underprivileged
children in Palo Alto.
LES TALUSAN is a noted DJ, photographer,
and musician. She’s performed widely
throughout the U.S. and Manila since 1996.
She also runs the design line Les & Oscar
[formerly Space Weather] with her husband
Oscar Olmedo, making creatively unique clothing
and accessories. She’s taken part in various
grassroots initiatives and activist projects and
also provides interpreting services throughout
25
DC Cast & Crew Bios
the area. She lives in Washington, D.C. and is
the mother to Simon, who is her heart.
LUCILLE GONZALEZ is a hospital
administrator who has had no prior theatrical
experience but is thrilled to help with V-Day and
honored to be a part of FWN’s 2009 production
of “The Vagina Monologues.”
MARIANNE CELCE THOMAS is a 3rd grader
at the Riverdale Elementary School who loves
to sing and dance. A figure skater, she has also
taken up modeling at the John Robert Powers
Center in Rockville. The daughter of Marilyn
and Edwin Thomas, she is thrilled to perform at
the Kennedy Center and be part of “The Vagina
Monologues.”
MARLYN T. AGUILAR, Esq. acquired her B.A.,
M.P.H., and J.D. from the University of Hawaii at
Manoa. Born and raised in Guam, she is a 2006
Presidential Management Fellow. She currently
works as an attorney for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. Fluent in Ilocano, she enjoys
traveling, yoga, and people watching. She is
excited to be a part of the FWN D.C. V-Day team.
MEGGIE G. PLEYTO is the marketing partner,
accounts manager, and interior designer of Sison
Homes-Sison Group, LLC-ReMax Allegiance. A
Communications graduate from the University
of the Philippines, Meggie has done workshops
with PETA-MTTL, an internship with ABS-CBN
and went on a World Tour as member of the
UP Concert Chorus. She is very much involved
in Fil-Am groups in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
She regularly performs with and conducts Fil-Am
Choirs in the Greater Washington, D.C. area.
MELANIE ANNE CAOILE is director for the
Consumer and On-Line Group, Microsoft. She
holds a bachelor’s degree in management
from Boston College and an M.B.A. from the
University of Rochester, New York. She is a
board member of Filipinos at Microsoft and
Wider Opportunties for Women. She is an
avid golfer, skier, world traveler, and enjoys the
challenges of scuba diving, mountain climbing,
parachuting and hang gliding.
MELISSA TOPACIO LONG is a graduate of
Lewis and Clark College, has a degree in English,
speaks French fluently and is learning Spanish.
She spent a year teaching English in France
and many summers leading student immersion
trips in France. She served as Youth and
Asian American and Pacific Islander Outreach
Director for the Washington State Democratic
Coordinated Campaign in this past election.
She was coordinator of the DNC’s Internship
program, where she recruited, interviewed,
and managed up to 54 interns. She traveled
extensively in the past political cycle supervising
volunteers in managing thousands of people
who were engaged in voter mobilization. She is
passionate about women’s rights, and loves the
theatre and traveling.
26
MICHELLE LORICA is currently a New York City
WasHiNg
teaching fellow, teaching high school biology to
underprivileged teens in Brooklyn. A graduate of
Georgetown, with a degree in biology, science,
technology, and international affairs, Michelle
is also a dancer and an accomplished singer.
Although she is passionate about her acting as
a thespian at the Holton Arms and at the Mask
and Bauble Society of Georgetown, she has
had to set it aside for now. She has performed NAOMI TACUYAN- NINA NGUYEN LAGAC NINOTCHKA ROSCA REGINE BISCOE LEE
UNDERWOOD Marketing Director, Author; Member, Associate,
several times at the Kennedy Center, with Julie Deputy Director, Office Systems of Mariposa Alliance, NVG, LLC
Andrews, Yolanda Adams, among others, and as APIAVote Connecticut Gabriela Network USA
a soloist, as part of a coalition of Georgetown
Choirs. This is her first time to be a part of “The
Vagina Monologues.”
NAOMI T. TACUYAN UNDERWOOD is a
Filipina who calls two places home — San
Leonardo, Nueva Ecija and the U.S. island
territory of Guam. She is currently APIA Vote’s
deputy director, managing media and partner
communications and assisting in field and SONIA SORIANO, m.d. TESSIE MARFORI VERNA SAMSON WILMA CONSUL
training programs. Naomi recently obtained Retired Physician, Consultant, Office Manager, Producer,
her MPP at the UCLA School of Public Affairs; passion for dance World Bank International Monetary National Public Radio
she graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. Fund (IMF)
in Print Journalism and Asian/Pacific/American
Studies from NYU. Naomi remains committed
to empowering AAPI communities through
her involvement in AAPI organizations at the
national and local levels. She credits her Nanay
Miren (lola) and her mother Ruth for giving
her the deep roots of home and family and the
powerful wings of possibilities, and her husband
Ricardo for his steadfast love and support.
Backstage Manager Graphic Designer Executive Producer Production Manager
NINOTCHKA ROSCA is a Filipina feminist, CALVIN MATA DEANNA PINEDA ELENA MANGAHAS FRANKLIN RICARTE
author, journalist and human rights activist Executive Producer, President, Muse Chair, Strategic Planning
who is active in Gabriela Network USA, a Club Promotions by Advertising Design Little Manila Foundation Consultant
member of the Mariposa Alliance (Ma-Al), Calvin M
a multi-racial, multi-ethnic women’s activist
center for understanding the intersectionality
of class, race and gender oppressions, toward
a more comprehensive practice of women’s
liberation. Rosca is the author of short stories,
novels, and non-fiction work. [One of her stories
was listed by Raymond Carver in the 1986 Best
100 Short Stories in the United States; another
in the Missouri Review collection of their Best
Published Stories in 25 Years while a third was
included in the Ms. Magazine’s “Best Fiction in
30 Years”.] Twice Blessed, the second novel,
won her the 1993 American Book Award for
excellence in literature.
Régine Biscoe Lee is an associate at NVG,
LLC – a political consulting firm in Washington,
D.C. Régine is a graduate of the University of
Washington in Seattle and a native of the island
of Guam. Régine continues to be involved in
the APIA community through various local and
national organizations. She lives in Falls Church,
Virginia with her husband, Andy and their
daughter, Mia Isabella.
ROBERT E.A. BORJE is the Cultural Consul
at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC.
Prior to joining the foreign service, he has been
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g
gtoN, DC WASHINGTON, D.C.
an advocate for violence against women as a
correspondent and producer for TV Patrol Manila
and ANC. He was recently conferred the Orden
cross-cultural communications from the University
of Hawaii and an M.A. in public communication
from American University in Washington, D.C. She
ng Lakandula, Ranggong Pinuno by President is married to attorney Danny Aranza and is the
GMA and Ranggong Kasugo by DFA Secretary proud mother of Aaron, age ten.
Albert Romulo for his contributions to Philippine
foreign relations. SONIA SORIANO, M.D. — a retired physician
who now finds all the time to pursue a lifetime
ROZITA VILLANUEVA LEE is producer of passion in dance, be it ballroom, ballet or
Polynesian Shows and has been performing Broadway jazz — is here to prove that it is never
as mistress of ceremonies and singer on the too late to learn something new and perhaps
ROBERT A. BORJE ROZITA VILLANUEVA LEE SOLITA WAKEFIELD SONIA ARANZA
Las Vegas Strip for the Imperial Palace Hotel even master it. “Sometimes, we have to go
Third Secretary and National Vice Chair, Senior Research Officer, President / CEO, Hawaiian Luau for the past 17 years. At the beyond our comfort zone”. Her only theater
Vice Consul, NaFFAA International Monetary Aranza Communications Capitol, both in Nevada and Washington, experience was in a high school plays and she
Philippine Embassy Fund (IMF) D.C., she is a known advocate for the Asian remembers loving the interaction between the
and Pacific Islander Americans and especially audience and the actors. She dedicates tonight’s
for the Filipino World War II Veterans. Most venture to her three grandsons, whose birth she
recently Rozita visited the State Legislature to was most privileged to have witnessed, and to
advocate for the Arts Council. Honored by the her husband, Dr. Cesar Soriano, who has always
Who’s Who Filipina Women’s Network as one of the 100 been most supportive of her.
in the Crew Most Influential Filipinas in the U.S., she serves
as either officer or board member on various TERESALINA GABRIEL MARFORI , or Tessie,
APIA Organizations and currently serves as the recently retired from the World Bank and now
national vice chair of the National Federation of serves as a consultant. Long-time resident of
Art Director Stage Manager Producer Filipino American Associations. Virginia, she is very active in the community and
AL S. PEREZ ARMAND RIVERA BAMBI LORICA, m.d. travels extensively. She is the proud mother of
President, Executive Producer, Holistic Pediatrician,
AR Productions SOLITA WAKEFIELD has been with the IMF two grown sons.
Filipino American Physician Entrepreneur;
Arts Exposition Coloratura Soprano since 1991 and is currently a Senior Research
Officer. Outside her busy and hectic work life, VERNA SAMSON was born and raised in the
she is president of the 700-member World Bank Philippines. She came to the United States in
Group IMF Filipino Staff Association (WBIFA). 1972 after a two-month European/USA tour
She is also on the Board of Feed the Hungry, Inc. with the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company.
Solita enjoys traveling and recalls her last stint She later enrolled at Strayer College, and upon
on stage with pleasure — Ladies Lunch directed graduation, landed a job at the International
by Reme Grefalda. Monetary Fund. She worked at the IMF for 34
years and is now in the process of retiring. She
SONIA ARANZA is an award-winning master and her husband, Butch, have been married
Producer Director Executive Producer Director facilitator and keynote speaker specializing in for 33 years and have been blessed with three
GLORIA T. CAOILE KEN MARQUIS MARILY MONDEJAR NINA NGUYEN LAGAC cross-cultural communications, diversity and children and now have four grandsons.
Senior Political Director, Team Manager, President, Filipina Marketing Director, leadership. She previously served as director
Asian Pacific American George P. Johnson Women’s Network Office Systems of of constituent relations for Congressman WILMA B. CONSUL directed and performed
Labor Alliance (APALA) Company Connecticut
Abercrombie on Capitol Hill. She has been recently in Rolling the R’s at Source Theatre. She
featured on the cover of Filipinas Magazine and is dances and teaches hula at Halau O ‘Aulani in
one of FWN’s 100 Most Influential Filipina Women Arlington. She’ll play Hannah in The Conversion
in the United States. The National Association of Ka’ahumanu at the National Museum of
of Professional Asian-American Women selected American Indian in May. She trained with TnT/
her 2002 Outstanding Woman of the Year and Teatro ng Tanan in SF, where she later became
she is featured in a book entitled Blueprint for artistic director. She moved to D.C. in 1999 to
Success with author Stephen Covey. She earned produce and report for National Public Radio.
two master’s degrees including an M.A. in

