Mr. Tim Cumper,

Cease and desist online stalking and harassment to my friends, family members and my facebook & blogger friends. Read your UK Law on Cyber-stalking and harassment. http://www.wiredsafety.org/gb/stalking/. To quote:

Similarly if someone in England and Wales is harassing someone abroad by means of letters e-mails etc. and the Police in England and Wales are informed of this then the offender could be arrested for criminal harassment and prosecuted regardless of the fact the victim was abroad.

Stop it now because I have legal remedies I can use if you continue to do so.

——

Since April 2008, I have pretty much ignored TIm Cumper‘s defamatory posts and photos against me. After all, he is entitled to his own opinion. I have ignored this issue for so long now but lately, my friends are being harassed online via facebook (his facebook name is cumper tim) and getting spam messages.

I have rested my case on this since April 2008.

There is nothing else I can do. I am not a detective or an investigative journalist. I am a blogger. Mr. Tim Cumper needs to do his own private investigation to seek the truth.

*Edit (September 6)- After April 2008, a group of bloggers picked up my story. I have no control over their entries or their opinion.

- Mr Tim Cumper, you were given the right to post here, the right to reply, the right to post and defame our character in your 60 plus websites (practically spamming the whole internet). You gravely abused the right to reply in our comments section by stalking, harassing and maligning the Filipina Images readers just because they did not agree with you. You accuse us of being scam supporters. Not only that, you continue to call me a corrupt liar and being part of Tierra Maria Estates.

Your right to reply is through your over 60 websites.

UK offers help for victims abroad. Read the leaflet. But it is only for those victims of a crime. Was there really a crime? Were you scammed? Was money sent to the Philippines? Get legal advice instead of harassing me and my friends.

Edit (September 12)
Tim Cumper sent an email trying to communicate but at the same time accusing me —“We know that it was you who set up the group on FaceBook – that was good fun wasn’t it?” There you go Tim Cumper….I just joined the group upon an invitation and contributed the to the list of friends stalked and harassed by Tim Cumper in Facebook. I refuse to communicate with such accusations. He better provide proof before making such accusations.

You have been warned to cease and desist and I will exercise my legal rights if you continue to stalk and harass me and my friends.

This is my final warning.

Purchasing home and building supplies could be strenuous for some women and demanding for others specially when unable to prioritize and identify exactly what needs to be bought, from where and why. The world today is facing a danger no man thought would be ever happen- Global warming. How do we help lessen this danger through our purchases and the choices we make in purchasing home and building supplies?

Two things:

1. Buy local products and support local businesses- Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution. Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms — continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community. Supporting local businesses creates jobs locally, encourages local prosperity and above all putting the local people’s taxes to good use.

2. Buy green organic products- By definition, organic products are free from pesticides, herbicides, and other potentially harmful substances that can damage your health. Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from pesticides has been linked to cancer, immune system suppression, nervous system disorders, reproductive damage, and hormone disruption. Many products that are made from conventionally grown crops show pesticide and herbicide residues. Our bodies can get rid of a certain number of toxins that we come in contact with; in fact, our bodies are designed to eliminate toxins. However, the problem we are facing today is that we have many more exposures to chemical toxins than, say 50 years ago. These chemicals come from our food, air, water, body care and cleaning products, home remodeling products and more. Many of us are consequently facing a toxic overload, and our bodies therefore cannot get rid of all the toxins we are taking in. Organic products are sustainable.

Using organic products will help to lessen this toxic load. Organic foods also tend to taste better and contain more vitamins and minerals than conventionally grown food. Some organic products are still difficult to find, and a stretch for many of our budgets. However, any switch we can make to organic will be helpful. You don’t have to start buying everything organic overnight, in fact, you would probably find that impossible. However, as there is more demand for organic products, the selection will increase and prices will probably decrease. Using organic products is useful and helpful to babies, children and those who have compromised health issues. Babies and children tend to be more vulnerable because their immune systems are immature and they eat more food per pound of body weight than do adults. Those with chronic illness or whose bodies are weakened for any reason are also more at risk. In addition, farm workers are at risk for illnesses caused by pesticide exposure.Lastly, using organic products is best for the environment. Conventional farming practices have caused many problems in our environment. They adversely affect birds and wildlife as well as fragile ecosystems. It has been estimated that pesticides kill at least 67 million birds in the US each year. In many cases, pesticides applied to fields have led to major ecosystem imbalances that resulted in failed crops. Minor pests can turn into major pests when pesticides eliminate the beneficial insects that keep these pests in check. Drinking water supplies get polluted. Crop dusting has led to “drift” of pesticides from fields to residential neighborhoods and even schools and caused illness. Organic and sustainable farming methods avoid these and many more problems. Eating, drinking and using organic products on a more frequent basis, from food to baby care to clothes, will make all of us healthier. This is especially true for babies, children and those with compromised immune systems. Increasing our consumption of organic products will also have a positive impact on the environment, and the more demand for organic goods, the better the selection and the lower the cost.

