L-R: Atty. Eliza Lapiña , Jing Remolar, Dr. Tessa Mae Bongyan[/caption]The nascent University of Mindanao Legal Aid Center (UMLAC) was at Barangay 40-D, Bolton Extension on March 9, 2013 to conduct a forum on women's health and related laws on women's welfare in line with the celebration of the International Women's Day.
Held literally under the Bolton Bridge where the noise of passing vehicles is deafening, the forum was nevertheless well-attended. Almost a hundred women from the Barangay came. Most of them are mothers themselves.
At the forum, Dr. Tessa Mae Bonguyan talked of the basic issues on women's health while Atty. Eliza Lapiña talked especially about R.A. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act (VAWC).Dr. Bonguyan emphasized, among others, that the concept of health does not mean the mere absence of disease.
"You may have no disease, but that doesn't mean you are healthy," she said. "Health is holistic. It means you are healthy physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually."
She also said that women in the urban area are luckier than those who are living in the remote areas like Marilog because they health care services are much more accessible in the city. She added that they should take advantage of the free medical assistance the City Government of Davao offers.
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The Venue:Under the Bolton Bridge[/caption]Atty. Lapiña, on the other hand, said that women who are subjected into violence and abuse by their husband, boyfriend, or live-in partner, are not entirely helpless.
"There is now a law that protects women from the abuses of their husband, live-in partner, or even boyfriend," she said. "It is called the VAWC Law or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act."
Atty. Lapiña enumerated and briefly discussed, in a manner and language that could easily be understood, the kinds of abuses that are punishable under the law---physical, sexual, psychological, and economic.
Atty. Lapiña, who works in the Office of City Councilor Atty. Melchor V. Quitain, likewise informed the women where to go if any of the unfortunate things she said happened to them.
"We have the IGDD (Integrated Gender and Development Division)," she said. "This division is under the Office of the City Mayor. You can go there. They handle cases involving women."
Rhobert Maestre, Chair of the Mindanao Youth Volunteer Corps, said of UMLAC, "Congrats! Once you start doing advocacy for the less privileged, it becomes addictive. May the wheels of service continue to roll from your end."
But "The efforts of Brgy. 40-D community is equally commendable," said Cheril Escopalao, Vice-Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the establishment of UMLAC. "The decorations and the preparation of the venue, as can be seen in the photos, are caused by them, which most certainly, surprised us."
Celebrated with less fanfare but more substance, the initiative of UMLAC was indeed commendable in that it brings the law closer to the community where law is most wanting.
The forum was made possible with the support of the US Embassy, Manila.
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