galler y warehouse
965 Natoma Street 1465 Custer Avenue
San Francisco CA 94103 (at Third Street)
tel 415 255-4579 San Francisco CA 94110
fax 415 255-0453 tel 415 642-1056

o f f h o u r a p p o i n t m e n t s a v a i l a b l e

ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE 27

 05|02
THE VAGINA
MONOLOGUES
7:30 pm
HERBST THEATRE
The Vagina Monologues is
a celebration of female sexu-
ality in all its complexity and
mystery. Based on interviews
with over 200 women about
their memories and experi-
ences of sexuality, The Va-
gina Monologues gives voice to
women’s deepest fantasies and
fears, guaranteeing that no one
who reads it will ever look at a
woman’s body, or think of sex,
in quite the same way again.
“At first women were reluctant
to talk,” Ensler writes. “They
were a little shy. But once they
got going, you couldn’t stop
them.” The Vagina Monologues
has now been translated into
over 24 different languages.
s a n fran c isc o
05|09
THE VAGINA
MONOLOGUES
7:30 pm
INTRAMUROS
WRI T E R S & TAGA L OG
T RANS L AT I ON V- T E A M
Bernardo Bernardo
Bettina Santos Yap
Byumi Gonzales
Charmaine Mesina
Edna Murray
Elena Mangahas
Elson Mondalbo
Jei Africa
Joy San Andreas
Kathleen Ben
Leah Laxamana
Rita Asilo
Sarah Jane Ilumin
Teresa Opaon Thompson
Tessie Zaragoza
28
Part One INTRO – THE FLOOD HANDPRINTS INTRO – RECLAIMING CUNT
Siwaraya Rochanahusdin (Men against violence) Heather Law
David Chiu, David Rodriguez,
FOREPLAY THE FLOOD Elena Mangahas RECLAIMING CUNT
Fiona Ma Rachael Domingo, Rosie Josue
BLESSING DANCE INTRO – MY VAGINA WAS
Evelie Delfino Sales Posch THE VAGINA WORKSHOP MY VILLAGE INTRO – THE WOMAN
with: Rachael Domingo, Rosie Josue, Heather Law WHO LOVED TO MAKE
Aharon Wheels-Bolsa, Barbara Lynn Caliguiran VAGINAS HAPPY
Framm, Claudine Tong, Edo Amin, MY VAGINA WAS MY VILLAGE Rachael Domingo
Edwin D. Såles, Eric Bobrow, Eve VAGINA HAPPY FACT Jennifer Ong, Stacey Hoang
Lindi, Evelyn Luluquisen, Dave Gladys Dodds THE WOMAN WHO LOVED TO
Wedding Dress, Greta Fletcher, LULLABY – MAKE VAGINAS HAPPY
James Bianchi, Kerry Parker, INTRO – BECAUSE HE LIKED ILI-ILI, TULOG ANAY* Helen Zia, Lia Shigemura
Kimberly Theurich, Le’ema TO LOOK AT IT Bambi Lorica, m.d. with:
Graham, Melissa Hernandez, Miko Lynn Caliguiran Siwaraya Rochanahusdin, Hydra
Nkungula, Phoebe Ackley, Riki INTRO – THE LITTLE COOCHI Mendoza, Heather Law, Lynn
Juster, Sharon Maser Danaceau, BECAUSE HE LIKED TO SNORCHER THAT COULD Caliguiran, Jaja Bolivar, Christine
Spiraleen Mason, Susan Levin, LOOK AT IT Sheila Chung Hagen Marie Tayaba, Rosie Josue, Sheila
Swami Isananda, Vladimir Emily Moto Murase Chung Hagen, Gladys Dodds
Cardema and “The Vagina THE LITTLE COOCHI SNORCHER
Monologues” Alumni NOT-SO-HAPPY FACT THAT COULD INTRO – I WAS THERE
Gladys Dodds Tricia Maristela, Heather Law, IN THE ROOM
WELCOME Christine Marie Tayaba Fiona Ma
Marily Mondejar, Elena Mangahas INTRO – CROOKED BRAID
Christine Marie Tayaba INTRO – SAY IT (FOR THE I WAS THERE IN THE ROOM
INTRODUCTION COMFORT WOMEN) Tricia Maristela, Mayette Almazan
Christine Marie Tayaba, Gladys CROOKED BRAID Sheila Chung Hagen
Dodds, Jaja Bolivar, Lynn Rosie Josue, Channy Ith, Genevieve FILIPINO LULLABY –
Caliguiran, Rachael Domingo, Jopanda, Rachael Domingo, Sheila SAY IT (FOR THE COMFORT SA UGOY NY DUYAN**
Rosie Josue, Tricia Maristela, Chung Hagen, Jaja Bolivar WOMEN) Bambi Lorica, m.d.
Channy Ith Jan Yanehiro, Siwaraya
EXTRO – CROOKED BRAID Rochanahusdin 2009 spotlight
INTRO – HAIR Genevieve Jopanda INTRODUCTION
Genevieve Jopanda FILM CLIP ON COMFORT Mitos Santisteban
MY ANGRY VAGINA WOMEN
HAIR Jane Kim, Hydra Mendoza 2009 spotlight
Mitos Santisteban EXTRO – UPDATE ON monologue: Baptized
Intermission Jan Yanehiro
COMFORT WOMEN SURVIVORS
WEAR AND SAY Elena Mangahas
Christine Marie Tayaba, Jaja SPEAK OUT
Bolivar, Channy Ith, Gladys Dodds, OUTRAGEOUS VAGINA FACT: Marily Mondejar
Tricia Maristela THE VIBRATOR
Gladys Dodds CURTAIN CALL
Part One
FOREPLAY
The Vagina Workshop
Sonia Delen, Rae Almajose,
Rachael Domingo
The Little Coochi Snorcher
That Could
Nina Nguyen Lagac,
Jo-Ann Agcaoili, Rachael Domingo,
The Woman Who Loved to
Make Vaginas Happy
Genevieve Jopanda, Jaja Bolivar,
Rachael Domingo, Tricia Maristela,
Vagina Happy Fact Kai Delen-Briones Jo-Ann Agcaoili, Nina Nguyen
Welcome Tricia Maristela Lagac
Marily Mondejar, Elena Mangahas Intro – Say It (For the
Comfort Women) Intro – I Was There
Intro – Because He Liked
Rae Almajose in the Room
Introduction to Look at It
Rae Almajose, Gladys Dodds, Gladys Dodds Rae Almajose
Jaja Bolivar, Rachael Domingo, Say It (For the Comfort
Tricia Maristela, Sonia Delen, Because He Liked to Women) I Was There in the Room
Jo-Ann Agcaoili, Nina Nguyen Look at It Jaja Bolivar Sonia Delen, Mayette Almazan,
Tricia Maristela Gladys Dodds, Valerie de Leon
Lagac, Genevieve Jopanda, Jaja Bolivar
Elena Mangahas
Not-So-Happy Fact Film Clip on Comfort 2009 spotlight
Intro – Hair Tricia Maristela Women INTRODUCTION
Nina Nguyen Lagac
My Angry Vagina EXTRO – UPDATE ON 2009 spotlight
Hair Jo-Ann Agcaoili, COMFORT WOMEN SURVIVORS monologue: Baptized
Gladys Dodds Nina Nguyen Lagac Helen Marte
SPEAK OUT
WEAR AND SAY Intro – My Vagina Was Outrageous Vagina Fact: Marily Mondejar
Rae Almajose, Gladys Dodds, My Village The Vibrator
Jaja Bolivar, Rachael Domingo, Rachael Domingo Trica Maristela Curtain Call
Tricia Maristela, Sonia Delen,
Jo-Ann Agcaoili, Nina Nguyen My Vagina Was My Village Intro – Reclaiming Cunt
Lagac, Genevieve Jopanda Jennifer Ong, Gladys Dodds, Jo-Ann Agcaoili
Valerie de Leon
Intro – The Flood Reclaiming Cunt
Rachael Domingo, Sonia Delen *Text: “Ili-Ili, Now Go To Sleep”
Helen Marte Intro – The Little Coochi
Snorcher That Could (Cebuano). P. Magdamo, Arranger
The Flood Sonia Delen Intro – The Woman
Genevieve Jopanda Who Loved to Make ** Text: “From The Cradle”
Vaginas Happy (Tagalog). Lucio San Pedro,
Gladys Dodds Composer; Levi Celerio (Lyrics)
> Casting for ALL shows are subject to change
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g
 san fra nc
SF Cast i sBios
& Crew co
0 9
ARLENE “BAMBI” A. LORICA, MD – Please FRANKLIN M. RICARTE’s name originates
Who’s Who see her bio in the Washington, D.C. section. from President Roosevelt. The motto he lives by