I believe that there is a place to help save the earth in every woman’s heart. To find healthy, organic and green home and building supplies, I listed a few online sites you can visit.

You can visit Your Green Home- Your home for healthy home and building supplies

or the following :

1. Business link- http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/links/sustainable_building_supplies.htm

2. Organic store locator- http://www.organicstorelocator.com/

3. Low impact living- http://www.lowimpactliving.com/products

The bad news is FilipinaImages.com is now number 6 but the good news is we are still in page 1. The first five links are all dating sites. Let’s not allow FilipinaImages.com rank way below page 1.

Update- from USA google search engine results show us at Number 3.

We at Filipinaimages.com enjoin you to sustain our Filipina Online Campaign by writing about the Filipina in your blogs and continue to link the “Filipina” in your entries.

Aside from blog entries, we also need immediate help from you and your blogger friends.

How?

In your sidebar or footer, place this link. [Don't just write the word, "Filipina." Instead, insert the link. The highlighted, linkable keyword, "Filipina," will be the published result.]

<a href="http://filipina.eu.com/">Filipina</a>

If you have a large community of readers in your site, start a similar sitewide links campaign and use this Filipina link:

<a href="http://filipinaimages.com">Filipina</a>

or simply add Filipinaimages.com with anchor text “Filipina” to your blogroll.

It’s that simple. Male and Female bloggers, spread the word.

We have the power to shape the future of The Filipina Woman’s Image Online.

That’s The Filipina! A collaborative effort to shape the future of the Filipina

Read more details on why we have a Filipina Image Online Campaign.

Friend,

Getting more curious about the Real Estate investing/ entrepreneurial experience?

Or you simply want a buddy along the way?

Visit my blog at http://www.ThinkRichPINAY.com as I share with you my past and present Think Rich Pinoy Real Estate Entrepreneurial journey!

Maybe you can learn something from me or I can learn something from you too!

In this exciting and challenging entrepreneurial journey (especially, if it’s a first-time), it would be great to have a friend!

Subscribe to http://www.ThinkRichPINAY.com now!

RichPinay

Roger wrote me and explained, “Thousands of Filipinas are sold overseas through/by Mail-Order-Bride syndicates. We helped curb this activity through an awareness campaign – for victims to speak up so that activities of people operating to traffic Filipinas can be checked and minimized.”

Let’s take a look at Roger Pe’s award-winning ad:

“Stamp” ad by Roger Pe (Campaign against Filipina Mail-Order-Brides,Teodora) DDB Philippines
2002 Bronze World Medal Winner, New York Festivals

Check out this year’s winner:

“Duct Tape” by DM9 JS Manila (Gabriela)
2008 Cannes Media Bronze winner

Let’s take a closer look at Roger’s ad:

And let’s see what the “call to action” is:

A picture indeed says a million words.

I’m enclosing snippets from the article about the “Duct Tape” ad wherein I highlighted certain portions.

Gabriela ad campaign wins bronze at Cannes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:34:00 06/20/2008

CANNES, FRANCE—DM9 JaymeSyfu, a Manila ad agency affiliated with the DDB network of communications companies, was awarded on Tuesday the Bronze Media Lion at the Cannes International Advertising Festival.

The first Cannes Media Lion won by a Philippine ad agency at the weeklong festival was for DM9 JaymeSyfu’s “Duct Tape” campaign for Gabriela Philippines, a women’s group opposing women abuse.

To dramatize the maltreatment of women, the campaign used duct tape to hold up posters of women which made it appear that the women in the posters were either gagged or blindfolded. The ad calls on abused women to speak up.

“A first for our country . . . This is certainly something that our agency has been dreaming of,” said Merlee Jayme, chief creative officer of DM9 JaymeSyfu, which was set up less than three years ago.

“It’s a very Pinoy campaign. It’s a victory, not just for us and our client Gabriela, but for all Pinoys who are working to eradicate spousal abuse,” said Alex Syfu, managing director of the ad agency that also services clients like Smart Communications Inc., Schering-Plough, Department of Tourism, Max’s, Discovery Suites and Greenfield Development.

The Cannes Media Lions, one of 11 categories at the festival, recognizes media efforts that generate access to consumers in ways that are innovative, engaging, encompassing and effective. The festival ends on June 21, with the TV/Film Lions, Titanium and Integrated Campaign Lions awards.

Read the complete article written by Angel Guerrero at Philippine Daily Inquirer.

