V for Vindication: Filipinas at the heart of this year’s ‘Vagina Monologues’
March 26, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — Following 10 years of encouraging women to stand up to domestic violence, the annual V-Day women’s movement continues on March 31 with the Filipina Women’s Network’s fifth annual presentation of Eve Ensler’s highly acclaimed play, The Vagina Monologues, at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.
The Filipina Women’s Network, a nonprofit organization that provides resources for women of Filipino descent in abusive relationships, has also organized performances in New York on April 18 and 19.
Initiated in 1998, Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues has evolved into a literary and theatrical sanctuary for women in abusive relationships worldwide. Ensler created the worldwide V-Day movement to showcase her groundbreaking play, which has been presented by the Filipina Women’s Network in San Francisco since 2003 and in New York since 2006.
Ten percent of the show’s proceeds will be donated back to Eve Ensler’s global V-Day efforts. The rest will be used to pay for the play’s production.
Domestic violence, rape and disappearances are issues that have long been prevalent in the Asian Pacific Islander community. Approximately 40 percent of domestic violence deaths in San Francisco occur within the Filipino American community, according to the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department.
To better communicate with the Filipino American community, this year’s production will be performed separately in both English and Tagalog by an all-Filipino cast. In doing so, the network hopes to reach those who do not yet know about support services and resources.
This year’s celebration of V-Day by the Filipina Women’s Network will also include the premiere of a new production, A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer, which marks the first time that male cast members will be included in the group’s production. San Francisco School Board member Hydra Mendoza, Filipinas magazine publisher Greg Macabenta and AsianWeek columnist Rodel Rodis are all slated to participate in this new production, which aims to illustrate how violence against women affects every human being, especially men. The group’s The Vagina Monologues production will retain its all-female cast.
The Filipina Women’s Network production honors the memory of Filipina victims like Claire Joyce Tempongko, who was murdered in 2000 by her ex-boyfriend, Tari Ramirez, in front of her two young children. Tempongko’s murder occurred despite numerous attempts over an 18-month period to gain protection from the police department, adult probation, the district attorney and the courts. Her tragedy became a rallying point for Filipinas nationwide seeking to establish connections between abused women and help centers.
Marily Mondejar, president of the Filipino Women’s Network, stresses that shame in the Filipino community, stemming from family values and the Catholic Church tradition, is the main deterrent for Filipino women in need of help. Looking to make a change for Filipinas worldwide, she said, “If we can save one Filipina life and she learns the nature of intimate partner violence, one is able to help a friend and overcome the fear of shame.”
Mondejar said she is known in her community as the “Vagina Lady,” but that she wears the title as “truly a badge of honor.”
Until the Violence Stops
A powerful film about V-Day
FRI., MARCH 28 | 7:00 PM
Bank of America Building
A.P. Giannini Auditorium
555 California St., San Francisco
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
MON., MARCH 31 | 7:00 PM
Herbst Theatre
401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
A MEMORY, A MONOLOGUE, A RANT AND A PRAYER
FRI., APRIL 4 | 7:00 PM
Herbst Theatre
SAT., APRIL 5 | 7:00 PM
Academy of Art University
Morgan Auditorium
USAPING PUKI
Tagalog version of The Vagina Monologues
SAT., APRIL 5 | 2:00 PM
Academy of Art University
Morgan Auditorium
TICKETS: $5 – 100
Herbst Theatre
www.CityBoxOffice.com
(415) 392-4400
Morgan Auditorium:
http://morgan08.eventbrite.com
FOR MORE INFO:
Tel: (415) 278-9410
Web: www.ffwn.org
E-mail: vday@ffwn.org
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….Mondejar said she is known in her community as the “Vagina Lady,” but that she wears the title as “truly a badge of honor.”
Now I’ve heard everything.