in the Cast is “no day but today.” His least favorite thing to
AL PEREZ is the founder of Creative i Studio, do is to swim in the ocean. His legacy is to live a
which specializes in translating marketing life without regret.
objectives into creative strategies. He is an
ARLENE “BAMBI” LORICA
award-winning graphic designer, producing Elena Mangahas is a Journalism graduate
Holistic Physical marketing programs from Fortune 500 to of the University of the Philippines where she
Pediatrician, Entrepreneur start-up companies. Al is excited to be a part was also active in theatre production with
of “The Vagina Monologues” journey for the the University of the Philippines Repertory
sixth year as its art director. Company. From campus theatre she moved
into independent theatre productions until her
Channy Ith has lived in the Bay Area for immigration to the U.S. She settled in Stockton
about two years. Her last production before and continued theatre work leading to her V-Day
moving to the Bay was the lead role in “The involvement in 2004 to this day. Social service
Love of Three Oranges” at her junior college. is her day job and Elena serves as chair of Little
She is an experienced pianist as well as an Manila Foundation for historic preservation of
experienced student performer at San Francisco Filipino American history in America and the
State University. Filipina Women’s Network’s Board of Directors.
Elena was selected 100 Most Influential Filipina
CHANNY ITH CHRISTINE MARIE TAYABA Dave Rodriguez ELENA B. MANGAHAS Christine Tayaba is a Cardiovascular Women in the U.S. by the Filipina Women’s
Student, Theatre Cardiovascular Sales Realtor, Pacific Realty Chair, Sales Specialist with Abbott Laboratories. Network in 2007 and awarded Woman of the
San Francisco State Specialist and Investment Corp. Filipina Women’s Network
University Abbott Laboratories She is a board member of the Young Filipino Year for 2009 by the California Legislative
Professionals Association. Christine volunteers at Women’s Caucus.
the Animal Care Control of San Francisco and at
various community-based organizations through Dr. EMILY MOTO MURASE has served as
HandsOn Bay Area. Executive Director of the Department on the
Status of Women since 2004. Prior to her current
Connie Zheng is a writer living in San work, Emily served in the first Clinton White
Francisco. Her works have been published in House as Director for International Economic
AsianWeek and Hyphen. She received her B.A. Affairs, and later served in the International
from the University of California, Davis. Connie Bureau of the Federal Communications
has lived abroad in Japan, England, and China. Commission. Active in her community, Emily is
EMILY MOTO MURASE EVELIE DELFINO SALES FIONA MA GENEVIEVE V. JOPANDA She has taught English in Shanghai at a school a Founding Sister of the Asian Pacific American
Executive Director Artist, Writer, Singer Assemblywoman Events Coordinator for migrant children and recorded the English Women’s Leadership Institute. She currently
San Francisco Department and more (District 12) Palo Alto Chamber of audio guide to the Museum of Soong Ching Ling serves on the Parent Teacher Community Council
Commission on the Commerce in Shanghai. Her website: chasinggodot.com. of the Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program
Status of Women at Rosa Parks Elementary School. She is also
DAVE RODRIGUEZ It took a while for Dave a member of the Lowell High School Alumni
Rodriguez to search for his passion in life, but Association Board of Directors.
when he found it, there was no turning back.
Born and raised in the Philippines, an engineer Evelie Delfino Såles Posch is a multi-
by profession (Mapua Institute of Technology, talented, multi-faceted sacred song singer/
Manila; Computer Science, California State writer, recording artist, drummer, dancer, Pranic
University at Sacramento), a businessman by healer and practitioner, choral director, storyteller,
occupation (EcoCyber Systems Technologies), educator, scholar, and magical activist whose
Dave’s passion falls under the field of performing talents have flourished for over four decades,
GLADYS DODDS HEATHER LAW HELEN MARTE HELEN ZIA arts. It may sound like a crazy combination but spanning the traditions of her ancestors and the
Managing Associate Research Associate Educator Journalist, Author, Activist rest assured – he knows exactly what he wants. progressive edge of ceremony, world music and
Partners in Business Association of Asian San Francisco United
Systems Pacific Community Health School District dance today. She performs, directs, or conducts
Organizations DON C. SANTOS is a retail fragrance specialist, with numerous musical groups, including the
hair stylist, and make-up artist. In the Philippines, Mahal Ensemble and Kistmat-Mahal Kirtan
he followed his two passions to earn a BSBA in Ensemble. She teaches classes in women’s
Business Management and Cosmetology, which spirituality. Evelie founded the Babaylan
led to a variety of beauty-related ventures. Now, Emerging: Apprenticeship and Mentoring
that he’s in the U.S., he continues working in his Program. Evelie511@gmail.com
chosen fields as a retail fragrance specialist for
high-end brands and as a freelance hair stylist Fiona Ma is the Assemblywoman of
and make-up artist. Don additionally studied California’s 12th District. The district includes
for and received his diploma in Cosmetology San Francisco, Daly City, Colma and Broadmoor.
here in the U.S. This year’s production of the Ma, as the Majority Whip, is responsible for
Hydra Mendoza JAJA BOLIVAR JAN YANEHIRO JANE KIM
Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Television Host, Singer President, Vice President, “The Vagina Monologues” in San Francisco ensuring the passage of crucial legislation to
Education Advisor, Jan Yanehiro Inc. San Francisco marks Don’s fifth year of support for FWN’s improve public education, expand healthcare
Commissioner, Board of Education important work. access and protect our environment. At the
SF Board of Education start of her second term, Ma was appointed
to key committees including Higher Education,

ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE 29

SF Cast & Crew Bios
Revenue and Taxation, Housing,
Agriculture, Labor, and Public Safety. Ma
serves as the Chair of the Assembly Select
Committee on Domestic Violence where
she has worked on legislation to protect
victims of domestic violence. From 2002
to 2006, she served as a member of the
San Francisco Board of supervisors.
GENEVIEVE JOPANDA is the events
coordinator for the Palo Alto Chamber
of Commerce, with previous experience
with companies like Zipcar, Hertz and the
San Francisco Chronicle. Gen is currently
the President of the Young Filipino
Professionals Association, a member
of the San Francisco-Manila Sister City
Committee, a member of the Filipino
American Political Action Committee and
founding member of Citizen Hope. She
works with the annual Filipino American
Arts Exposition and Pistahan as its talent
coordinator and executive producer for
the Sine! Sine! Film Festival.
Gladys Dodds is Resource Manager
with a consulting firm. A mother of two
strong-minded children, she spends
most of her days managing their days.
When she is allowed out of the house,
she dabbles in writing, salsa and samba
dancing. With no prior theater experience,
Gladys is honored to be involved in V-Day.
She hopes her mother, Helen, now an
angel in heaven, is proud of her. Gladys’
participation is in honor of her mother’s
memory and strength.
HEATHER LAW , a native of Hawaii, is
thrilled to be joining FWN’s production
of “The Vagina Monologues.” Heather is
a public health researcher and activist.
The majority of her work has focused on
violence among women and children.
She also studied acting at Tufts University
in Boston. In her free time, she enjoys
random artistic endeavors such as
burlesque theater, dancing hula, and
capoeira.
HELEN MARTE is an educator at the
San Francisco Unified School District and
was involved with FWN’s “The Vagina
Monologues” in 2008.
Helen Zia is an award-winning veteran
journalist and Fulbright Scholar. She is
the author of “Asian American Dreams:
The Emergence of an American People,”
and co-author of “My Country Versus
Me,” about the persecution of Wen Ho
Lee, who was falsely accused of being
a spy for the PRC. She is a Contributing
Editor to “Ms. Magazine,” where she
was formerly Executive Editor. Her work
has appeared in numerous publications,
broadcasts, and documentaries. A second
generation Chinese American, she has
been outspoken on social justice issues
ranging from human rights and peace
to women’s rights and countering hate
violence and homophobia. She serves on
the board of directors of the Women’s
Media Center and was one of 79 people
in North America who carried the Olympic
Torch in San Francisco. She has been
married 3 times to Lia Shigemura and
knows that, one day, same sex couples
and all relationships will be treated
as equals.
Hydra Mendoza is the commissioner
of the San Francisco Board of Education,
the first Filipina American to be elected
to the San Francisco Board of Education.
She is also Education Advisor for San
Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Before
being appointed to her position in
the summer of 2005, Hydra served as
Executive Director of Parents for Public
Schools. Hydra has a background in
Business Administration as well as early
Childhood Development. Hydra resides
in San Francisco with her husband, Dr.
Ricardo Alvarez, and two children, Ashoka
and Santiago Alvarez.
Jaja Bolivar is a comedienne, singer
and a television host of Adobo Nation,
The Filipino Channel’s premier lifestyle
magazine show which airs globally every
Sunday at 6:40 pm on TFC and every
Saturday at 11am on KTSF. She dreams of
a utopian society where people drink milk
tea boba all day!
Jan I. Yanehiro is the president of
Jan Yanehiro, Inc., a media and marketing
strategic planning firm. She spent
fourteen years as co-host of KPIX TV’s
“Evening Magazine” program and has
been active in entrepreneurial pursuits,
including being a founding partner of
Fair Advantage, which provides college
and career guidance seminars for young
women; and as a founding partner of
Thriving Together, a business that seeks
to inspire women in business, transition,
family and finance. She received her
degree in Journalism from the California
State University, Fresno, and has
co-authored two books.
Jane Kim is currently Vice-President
of the Board of Education in the City
and County of San Francisco. She is the
first Korean American elected in San
Francisco. Before being elected to the
Board of Education as the top vote-getter
in November 2006, Jane was the Youth
Program Director at the Chinatown
Community Development Center and
a fellow at Greenlining Institute. She
is also a co-director and co-founder of
Locus Arts, a volunteer-run venue in
San Francisco that showcases emerging
musicians, writers, filmmakers and actors.
Jane is the past President of the San
Francisco People’s Organization and a
past Board member of the Asian American
Theater Company and the Stanford Asian
Pacific American Alumni Club. Outside of
work, Jane has a black belt in Tae Kwon
Do and plays bass guitar. She completed
her undergraduate degree at Stanford
University in Political Science and Asian
American Studies.
JENNIFER ONG, o.d. has been
practicing optometry in the East Bay
area for more than 10 years and is a
trustee of the California Optometric
Association. In addition to her role in
optometry, Dr. Ong has been a very
active member of the community. She
has volunteered for organizations such
as Habitat for Humanity, the Hidden Villa
Nature Conservation and British Trust for
Conservation Volunteers. She has also
been an Earthwatch volunteer research
assistant, taking her to Australia, Costa
Rica and Merida, Mexico.
JO-ANN AGCAOILI was born and
raised in the Philippines. She graduated
from San Francisco State University BA
Psychology. Jo-Ann is the Assistant Vice
President for Business Support at Banc of
America Leasing. She has supported and
volunteered in past productions of FWN
since 2004 and believes in V-Day and
FWN to prevent and stop violence against
women and girls
Kai Delen-Briones Kai is one of the
original cast members of the 2004 FWN
“The Vagina Monologues.” She is also
the producer of the Pistahan Festival and
an active volunteer for Richmond Aids
Foundation and Avon Walk for Breast
Cancer. She is thrilled to be part of this
amazing production 6 years running.
KEN MARQUIS was a child actor
with credits including “The Waltons”
and “The Addams Family Halloween
Reunion.” More recently, Ken’s
behind the scenes producing/directing
activities include theatrical plays &
pageants, television (live and pre-taped)
production, and outdoor cultural/music
festivals. Credits include “The Vagina
Monologues” (stage), Ginoong Pilipinas
(stage), Flawless de Mayo (stage),
The Journey: Stephanie Reese (stage),
MSNBC’s “The Site” hosted by Soledad
O’Brien (national TV), “Digital Cam
Film Festival” (national TV), “TechTV’s
HDTV Special” (national TV), “The
Screen Savers” (national TV), DARPA
Urban Challenge (corp TV), Pistahan
Main Stage (festival), and the SF Giants
Filipino Heritage Night (festival). Ken
lives happily ever after in San Francisco
with Al Perez, his partner of 19 years.
Lia Shigemura has worked in the
field of civil rights, diversity and inclusion
for many years in the public, private and
non-profit sectors. Lia, who has been
active in the fight to secure domestic
partner benefits in corporate America,
current leads diversity efforts for ABM
Industries, Inc., a national facility services
company with over 110,000 employees.
She served as National Program Director
with the Japanese American Citizens
League, was on the founding Board of
the Asian Women’s Shelter; was board
chair of the API Wellness Center and
for Horizon’s Foundation, which both
serve San Francisco’s LGBT communities.
A third-generation Japanese American
from Hawai’i, her father, a retired state
judge, flew from Honolulu to officiate
her first wedding ceremony to Helen Zia
in 2004 when he was 87 years old, and
noted then that “judges sometimes make
mistakes.” Lia -– who has never acted
before – hopes the California Supreme
Court does the right thing and upholds
the Constitution by striking down Prop. 8.
LYNN CALIGUIRAN is a Program
Manager in Sales Acquisition Integration
at a network communications equipment
company, and an Operations Consultant
for Owen Photographie. Lynn is a first-
generation American-born Filipina that is
exploring her ethnic heritage. She hopes
her involvement in this production will help
raise awareness and convey the message to
end the violence against women.
MARILY MONDEJAR is president of
Filipina Women’s Network. Under her
leadership, the fledgling organization
operating ad hoc since 1996 grew from
50 members in 2002, to over 5,200 list
members today. She initiated the Filipinas
Against Violence campaign in 2004 to
raise awareness of the domestic violence
problem in the Filipino community. She
serves on nonprofit boards including
the City of San Francisco’s Justice and
Courage Oversight Panel. She was
recently appointed by Mayor Gavin
Newsom to the Sweatfree Procurement
Advisory Group, which evaluates the
city’s implementation, administration, and
enforcement of the Sweatfree Contracting
Ordinance. She’s the co-chair of the San
Francisco Friends of the Commission
on the Status of Women. Marily is an
organizational change practitioner, image
consultant and career coach. She’s proud
of her two wonderful boys and three
grandsons.
MAYETTE ALMAZAN,m.d. is author
of “Bipolar Spectrum Disorder: Fighting a
Disease with a Thousand Faces.” She has
over 20 years of outpatient and 15 years
of inpatient psychiatry practice in private,
public, state hospital sector. Currently,
Dr. Almazan maintains a fulltime private
outpatient eclectic psychiatry practice
where she is the President, CEO of
Specialty Center Inc. in Fair Oaks, California.
Mitos Santisteban is President of
ABS CBN Foundation, with over 25 years
of philanthropy and community outreach
expertise. Appointed as President and
CEO in 2006, Mitos has been involved
with the foundation since 1998. Since her
arrival in the United States as a political
exile from her native Philippines in 1979,
Mitos has played a strong role in the
Filipino-American community. She was
chairperson of the Northern California
Movement for a Free Philippines,
supporter of Filipino Catholic Affairs,
as well as a member of the San Mateo
County Commission on Mental Health.
Together with husband, Joseling, Mitos
lends her leadership and organization
skills to social, civic and youth services
via the St. Andrew’s Parish in Daly City,
Calif. Mitos helps members of the Bay
Area business community by facilitating
seminars on the Philippines and Filipino
culture to companies interested in doing
business there.
NINA NGUYEN LAGAC , a refugee
from the Vietnam War, was raised
Buddhilic in historical and brave Cavite.
True to her Caviteño and Saigon roots,
she comes from a long line of strong
women, and she consistently stands for
what she believes in. She has been a
staunch advocate of the plight of women,
children and the environment. A theater
enthusiast, she loves expressing herself
through the arts. She is currently the
marketing director for Office Systems
of Connecticut, based in Hartford. Nina
is the youngest daughter of U.S. Army
Philippine Scout Veteran Philip and
pho-bulous Mai. She is also a proud mom
to two-year-old shih-tzu named Joey.
RACHAEL DOMINGO is a young
Filipina-Spanish American looking to
make a difference in the world in as many
ways as possible. She is a law student
at the University of California, Davis and
has various interests, including riding
motorcycles, doing hair and make-up,
dancing, talking, and – her favorite –
spending time with the people she loves.
RAE ALMAJOSE is an ad layout clerk
at the San Francisco Chronicle. She
graduated from the University of
San Francisco.

