PCW on sexual harassment

The slew of harassment allegations against some of Hollywood’s top players continues. Tom Hanks was quoted by The Hollywood Reporter as saying, “There’s a lot of reasons people do this for a living. Making a movie is a life experience that can create an awful lot of joy…. The bad stuff can happen on a movie as well. There are some people who go into business because they get off on having power. And the times they feel the most powerful, which is why they went into the business, are when they are hitting on somebody who’s underneath them, (and) I don’t necessarily mean completely sexually. There are predators absolutely everywhere.”

As to whether the Harvey Weinstein scandal can change things for women and sexual harassment in Hollywood, Hanks said he is optimistic about changes being made in Hollywood. “Somebody said, ‘Is it too late to change things?’ No, it’s never too late,” said Hanks. “It’s never too late to learn new behaviors. And that’s a responsibility of anybody who wants to obey a code of professional ethics.”

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Emmeline Verzosa, executive director of the Philippine Commission on Women, told me in a conversation that the Philippines is one with the women – and men – who have formed the Time’s Up and #MeToo movement in the United States and other countries which expose and support victims of sexual harassment.

“The Philippine Commission on Women commend the launch of Time’s Up and #MeToo in the United States which aim to put an end to sexual assault, harassment, and inequality in the workplace. It is a time of reckoning and a time to effect change across various industries so that we may seek justice and create safe and equitable spaces for all women.”

Many of us remember and commend the movie star Maggie de la Riva who, in the 60s, exposed her having been raped by boys from high society, and followed her case to the execution of her attackers. Hers was a brave act that most women would rather keep quiet to preserve their and their families’ name.

Verzosa said, “In a patriarchal society like ours, women are conditioned to view themselves as weak and to stay silent in the face of sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence. One of the PCW’s aims is to dispel this kind of backward thinking and victim mentality by encouraging more women to arm themselves with information on laws protecting their rights, to speak up against Violence Against Women, and to report cases of VAW.”

There are laws governing the penalizing of harassers. These are RA 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995; RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, and RA 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997. In 2016, the Quezon City local government passed an anti-catcalling ordinance penalizing street-level harassment.

Are women from the poorer sector common targets of harassers? No, said Verzosa. “Sexual harassment does not discriminate and it can happen anywhere, anytime and to anyone regardless of status and age. Therefore, we encourage all women and girls to empower themselves by knowing their rights and report cases when it happens. However, some sectors have a high risk of sexual harassment and abuse due to their unsafe circumstances such as women and girls who are internally displaced or those who are in conflict areas.”

Latest data from the Women and Children Protection Center of the Philippine National Police show that there has been a total number of 55 cases of sexual harassment filed for the period of January to June 2017. Meanwhile, data from the Civil Service Commission’s Office of Legal Affairs show that as of Dec. 15, 2015, there have been a total of 163 received cases of sexual harassment, of which 118 cases have been resolved.

Verzosa said educating girls and boys early on about gender equality and the rights of women would help inculcate in them the value of respect. Currently, she said, there are efforts being made by the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Education to gender sensitize the education sector. “Still, there’s a lot to be done and we are encouraging all our partners to become one with us in ensuring a harassment-free community.”

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The first-ever book on the legendary artist Luis Ac-ac will be launched on Thursday, Feb. 1, at the Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City. Mang Luis hails from Paete, Laguna, whose 400-year carving tradition has made it the “carving capital of the Philippines.” The classical sculptor’s works are described as “a throwback” to the masterpieces of his ancestors who over the centuries created, or carved in wood, religious images that are found in altars, homes and churches all over the country. 

The first part of the book , titled The Life and Works of Luis Ac-ac of Paete covers the town and its carving history and tradition, including a listing of generations of master sculptors of wood who contributed to the fame of the town. The book’s author and publisher, Celestino M. Palma III, describes the triumphs and failures of the artists and their development from Mannerist, through Secular onto Contemporary Art.

It’s in the second part that one reads about the life and works of Mang Luis, considered the best realist sculptor of wood in Paete. Featured are his struggles as an artist and sacrifices as a family man, and his varied subject matters including religious statues, children at play, men and women at work, Philippine folklore and folk tales, nudes, and portraits.

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Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., an avid art collector, comments that Palma’s work “fills the gap in the information and scholarship on Philippine sculpture. Paete’s sculpture, specifically Ac-ac’s must be known to all Filipinos.”

Celestino M. Palma III, or Boyet, has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Ateneo de Manila University and a master’s in business management from the Asian Institute of Management. A successful banker for 25 years, he evolved into entrepreneurship for the last 16 years. He is founder and executive director of Phil-Asia Heritage and Art Management Inc., a private entity that advocates for the conservation of Philippine art heritage through research, training and restoration. He is a historical consultant of Paete under the office of the mayor. He is a member of the board of trustees of ARTvan which provides opportunities for new local artists by showcasing their affordable works.

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Email: [email protected].