In Photos : Art in defense of women

Violence against women remained high in spite of laws protecting women in Davao City with around 3,000 cases of physical and psychological violence reported to authorities in the past two years.

This prompted Gabriela Women Partylist to hold a fund-raising art exhibit to support services for women victims of violence.

Last Tuesday, the group held the exhibit-fund-raiser dubbed “Art vs. Vaw” at the Ateneo de Davao University in cooperation with the Ateneo Social Research Department.

There were twenty-four paintings contributed by around 20 artists, architecture students and women professionals. Each portrayed women in various ways from portraits, symbolic fighters or victims.

Artists Jun Cayas and Anton Cadayona mobilized their students to join the events. Other artists who contributed include Pinx Gaspe and Bayan Intise.  Women professionals such as Dr. Atty Ritzel Rabor-Polinar and development worker Mags Maglana contributed their works.

The paintings were raffled off to the audience who were women rights advocates such as former Mayor Sara Duterte, Davao del Sur Vice Governor Aileen Almendras, Southern Philippines Medical Center Chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega, Davao Medical Society President Dr. Ana Lanuza, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines Davao President Cesar Europa  and Palanca awardee Macario Tiu.

Gracing the event were Gabriela Partylist Representative Luzviminda Ilagan, Davao City Second District Representative Mylene Garcia, Gabriela Davao Chair Emeritus Lyda Canson and Gabriela Network Chair Dr. Jean Lindo.

Proceeds of the raffle will be given to Luna Legal Resource Center which provided services to women victims.

Representative Ilagan thanked the audience and artists for coming together to this cause.

“We believe that Art should not be for Art’s sake. It should mirror the dreams and aspirations for the women’s struggle for emancipation,”Ilagan said.