30 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. Fi l i l p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g

san francisco san francisco

JENNIFER ONG Jo-Ann Agcaoili KAI DELEN-BRIONES LIA SHIGEMURA LYNN CALIGUIRAN MAYETTE ALMAZAN MITOS SANTISTEBAN
Optometrist, Assistant Vice President, Student Diversity Director, Program Manager, President and CEO, President,
Family Eye Care Bank of America ABM Industries Cisco Systems Inc. Specialty Center Inc. ABS CBN Foundation

NINA NGUYEN LAGAC RACHAEL DOMINGO RAE ALMAJOSE ROSIE JOSUE SHEILA CHUNG HAGEN SIWARAYA Sonia Delen
Marketing Director, Dispatcher, CHP; Ad Layout Clerk, Theatre Actress; Legislative Aide, ROCHANAHUSDIN Senior Vice President,
Office Systems of Marketing Assistant, San Francisco Chronicle SFSU Student Supervisor David Campos Community Organizer, Banc of America Leasing
Connecticut eRepublic City and County of Save the Thai Temple
San Francisco

Who’s Who
in the Crew

STACEY HOANG TRICIA MARISTELA VALERIE DE LEON Art Director Sr. Graphic Designer Graphic Designer
Development and Board Member, Dentist, AL PEREZ ALBERIC RIVERA CARRIE DOUNG
Marketing Officer, Healthy Ways Millbrae Smile Center Principal, Graphic Designer Student,
Eden I&R Creative i Studio San Francisco State
University

Production Assistant V-Diaries Editor Production Assistant Hair & Makeup Artistry Executive Producer Playwright Production Manager
CHRIS PARADO CONNIE ZHENG DON CAN DON SANTOS ELENA MANGAHAS EVE ENSLER FRANKLIN RICARTE
Writer Retail Fragrance Specialist, Chair, Founder, Strategic Planning
Hair Stylist, Make-Up Artist Filipina Women’s Network V-DAY Consultant

Photographer Production Assistant Director Director Executive Producer Production Coordinator Photographer
GARY CRUZ GENEVIEVE DWYER GENEVIEVE JOPANDA KEN MARQUIS MARILY MONDEJAR Senior Vice President, TJ SIMBULAN
Principal, President, Events Coordinator, Team Manager, President, Banc of America Leasing Special Education Teacher
Amaze Studios Genevies Corporation Palo Alto Chamber of George P. Johnson Filipina Women’s Network
Commerce

ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE 31

 C O N O C I MIENT O
WHAT DOES YOUR
NAME MEAN?
Sun Goddess.
Flower.
Beheaded French queen.
St. Catherine.
Honeybee.
Jesus in Hebrew.
Star of the sea.
A French Catholic saint.
PERSONAL MOTTO
There’s nothing you can’t
recover from, so just do it.
Live life to the fullest –
you never know when it’s
your last day.
Embrace the invincible
resilience within you.
Let it flow.
Live life at a 10.
Do what brings you joy.
Learn to let go.
What doesn’t kill me only
makes me stronger.
Treat others how they want to
be treated.
Think beyond yourself.
Do the best you can with what
you have.
Boyfriends and husbands
come and go, but real friends
last forever.
The more you know, the lesser
you fear.
ADVICE PARENTS SHARED
WITH YOU
Always be your own woman
Funny fixes everything
Don’t expect others to think
and act like you
Always be doing something
creative or you will rot into
the system.
Pray.
ONE THING PEOPLE CAN’T
GUESS ABOUT YOU
I’m half Filipino… and half
Filipina.
I have a big tattoo.
I’m a pianist and I enjoy
playing Bach.
GREATEST FEAR
Failing to learn and grow
from my experiences of pain.
in honor of our late mother
Consuelo T. Delen
On Mother’s Day &
First Year Death Anniversary
August 16, 1915 –May 10, 2008
f o r e v e r i n o u r h e a rt s
Not being able to reach my
full potential as a person.
Losing control and being
a victim again.
Realizing you are just existing
and not leaving.
LEGACY
Legacy is to affect people
in a positive way through
entertainment and to
make them dream and do
something about it!
FILIPINO CUSTOM AND
TRADITION YOU WANT
TO PASS ON
Big parties with lots of
food, family, and friends.
The history of our families,
the struggles, and the stories
to help future generations
understand the foundation
their family is built upon.
Bayanihan.
My parents used to wake us
up as children by tickling us,
waking up early and filling
the home with the aroma of
freshly cooked pancakes every
Saturday.
SF Cast & Crew Bios
ROSIE JOSUE is a performing artist and writer
graduating from SFSU as a double major in
psychology and criminal justice. She an avid
community activist, often times using acting as
a means to illustrate challenging issues while
promoting social awareness. Some of Rosie’s recent
productions include “Troy: The Gates of Hell” at
San Francisco State University and FWN’s “The
Vagina Monologues” in 2008. She is currently
performing in the Diwang Pinay showcase with the
Babae organization and “Turning a Negative into a
Positive” for the Create Social Change organization
SHEILA CHUNG HAGEN is the legislative aide to
Supervisor David Campos of the City and County of
San Francisco. In 2008, the city appointed Sheila as
Immigrant Rights Administrator. Ms. Hagen was the
former Director of the Bay Area Rights Immigrant
Rights Coalition, a non-profit community based
organization.
Siwaraya Rochanahusdin is active in
the Save the Thai Temple collective, battling to
keep the Berkeley based buddhist center from
closure. She was co-organizer of Indie Rock to
the Rescue: Tsunami Benefit for Foundation for
Women and former manager of the spoken word
group Proletariat Bronze. Her play excerpt “Waking
Dreams” has gone up at Asian American Theater
Company, Kearny Street Workshop, and Bindlestiff
Studio. She has co-written for the film Bampinay
and is an alum of the Thai Cultural Center’s dance
and music programs. By day she works at a non-
profit policy and advocacy organization crunching
numbers. She likes hugs and belly laughter.
Sonia T. Delen is Senior Vice President at
Banc of America Leasing, a subsidiary of Bank of
America. She heads the Transaction Management
unit of its Global Investment Bank/Large Corporate
group. Sonia is President of the St. Gabriel School
Board and member of the Board of Directors of
the Philippine International Aid and served on the
Boards of Support for Families of Children with
Disabilities and the Blind Babies Foundation of
San Francisco. She is a member Filipina Women’s
Network (FWN). In 2007, Sonia was selected as
one of FWN’s 100 Most Influential Filipina Women
in the United States. She currently appears on
www.youtube.com FWN 100 channel as part of
FWN’s mentoring series; and was the featured
guest in ABS-CBN’s TV episode of Adobo Nation
“Big Time Ka Na” segment originally aired on
July 19, 2008. Sonia is one of two original cast
members of the FWN productions of “The Vagina
Monologues.” Sonia graduated from the University
of the Philippines, and enjoys golf, traveling,
classical music and flower arranging. She lives
in San Francisco with her husband, Christopher
Fitzsimmons and their three boys: David, Justin and
Matthew.
Stacey Hoang is a Development and Marketing
Officer at Eden I&R, a nonprofit information and
referral services agency based in Alameda County.
Prior to receiving her graduate degree in Public
Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon,
she served two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer
for a provincial and national chamber of commerce
in Mongolia. Born in Vietnam to Chinese parents,
she grew up in Sacramento and currently resides in
San Francisco. She is an avid outdoorswoman and
enjoys hiking.
Tricia Maristela is an inspirational Filipina
who was born and raised in the Bay Area. Her
parents are graduates of the University of the
Philippines. She has been a member of FWN since
2000. She is an active Board Member of Healthy
Ways, a non-profit organization, serving Daly City
and outlying communities. Her expertise in child
development contributed to her success in providing
social services, counseling, and education to
children and families in the Sacramento and Central
Valley. Tricia recently returned to the Bay Area
and continues to participate in local community
organizations.
VALERIE DE LEON received her degree in dental
medicine at the University of the East, College
of Dentistry, Manila, Philippines in 1994 and
graduated with Honors . She also passed the
Philippine Boards as one of the top 20 licensees.
She took her post graduate training at the
University of California Los Angeles and passed
the California boards. She is committed to dental
excellence and is passionate about providing her
patients with the best possible dental experience
she can give them. Valerie has a daughter and two
sons. In her spare time, she enjoys playing the sport
of indoor badminton and her hobby is singing. She
used to sing in a band called The New Minstrels.

With love,
Aqui S. Delen Children
Ester Delen
Sonia Delen & Chris Fitzsimmons
David, Justin & Matthew
Delza Delen-Briones & Hermie Briones
Kai, Katrina & Kimberly

32 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g

 t h e va g i
na mono
Trailblazers from
Day One – I Am An lo g u e s
Asian Am
From left:

No more hiding. I want to bring everything to light so all can heal.

