Women and even men who love women are urged to leave what they are doing for a moment to dance and rise to demand an end to violence against women (VAW) on Feb. 14, 2013 according to Gabriela-Panay, who spearheads the VDay Movement’s One Billing Rising (OBR) campaign against VAW.

In a partners’ meeting held Feb. 1, 2013 at the Convention of Baptist Churches, Gabriela-Panay presented there are one out of three women who are beaten and raped in their lifetime, one case of VAW every hour and 30 minutes, one woman raped every seven hours, one woman subjected to physical abuse every hour and every day, there is one woman who becomes victim of trafficking.

“Despite the presence of the Magna Carta for Women and Republic Act 962, the cases of violence against women have been extreme in this generation,” said Gabriela Iloilo Chapter head Roxanne Arsaga.

Meanwhile, Sheila Mae Pagurayan of Gabriela said cases of VAW are domestic violence, prostitution, rape, sexual harassment, violence instigated by the state (torture and rape as weapons of war)

To kick-off the campaign, the OBR team and its supporters will hold a flashmob at Plazoleta Gay today at 3 p.m. to urge the public to do the same on February 14. After the flashmob, there will be street dancing going towards the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds.

“We have to turn our pain into power, generosity and compassion. Women are in the frontlines of all the issues happening around us and women are the most affected in these issues. So, we have to combine art with activism,” said Eve Ensler, founder of the 15-year-old VDay Movement which spearheaded OBR.

Since the VDay Movement was founded, 142 countries have already joined OBR.

Those who have activities lined-up for Valentines’ Day are urged to incorporate the One Billion Rising dance in their activity just to create awareness for women to sow courage and put an end to violence against them, said Pagurayan.

The group has also designed a tentative schedule for those who want to join; on the morning of Feb. 14, troop to the Provincial Capitol Grounds to dance the OBR. Schools and some organizations have already signified their intention to join. Then, the highlight would be at 4 p.m. to synchronize with OBR activities in other countries.

To learn the dance, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euSOXGPuQ68 and for more information about OBR, visit onebillionrising.org.*