Matang Laya

In Solidarity with Tita Cory

2009-07-31T22:33:00.000-07:00

You will be lovingly remembered by the Filipino community, President Corazon Aquino. You have not only helped us restore our once lost democratic rights but also continue to fight tyranny till the very end. Thank you for sharing yourself to the Filipino community. We will continue the good fight in solidarity with the basic sectors in our society.

A Grand Salute and a Warm Applause to the Woman who brought a different meaning to the color of democracy in our beloved country!

*Former President Corazon Cojuanco Aquino passed away at the age of 76 from cardio-respiratory arrest at exactly 3:18 a.m. today at the Makati Medical Center. She has been diagnosed with colon cancer early in 2008. For the first time in our history, the Filipino nation expressed an outpouring prayer support for the healing of Tita Cory. More than just a nation's President, Tita Cory is a family to the Filipino people. We will truly miss you Tita Cory...

Not a Victim, But a Hero!

2009-07-25T23:16:00.000-07:00

Its been a year now after my last blog.

But when I read the story of Assiya in Newyork times, I felt I have to spread the word. This is the least I can do to support her lifetime cause for justice which I knew will move beyond her time. What you will read below is an adaptation from the nytimes article written by Nicholas Kristof.

Assiya was kidnapped at the age of 16 where she endured a year of rapes and beatings from two men. These two men happend to be implicated in a gold robbery so they negotiated a deal with the police where they handed over Assiya along with a $625 bribe. They agreed to frame her on the gold robbery.

When she was finally turned over to the police, Assiya she was repeatedly raped again by four policemen including the chief police. When her family learned about her situation, they appealed for her release on court. The court granted their petition and sent a bailiff to get her out. However, the police tried to hide her and even locked up her 10 year old brother to harass the family.

After a series of threats and negotiations and bribery, the bailiff decided to free her. Her freedom outside the prison is just but a mere start of her endless battle for harrassment, death threats and social persecution- only this time, it involves her entire family. They are now in perpetual hiding, forcing her younger siblings to stop schooling.

This difficult situation never dampen her young spirit. She decided to fight with the help of Mukhtar Mai through the mercy corps program.Muktai is also a young woman from this remote village who was gang raped in 2002 on the orders of a village council. Mukhtar decided to prosecute her attackers. When she won her case, she used the compensation money to start a school.

When people read about Mukhtar's story in NY times, they donated to her through the Mercy Corps. She has used the money to provide more access to social justice through legal aid program, ambulance service, women’s shelter and a telephone hotline to help similar situations.

Let us help spread the good work of Assiya and Mukhtai! Stop women oppression! No to Gender based Violence!

Pictures, Vlogs and more! :)

2008-05-22T15:52:00.000-07:00

Day 4: Social Reconstruction of

Filipina Image Online

Reshaping the image of Filipinas online are "Sexy Mom" and the "Mother of Digital Philippines"

Meet a whole bunch of Filipinas

who will promote the same cause!

more stories soon! :)

Friendship Video Blog!

2008-05-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

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Today is the fifth and final day of our Women and ICT training. Maybe for some of us, this training became a temporary relief from the rigorous work we do in our office. I will definitely miss the kind smiles, shared laughter, yummy food (oh, do I have to mention the most yummy part??! ;) internet surfing & blog galore, and the warm camaraderie shared by the group :)

I want to thank everyone for sharing your time, skills, friendship and smiles :) I hope that our last day in this training is not the end - but the start of a beautiful partnership towards a common goal of uplifting the lives of marginalized women- especially among the poorest of the poor.

I made this MTV rush so I wasnt able to render the music well. There was a little turbulent part in the beginning but it smoothen out till the end ;) The music is from Kamikazee who did an Apo Hiking song remake of "Do Bi Doo." I still need to rehash this video but if you want to have a copy, feel free to drop me a line ;-)

This is my 'best effort' send off gift to everyone, I hope you enjoy it! :)
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Nose bleeds!

2008-05-20T23:19:00.000-07:00

under construction! coming soon! :)

An Unexpected Pregnancy

2008-05-19T00:21:00.000-07:00

For years, my friends have always wondered why I don't do blogging.

I have to admit that I do have a snob attitude about it. I think that there are already too many bloggers so why would I care to join the bandwagon?

But deep in my heart, I knew I always like to start one :)

Getting into a week long training on "Women Empowerment in the Age of ICT" where we have to produce our own blog seem to be a perfect excuse for my long overdue blogging experience.

Our first day of training isn't over yet I am here having my unexpected pregnancy for my blog baby- Matang Laya.

I have always been idealistic about contributing towards a caring society. For more than 10 years, I tried to dedicate a life which brings me nearer to that goal. I hope that this blog can translate various learning and unlearning experiences that I gained from the past.

As a former media practitioner currently engage in social development work, it important to study and understand the potential risks and gains of various ICT tools. This will help in building an alternative media that will also represent the marginalized sectors meaning for cultural identity, ideology, social and political interaction.

Through this training, I expect to gain more practical knowledge and tools that can be used in creating opportunities for empowerment and social transformation among marginalized communities which include women as priority sector.

I also hope to explore potential networks that can partner with our unit - Research and Extension for Development Office's (REDO) similar endeavor in pursuing a common goal in creating a better society

To my classmates, I give a blog toast to our collective efforts and shared gains!

:)