Elena Mangahas,
Sonia Delen and
Speaking erican
Out Aga
Marily Mondejar

inst
keep on truckin’
even through
Violence
bumpy roads.
Because
…
PEBBLE’S RIPPLE EFFECT The success behind FWN’s movement against
continued FROM page 20 domestic violence rests on dedicated individuals
who donate their time, energy, heart, and soul
far too long,
about domestic violence and what we all need year after year, and continues to do so because It has exis ted for
tely no sense
and there is absolu ition of Every single person
to help those who need to get out of abusive they see their work’s impact on countless lives.
situations.” “I continue supporting this group because I tra d
in continuing the
deserves to live y
Now in its sixth year, FWN performances can see the vision materializing,” said Dr. Bambi
eaking
breaking peop le, br
have gone national, spanning the West and East
peacefully and enjo
Lorica who co-produced the Washington D.C.
Coasts in New York and Washington D.C. Its production in 2009. “I want to do my part. I g hope.
lives, and breakin
satisfying, healthy
performances have totaled 21 in number, with have three daughters, and it’s a world I want to
six Tagalog versions of “The Vagina Monologues” change for their future.”
and three “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant,
and a Prayer,” a groundbreaking collection of
“The performances benefit our only Asian
Until we confront it relationships.
we cannot end this ,
domestic violence organization in the D.C.
monologues by world-renowned authors and metropolitan area that serves survivors in
playwrights. For the first time in FWN history, Tagalog and Cebuano and the V-Day global cycle of violence.
the previous all-Filipina show features an all movement. The production has sealed a sense We are not victims.
Asian American cast on May 2 at the Herbst of filial camaraderie in a group of strong leaders We are survivors.
Theatre in San Francisco. A pebble cascading a dedicated to ending violence against women
ripple effect, what started as one performance and girls,” said Nina Lagac who directed the destruction
in 2003 has blossomed into something much Washington D.C. production and was assistant I have witnessed the
man being.
violence does to a hu
bigger. The organization continues spreading director for the New York production in 2008.
its message against domestic violence to new “A kinship exists among the growing alumni
e cycle
audiences, because domestic violence is a plight of our cast and crew members that is inspiring I want to help end th s
so it NEVER ha ppen
that affects all genders, ages, ethnicities and and breathtaking,” said Sonia Delen who has
locations. FWN’s success has inspired many other been involved with the production since it
organizations to follow its model, spurring plans
of spin-offs in Albuquerque, Los Angeles, Seattle,
started in 2004. “A beautiful, unbreakable bond
of love and compassion permeate this ‘family’
to anybody again.
and Los Angeles.
No o ne sho uld b e ne .
that unselfishly contributes to ending domestic
In addition to “The Vagina Monologues” violence against women and children, and I wan t to be
suf fering a lo
productions, FWN also creates an annual individuals as a whole.”
anti-domestic violence publication called the “These little things we do really make a big h appy and I wan t
V-Diaries, a publication that helps victims by
empowering them with the knowledge to get
impact,” Perez said. “Now on our sixth year, to f ind pe ace .
we have reached out to our Asian brothers
out of their domestic violence situations. Perez and sisters. We hope the Filipino model will
recounted an instance of a friend who was in be adopted by Asian communities highlighting
a domestic violence situation but didn’t know the cultural traditions that sometimes serve as I’m a s
ur vivor
what to do. After reading about support groups barriers to resolving violence at home. We want to heal . I’m s
ever y d tr onger
and resources in the V-Diaries, she managed to to pass the torch and we hope the brave souls ay. Th . I’m d
Ta s t i n g e eter min
get a restraining order against her husband. of the first Asian American show will take on the freedom j o ur ney i ed
“The V-Diaries is really saving people’s lives,” challenge.” I love i is bran s h ar d.
Perez said. “People call and tell us they read t and I d new to
Going forward, FWN invites more that fre want to me and
it from cover to cover. It is a tool that allows communities and organizations nationally and edom h e lp othe
people to either get away from a domestic
rs feel
globally to join its mission in ending domestic
violence situation or to empower someone by violence against individuals.
the articles we publish. These stories resonate “When more global communities participate
m e t h ing be shared
o
I t ’s s a t n e e d s t o t e d a g a i n .
and impact people in a positive way not just here in this effort, we truly become one voice,”
in the Bay Area, but all over the country.”
repea
Delen said. t h
is n o t
A S IAN W O M EN AGAIN S T V IO L ENCE
so it 45
Free Battered Women from Prison
C
armen, a Latina from Los boyfriend’s violence, abuse, or threats from abusive partners, after being
Angeles, started dating a were presented to help the prosecutor forced by their partners to commit or
young man when she was or the court understand that she confess to crimes, and after being
18 years old. Her boyfriend participated in the crime out of fear. held responsible for their abusive
slowly began to isolate Carmen pled guilty to first-degree partner’s violence against their
Carmen from family and friends. He murder to avoid a sentence of life children. Many trauma survivors turn
monitored her phone calls, took away without parole and was given 25 years to drugs or alcohol to cope with the
her car, and demanded her paychecks. to life in prison. Today, she has served abuse, and then get caught up in the
When his behavior escalated to include over 19 years in prison. legal system on drug-related charges,
physical violence, rapes, and threats to The vast majority of the over 11,000 prostitution charges, or for robbery.
kill her and her family, she had no idea people incarcerated in California’s Courts use dangerous myths and
how to escape his abuse. When women prisons survived physical, misconceptions about domestic
Carmen’s boyfriend forced her to sexual, emotional, and economic abuse violence to
accompany him on a home robbery, she by an intimate partner before they charge
complied out of fear. He killed a woman entered prison. Hundreds are abuse survivors with
at the scene and injured another survivors like Carmen who are serving crimes. In
woman. When they were both arrested life sentences for their responses to this particular,
and charged with first-degree murder, abuse. Many survivors are arrested after women of
no information about Carmen’s defending themselves or their children color,
transgender
people,
homosexuals,
D i m a l a n ta C l a r k , l l p immigrants,
and poor
people who
are domestic
J. Erick Dimalanta violence
Attorney at Law survivors are repeatedly and
(510) 451-2604 systematically disbelieved,
jed@DimalantaClark.com
discounted, and further victimized by
999 Commercial St., Ste. 104 436 14th Street, Suite 1305 the criminal legal system.
Palo Alto, CA 94303-4909 Oakland, CA 94612-2717 Once convicted, these abuse
Tel: (650) 468-1267 Tel: (510) 451-2400 survivors find themselves going from
Fax: (650) 391-2315 Fax: (510) 451-2424 a prison created by their partners to
one run by the state, where tactics of
www.DimalantaClark.com control used by prison staff mirror
the abuse they experienced at home.
Survivors speak of how control
tactics prison staff use against people
in prison (and in jail, immigration
detention centers, youth detention
centers, and other countries around
the globe) parallel the tactics used by
their abusive partners to gain and
maintain power over them.
“In prison you are told when to
sleep, when to get up, when to eat,
what you will eat, how much you
may eat, when to go to work, which
way you will walk to get there, what
clothes you must wear and when to
return home,” explained Ellen R., a
survivor incarcerated at Valley State
34 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g
Prison for Women. “If all these
activities are not done exactly as
ordered, you will be punished. In an
abusive home all the above rules
apply. The one difference is that most
of the punishment is physical abuse,
where in prisons most of the
punishment is verbal abuse. There is
much difference between the two.
One just heals faster than the other.”
Many survivors never have a
chance to explain how the abuse
they survived
from their
intimate
partner was
relevant in
their case.
If such
information
had been
known at the
time their
cases were
prosecuted,
they possibly
would not
have been charged with the same
crime, convicted, or sentenced so
harshly. This may be especially true
for those convicted before courts
began allowing expert testimony on
domestic violence in criminal cases,
but it also applies to many survivors
who are being convicted today.
Free Battered Women works with
domestic violence survivors
incarcerated in California state
prisons and seeks to end the
re-victimization of incarcerated
survivors of domestic violence. We
work for the freedom of domestic
violence survivors like Carmen
(a pseudonym). We believe in
survivors’ rights to tell their stories
and to have this information be
considered in court sentencing.
Please join us in the movement to
free battered women from prison.
For more information,
visit freebatteredwomen.org.

