Monique Wilson, pangungunahan ang One Billion Rising revolution

IBANG klaseng rebolusyon ang pangungunahan ng actress/singer na si Monique Wilson na magaganap sa February 14. Ito ay bilang pakikiisa ng Pilipinas sa 207 bansa sa buong mundo na magsasayaw para sa global day of protest and celebration. Si Monique ang siyang global director ng One Billion Rising.

Ang One Billion Rising ay isang uri ng revolution na naglalayong gumawa ng awareness sa pamamagitan ng pagsasayaw para sugpuin ang vio-lence at poverty na nangyayari sa lipunan, lalo na sa hanay ng mga kababaihan.

Magaganap ito sa Bonifacio Shrine, malapit sa Manila City Hall ng bandang 9 ng umaga hanggang 12 ng tanghali.

“We have a march, tapos, we’re going to have a Danceaton. Schools everywhere are going to interpret the dance in their own way. Plenty of schools ang kasali, baka twenty. Then, we’re going to have films, speeches, songs, cultu-ral views…

“Kaya I’m inviting everybody to join us, punta kayo roon, makisali kayo,” wika ni Monique.

Dahil sa pagtutok niya sa adbokasiyang ito, mas nabibigyan niya ito ng atensiyon, kaysa showbiz career niya ngayon. Pero okay lang daw ito sa kanya.

“Ang lahat ng issues na ipinaglalaban natin for One Billion Rising are the daily reality. When I go to the communities with Gabriela, I get so hopeful kahit na napaka-oppressed ng situation nila hindi sila nawawalan ng pag-asa. Kasi, ang tanging natitira na lang sa mga taong ito is hope.”

Si Monique ay miyembro rin ng women’s group na Gabriela.

Ayon pa sa singer/actress, walang kaso sa kanya kung bansagan man siyang leftist. Ang mahalaga raw ay maimulat ang mga tao sa nangyayaring violence at poverty sa ating bansa.

“Actually, what does leftist mean? Leftist just means that you are against the government, right? Well, actually, I always think that the best activist should hold their government accountable.

“So, if that’s what people called Gabriela, a leftist, then I’m proud to be a leftist! Because I think, it shows your love of country and love of people more, when you are brave enough to hold your government accountable.

“Ako, I have such deep admiration for Gabriela, KMU, Migrante… and we don’t call them anymore, leftist. We called them progressive,” nakangiting paglilinaw pa ni Monique.

Ano ang masasabi niya sa pagtawag ni Jomari Yllana bilang pinakatangang pangulo ng bansa kay Presidente Noynoy Aquino?

“Agree, I really agree,” diretsahang saad niya. “Because, does it take ba a lot of intelligence to understand the plight of your people?

“You just need to pull down the window of your tinted SUV and look at the poverty that’s staring you in the face.

“You know what? Go to Tondo, go to Payatas, where Gabriela’s have taken me. You’ll be so shock what you’ll see there.”

Isa rin si Monique sa nananawagan sa pagre-resign ni Pnoy. Kaya, inusisa namin kung may mensahe ba siya sa pa-ngulo ng bansa.

“My Message to Pnoy is this, listen to the people, hear their cries. Serve them, serve them with everything in you, with your heart and soul. And if you cannot, then resign.

“It’s the best option for you to do. Because you are keeping our country and our people chained and shackled… there’s so much oppression and suffering. And just because you don’t experience the suffering, doesn’t make you not accountable for these sufferings.”

 

 

ni Nonie V. Nicasio