Abuse in Same-Sex Relationships
D
omestic violence in the
gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender (GLBT)
community is a serious
issue. The rates of domestic
violence in same-gender relationships
are roughly the same as those of
domestic violence against heterosexual
women. As in opposite-gendered
couples, the problem is likely
underreported. Facing a system that is
often oppressive and hostile toward
those who identify as anything other
than “straight,” those involved in
same-gender battering frequently report
being afraid of revealing their sexual
orientation or the nature of their
relationship.
Additionally, even those who attempt
to report violence in their alternative
relationship run into obstacles. Police
officers, prosecutors, judges and others
to whom a GLBT victim may turn to for
help may have difficulty in providing the
same level of service as a heterosexual
victim would receive. Not only might
personal attitudes toward the GLBT
community come into play, but these
providers may also have inadequate
levels of experience and training to
work with GLBT victims, and flimsy or
non-existent legal structures to use in
rendering justice on behalf of the victim.
Although much advancement has
been made in the provision of services,
the enforcement of the law, and the
equality of protections available to
those in GLBT relationships over the last
decade, there are some important facts
to know about abuse in same sex
relationships.
In many ways, domestic violence in
lesbian, bisexual and gay relationships
is the same as in opposite-gendered
relationships, but there are several
important aspects in which same-sex
domestic violence is unique.
Emotional abuse for someone who is
GLBT may involve “outing” their sexual
orientation at work or to family or
friends.
Local resources for domestic violence
in the GLBT community are often scarce
and many traditional domestic violence
services lack the training, sensitivity, and
expertise to adequately recognize and
address abusive GLBT relationships.
ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE
Lesbians, bisexuals and gay men who
have been abused have much more
difficulty in finding sources of support
than heterosexual women who are
battered by their male partners.
Victims often believe that in order to
use existing services (such as a shelter,
attending support groups or calling a
crisis line) they must lie or hide the
gender of the batterer to be perceived
(and thus accepted) as a heterosexual.
Or it can mean “coming out,” which is a
major life decision. If lesbians, bisexuals
and gays come out to service providers
who are not discreet with this
information, it could lead to the victim
losing their home, job, custody of
children, etc. This may also precipitate
local and/or statewide laws to affect
some of these changes, depending on
the area.
If GLBT victims are financially
intertwined with their partners, such
as each paying a rent or mortgage and
having “built a home together”, they
have no legal process to assist them in
making sure assets are evenly divided,
a process which exists for their married,
heterosexual counterparts.
Telling heterosexuals about battering
in a GLBT relationship can reinforce the
myth that many believe in that lesbian,
bisexual and gay relationships are
dysfunctional. This can further cause the
victim to feel isolated and unsupported.
The GLBT community itself is often not
supportive of victims of battering
because many want to maintain the
myth that there are no problems (such
Romeo Antonio, Jr.
as child abuse, alcoholism, domestic
violence, etc.) in these relationships.
As long as the community continues
Proprietor
to place priority on pretending gays
and lesbians don’t experience abuse,
resources will remain scarce, and
outreach will continue to suffer.
Receiving support services to help
one escape a battering relationship is
more difficult when there are also
oppressions faced. Battered lesbians
and female bisexuals automatically
encounter sexism and homophobia,
and gay and bisexual men encounter
homophobia. Lesbian or gay people of
color who are battered also face racism.
These forms of social oppressions make
it more difficult for these groups to get
the support needed (legal, financial,
social, housing, medical, etc.) to escape
and live freely from an abusive
relationship.
Lesbian, bi and gay survivors of
battering may not know others who are
lesbian, bi or gay, meaning that leaving
the abuser could result in total isolation.
The GLBT community within the area
may be small, and in all likelihood
everyone the survivor knows will soon
know of their abuse. Sides will be taken
and support may be difficult to find.
Anonymity is not an option, a
characteristic many heterosexual
survivors can draw upon in “starting
a new life” for themselves within the
same city.
Same Sex Domestic Violence:
MYTHS
MYTH #1: Only straight women
get battered. Men are not victims of
domestic violence, and women never
batter.
MYTH #2: Domestic violence is
more common in straight relationships
than it is in same-sex relationships.
N o r t h
NAMotors
MYTH #3: It really isn’t violence
when a same-sex couple fights. It’s just
A m e r i c an
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a lover’s quarrel, a fair fight between
equals.
MYTH #4: It really isn’t violence
when gay men fight. It’s boys being
boys. A man should be able to defend
himself.
MYTH #5: The batterer is always
bigger, stronger, more ‘butch’. Victims
will always be smaller, weaker, more
feminine.
MYTH #6: Lesbian and Gay domestic
violence is sexual behavior, a version of
S and M. The victim actually likes it.
MYTH #7: The law does not and
will not protect victims of same sex
domestic violence.
MYTH #8: It is easier for lesbian
or gay victims of domestic violence to
leave the abusive relationship than it is
for heterosexual battered women who
are married.
Courtesy of AARDVARC (An Abuse,
Rape and Domestic Violence Aid and
Resource Collection), a non-profit
organization dedicated to combating
family and relationship violence,
sexual violence and child abuse.
For more info, visit aardvarc.org.
M o t o r s
132 98th Avenue, Oakland, CA 94603
(510) 635-9191
Romeo Antonio, Jr.
Proprietor O
www.namotors.com
Hours: Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
510
35
ABOUT V-DAY
V
-Day is a global movement
to end violence against
women and girls that raises
funds and awareness
through benefit productions
of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler’s
award winning play “The Vagina
Monologues.” In 2008, more than 3,400
V-Day events took place in the U.S. and
around the world. To date, the V-Day
movement has raised over $60 million
and educated millions about the issue
of violence against women and the
efforts to end it, crafted international
educational, media, and PSA campaigns,
launched the Karama program in the
Middle East, reopened shelters, and
funded over 5000 community-based
anti-
violence
programs as
well as safe
houses in
Kenya,
South
Dakota, Egypt, and Iraq. In June 2006
V-Day launched the V-DAY: UNTIL HE
VIOLENCE STOPS festival in NYC, which
invited thousands of New Yorkers to
stand up and join V-Day in making New
York City the safest place on earth for
women and girls. In 2008 V-Day
celebrated its tenth anniversay in New
Orleans with over 30,000 activists
attending V TO THE TENTH.
The V-Day movement is growing at
a rapid pace throughout the world, in
112 countries from Europe to Asia,
Africa and the Caribbean, and all of
North America. V-Day, a non-profit
corporation, distributes funds to
grassroots, national and international
organizations and programs that work
to stop violence against women and
girls. The ‘V’ in V-Day stands for Victory,
Valentine and Vagina. www.vday.org.
V-Day Mission
Statement
V-Day is:
• An organized response against
violence toward women.
• A vision: We see a world where
women live safely and freely.
• A demand: Rape, incest, battery,
genital mutilation and sexual slavery
36
must end now.
• A spirit: We believe women should
spend their lives creating and thriving
rather than surviving or recovering
from terrible atrocities.
• A catalyst: By raising money and
consciousness, it will unify and
strengthen existing anti-violence
efforts. Triggering far-reaching
awareness, it will lay the groundwork
for new educational, protective, and
legislative endeavors throughout the
world.
• A process: We will work as long as it
takes. We will not stop until the
violence stops.
• A day. We proclaim Valentine’s Day as
V-Day, to celebrate women and end
the violence.
• A fierce, wild, unstoppable movement
and community.
Join us!
SPOTLIGHT ON
WOMEN OF THE
DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF
CONGO
Each year V-Day increases awareness
by focusing on a specific group of
women in the world who are resisting
violence with courage and vision. In
2009 V-Day’s Spotlight Campaign will
highlight the atrocities being committed
against the women and girls of
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In the DRC Rape is used as a weapon
of war to torture and humiliate women
and girls. This systemic sexual violence
and femicide not only destroys women
and young girls but also entire families
and communities. Survivors often suffer
in silence, fearing stigma and ostracism.
In addition to the severe psychological
impact, many survivors are left with
genital lesions, traumatic fistulae and
other physical wounds, as well as
unwanted pregnancies and sexually
transmitted infections. Local response to
support survivors is hindered by a lack
of resources. There is near total impunity
for these crimes as perpetrators almost
always walk free.
In 2009 V-Day and UNICEF, together
with UN and NGO partners, are working
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
with V-Day organizers around the world
to make a difference. DRC has been
called the worst humanitarian crisis in
the world and the widest interstate war
in modern African history. Fueled by the
exploitation of the country’s rich natural
resources by foreign and local armies
and private enterprises, the war has
directly affected the lives of 50 million
Congolese. Since 1996, this conflict has
caused more deaths than any war since
World War II, either as a direct result of
fighting or due to disease and
malnutrition. Five million people have
lost their lives as a result of the conflict.
With your help, the women and children
who bear the burden of this war can
reclaim a life of safety and dignity.
For more information on the Stop
Raping Our Greatest Resource, Power To
The Women And Girls Of The Democratic
Republic Of Congo Campaign, please
visit www.vday.org/drcongo.
ABOUT Eve
Ensler
Eve Ensler is a playwright, performer
and activist. She is the award-winning
author of The Vagina Monologues,
which has been published in 45
languages and performed in over 120
countries. She is also the founder/artistic
director of V-Day, the global movement
to end violence against women and
girls, which has raised nearly 60 million
dollars and recently celebrated its tenth
anniversary at the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans in April 2008. Eve’s
plays include Necessary Targets,
Conviction, Lemonade, The Depot,
Floating Rhoda and the Glue Man,
Extraordinary Measures and The Good
| w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g
Body, which she performed on
Broadway, followed by a national tour.
Both The Good Body and The Vagina
Monologues are now being performed
throughout the world and have been
published by Random House. In
September 2006, Eve’s play, The
Treatment, premiered at the Culture
Project in New York City. O.P.C., her
newest work, will debut this summer at
NY Stage and Film at Vassar College. In
2006, Eve released her first nonfiction
book, Insecure At Last: A Political
Memoir, and co-edited A Memory, A
Monologue, A Rant and a Prayer, an
anthology of writings about violence
against women. Both were published by
Random House. Eve’s film credits
include an HBO film version of The
Vagina Monologues. She also produced
the film What I Want My Words to Do To
You, a documentary about her work
with women in prison, which won the
Freedom of Expression Award at
Sundance and was shown on PBS. Eve
has written numerous articles for
Glamour Magazine, Marie Claire,
Huffington Post, Utne Reader, as well as
a regular column in O Magazine. She
has won many awards including a
Guggenheim Fellowship in Playwriting
and an Obie in addition to a number of
honorary degrees. Eve is currently
working on a film version of her play
Necessary Targets and a new book of
monologues, I Am an Emotional
Creature, to be published by Random
House in 2010.
HOW TO STAY
IN TOUCH
WITH V-DAY
For more information about V‑Day, the
global movement to end violence
against women and girls, please visit
the V‑Day web site at www.vday.org.
2009
INTERNATIONAL
V-DAY
SUPPORTERS
Dramatists Play Service / GLAMOUR /
LUNA / OPEN SQUARE Foundation /
Shawn & Shane / Vosges Haut Chocolat
/ W Hotels
Filipinas Against Violence
FWN RESPONDS: ADVOCACIES
THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

E F
nding abuse against Filipina
women and girls is a major
concern for the Filipina
Women’s Network (FWN),
because domestic violence is
widespread in the Filipino community
and it is a violation of basic human
rights.
Filipinas Against Violence campaign
was started in 2004 to raise awareness
of the domestic violence problem in the
Filipino community. In collaboration
with V-day, the all-Filipina cast of the
V-Day FWN productions is a grassroots
campaign that provides the Filipino
community a venue for the discussion
of the cultural, power and control
issues around violence. V-Day FWN is
produced annually in San Francisco
(since 2004), was in New York in
2006-2008 and now premieres in
Washington, D.C,
According to UNIFEM, one in three
women will suffer some form of
violence in her lifetime, becoming part
of an epidemic that devastates lives,
fractures communities and stalls
development. Despite some progress
on this issue over the past decade, its
horrendous scale remains mostly
unacknowledged. New dimensions
include the global trafficking of women
and girls.
The 2000 murder of a Filipina
woman, 28-year-old Claire Joyce
Tempongko, witnessed by her two
young children, prompted the
investigation of San Francisco’s
citywide response system to handle
domestic violence. Ironically, there is
no Filipino in the commission that has
been tasked to implement the
investigation’s results.
Kamala Harris, now San Francisco’s
District Attorney, said in an article in
Asian Week (Dec. 5, 2003), “Our city
Francisco prosecutors once again to
rethink the city’s system for
safeguarding victims and counseling
their abusers. William Corpuz just
completed 39 weekly counseling
sessions before he slit Marisa’s throat
in their home shared with her parents
and one of their two young children. In
May 2007, a jury of his peers convicted
William Corpuz of first degree murder.
San Francisco Superior Court Judge
Jerome Benson reduced the jury’s
first-degree murder verdict to second-
degree murder and sentenced Corpuz
to a lesser sentence.
“In California, as the law stands
today, a man who kills his wife will
receive a lesser sentence than a person
who commits murder during a rape or
robbery,” said FWN President Marily
Mondejar.
“Why should a domestic violence
case be treated as less important under
the law? We need to change the law to
send batterers away for a long time so
that women in abusive relationships
feel safe about coming forward.”
On March 14, 2008, members of
FWN were in the courtroom when San
Francisco Superior Court Judge
Jerome Benson reduced a jury’s
first-degree murder verdict in a
domestic violence case to second-
degree murder.
Although Judge Benson said the
murder of Marisa Corpuz, mother of
two, was “a bloody, brutal, gruesome
and savage killing,” he stated that he
had no choice but to reduce William
Corpuz’s sentence to second-degree
murder because the evidence did not
support a finding of deliberation. Judge
Benson explained that he was
constrained by limitations in California’s
laws on homicide to rule as he did.
“What started as a grassroots
WN works on ways to
interrupt the cycle of violence
against Filipina women and
girls by linking violence to the
source that feeds it: gender
inequality. FWN multiplies the power of
its strategies through the Filipinas
Against Violence advocacy campaign
and collaborations with other women’s
groups, domestic violence agencies,
faith-based organizations and with the
local Philippine and U.S. governments.
Raising Consciousness
Since 2004, FWN has collaborated
with Eve Ensler’s V-Day organization (a
global movement to stop violence
against women and girls) empowering
and celebrating women and their
sexuality with a festival of theatre,
comedy, and the spoken word
highlighted by the all-Filipina
performances of The Vagina
Monologues. 2006 marked the first
Tagalog version (Usaping Puki)
performed in the U.S.
Filipino Men Against Violence
At “The Vagina Monologues”
performances, we ask the men and
boys in the audience to imprint their
hands on paper and canvas and pledge
“These Hands Are Not Going To Hurt
Filipina Women and Girls.”
PREVENTION
Interrupting the cycle of violence is
vital; stopping violence before it starts,
is crucial. FWN responds in three ways:
(1) the publication of the V-Diaries, an
anti-violence resource guide distributed
Signature Dishes of the Philippines
during the V-Day FWN shows in San
Francisco, New York and Washington
DC and distributed nationwide;
(2) anti-domestic violence training
workshops; (3) anger management
workshops for men and boys. The cast
and crew members are invited to
participate in anti-domestic violence
trainings to strengthen the growing
numbers of trained advocates and peer
counselors in the Filipino community.
Collaborations
FWN draws attention to the serious
domestic violence problem in the
Filipino community by partnering with
domestic violence agencies in San
Francisco, New York and Washington
DC: the California Partnership to End
Domestic Violence (CPEDV), the
Domestic Violence Consortium, the San
Francisco Commission on the Status of
Women, CONNECT, APICHA, Filipino
organizations, local governments, the
Philippine consulates, professional
women’s associations, faith-based
organizations and for-profit
corporations.
CourtWatch
FWN tracks domestic violence cases
involving Filipina women. Attending
court hearings, sentencings, police
ride-alongs, leading awareness sessions
at police academies, and staffing DV
hotlines are just a few of the activities
FWN members and V-Day FWN cast
and crew, currently participate. Bringing
the voices of advocates together bring
our issues center stage.
by Sony Robles Florendo

desperately needs a change in our campaign in the Filipino community has

criminal justice system. I can sum up
why I’m running for district attorney
with the story of one Filipina American’s
life: Claire Tempongko.” Kamala Harris
ran on this platform and this statement
is posted on her campaign website.
Another Filipina woman, 32-year-old
Marisa Corpuz, was killed by her
husband, William Corpuz, in September
2004. Her death has prompted San
now become a statewide initiative to
make California a safer place for
women and girls,” said Eve Ensler,
author, playwright, and founder of
V-Day. “We need more groups like the
Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) to
mobilize communities, saving lives, one
woman at a time. It makes a world
without violence truly possible.”
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ASIAN WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE 37


Filipina Women’s Network
P. O. Box 192143
San Francisco, CA 94119
Phone: 415. 278. 9410
Fax: 415. 840. 0655
E-mail: filipina@ffwn.org
www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org
Mission Statement
Established in 2001, FWN’s
mission is to enhance public
perceptions of Filipina women’s
capacities to lead, change biases
against Filipina women’s
leadership abilities and promote
the entry of Filipina women into
positions of leadership in
corporate, government, and
nonprofit sectors.
FWN achieves its mission through
public education forums that
heighten Filipina women’s
visibility, research on Filipina
women’s issues, leadership, skill
building and career development
programs for Filipina women, and
influencing popular culture.
Goals 2008-09
Increase financial assistance
capabilities to ensure that FWN
educational programs and events
are accessible to Filipina women
of all socio-economic
backgrounds.
Increase FWN’s network of Filipina
women business owners and
those employed in corporations,
government and nonprofit
organizations and utilize the
database as a leadership pipeline
for corporate visibility.
Endow the Filipina Leadership
Development and Womantoring
Program.
Generate operating funds for the
establishment of a national
headquarters and research library
to house our historical collection
documenting the achievements of
Filipina women in the U.S.
38
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
Fundraising Events, Corporate Sponsorships and Naming Opportunities
Partner with the Filipina Women’s Network and support Filipina women, America’s
untapped source for leadership and talent.
FILIPINA WOMEN Filipina Women’s FILIPINA VOICES: Changing
AGAINST VIOLENCE Network Magazine the Face of Power in
Campaign to end violence against Filipina Annual publication about the nuances of America
women and girls in collaboration with Eve Filipina culture, empowerment articles, Our speakers will engage us in conversation
Ensler’s V-Day organization. career strategies and highlighting the and story-telling ala “The View”:
accomplishments of Filipina women in the
All-Filipina women benefit production of U.S. Publication date: Annually in the Fall. To • Being Filipina savvy in the workplace:
“The Vagina Monolgues” (TVM) performed in place an ad, call 415.278.9410 or go to more, better, faster
English and Filipino (“Usaping Puki”). http://fwnMagazine.EventBrite.com • Developing a purposeful career or
Presented in March annually in celebration of business: what about family/personal life?
Women’s History Month. Two coast-to-coast “Kaibigan ng FWN” • Culture, leadership, presence: how to play
shows (San Francisco and New York) Community Partner Fund the game
Endow research projects and educational • Lessons from the trenches:
COUNCIL OF REMARKABLE programs about the Filipina American words of wisdom
FILIPINA WOMEN experience. Call 415.278.9410 for naming • The state of the world:
Womantoring Circles – creating a community opportunities and for sponsorships. how it affects our families and
of Filipinas helping each other succeed and communities
cultivating future community leaders. Power Lunch 2008:
Sponsor a womantoring circle. Call Remarkable Filipina
415.278.9410. Women FWN Professional
Development Series
“V-Diaries:” Anti-Violence Make ME a Filipina Millionaire The series is based on the 12 Life Challenges
Resource Guide Forum for Empowerment adapted from the work of
Annual publication designed to provide a Schein, Farren, Hudson and Kaye. FWN
voice for domestic violence survivors and In support of Make Mine a Million $$$$$$ workshops and seminars are designed around
Filipina women and girls in abusive Business, a program of Count Me In for these life areas which represent the diverse
situations including a resource list of Women’s Economic Independence, needs of FWN members. Workshop
domestic violence agencies, shelters, legal facilitators are invited specialists who
and counseling services and law enforcement Filipina entrepreneurs will share their contribute their knowledge for the
offices. Publication date: Annually in March. journey - how they reached their first million advancement and development of FWN
Call 415.278.9410 to place an ad or go to dollars in business, as they work their members and Filipina women. The
http://v-diaries.EventBrite.com passion, achieve their dream and share their Professional Development Series can be
prosperity with those who need it. taken by anyone regardless of education,
Filipina Women Who work experience, age or life situation.
Could Be President
Emerging Leaders program for Filipina
women. Building the Filipina community’s
pipeline of qualified leaders, to increase the
odds that some will rise to the position of
president in all sectors. Sponsor a
“presidential candidate.” Call 415.278.9410.
How to reach the Filipina Women’s Network • P. O. Box 192143, San Francisco, CA 94119 • Phone: 415 / 278. 9410 • Fax: 415 / 840. 0655 • www.ffwn.org.
The views and opinions of advertisers and contributors expressed in this publication do not necessarily state or reflect those of Filipina Women’s Network.
© 2008 Filipina Women’s Network. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be published without the expressed written permission of the publisher.
FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. Fi l i p i n a Wo m e n s N e t w o r k . o r g
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Free Admission Thai Kickboxing
FREE hep B Screenings
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Take BART and Muni to Civic Center

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