]]> http://filipinaimages.com/looking-at-advertising-campaigns-against-filipina-mail-order-bride-syndicates/feed/ 13 http://filipinaimages.com/filipina-cybertyping/ http://filipinaimages.com/filipina-cybertyping/#comments Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:03:04 +0000 newfilipina http://filipinaimages.com/?p=264 i was delighted to find Filipina images blog online around last year. today, i checked and Filipina images is ranking 2nd in search results for “filipina” at google! congratulations ladies! and just now, i was delighted that i could join this blog and contribute. wow! what a great idea you have here, Lorna and all.

i’ve been creating filipina sites and linking to other filipina sites for many years now. i’ve even linked my sites to “yan ang pinay” which now has donated its great logo to this blog. you see, i’ve been watching these searches for “filipina” since around 1995-96.

many of us watching the filipina image online for all these years know what’s going on. i’ve come to call the problem we are trying to solve “cybertyping” because of something similar to cyber stereotyping.

cybertyping. a process by which the internet creates a stereotype, false image or cybermyth through search engine results or web advertising.

filipina cybertyping is articulated when one does a search on “filipina” through search engines such as a google and yahoo and those results show mostly sites that slant the image of the filipina to a narrow representation. go ahead and try it. what are your findings?

cybertyping also takes place through ads that come up with the keyword of “filipina”, for example, “filipinas for great prices at ebay” or through google ads. these results combined create a cyberstereotype or a cybermyth of filipinas. cybertyping.

cybertyping is impersonal on the internet’s behalf. it’s painful on a personal level. it’s degrading on a nationalistic sense. it’s a blow to the whole filipina/o identity experience as you become more and more aware of it. of course we can go on with everyday life despite it all. but there is something wrong with it.

stereotyping is a common thing. it creates control factors in the mind’s little games of perceiving and processing the world. maybe people like stereotyping because it limits and belittles in order to quell insecurities and fears.

the experience of newfilipina.com starting in 1998 was about a concerted effort, for and by filipinas, to create an online community where the sharing and discussions helped create a more complete filipina image online as opposed to the one-sided cybermyth created by the deluge of websites about brides, pen pals, dating and visual sex. Nothing wrong with the sites about companionship, but certainly something wrong with the skewed filipina cyber-representation peppered with porn and sex tours targeted to male markets globally. (and certainly something wrong with the impoverishment of the filipino people that might cause them to want to leave their country in order to survive. and that’s another topic to explore)

this skewed representation is not necessary caused by stereotyping necessarily. it’s more because of narrow representation online for filipinas that has been present since the beginnings of the internet. this narrow representation of filipinas is articulated when one does a search on “filipina” through search engines such as a google and yahoo. it also takes place through ads that come up with the keyword of “filipina”, for example, “filipinas for great prices at ebay” or through google ads. these results combined create a cyberstereotype or a cybermyth of filipinas. this is what i will call cybertyping. it’s impersonal on the internet’s behalf. it’s extremely painful on a personal level. it’s insulting on a nationalistic sense.

we can’t rant and rave anymore can we. (i did when i first discovered what was going on). we must work against cybertyping.

10 years after we started, filipina cybertyping is still ongoing and the cybermyth of filipinas as sex/domestic subservient goddesses still exists through the types of sites out there about filipinas.

thus, newfilipina.com cannot retire, but will rather, evolve. newfilipina.com, as a blog now, will concentrate on the examination of how this has come about. it will also make an effort, with your help hopefully, on deconstructing the mind-set and illusions that have helped create this phenomena. spin-off sites are being designed and constructed to take on the many features newfilipina.com once had, such as featured filipina lives, art, poetry, books, opinion and discussions. we invite you to join us through those spin-off sites.

and we invite you to apply techniques of using keywords and links to help counter cybertyping. a few years ago, i sent out an email to a few hundred cyber pinoys and pinays on how to do this. but i’ll give you the quick tips right here:

Technique 1.
Place the word “filipina” in the meta keywords and, if relevant, meta title within the html coding of your index page and as many other pages of your site.

Technique 2.
Place the word “filipina” in the text content of your web page/s, and as many webpages that you manage.

Technique 3.
Create a web page list of your favorite quality Filipina/o sites at your web page/site.

Also visit www.newfilipina.com and its sister sites in beta stage at www.pinay.com, www.phenomenalfilipinas.com/pfilipinas, and www.fabulousfilipinas.net

1. Why did you interview Mayen?

The idea came from a request of Don who was the first to blog about the Tierra Maria Estates Scam outside of FilipinaImages.com. He wanted to hear her side of the story. Lorna, a co-founder of FilipinaImages.com also suggested that an interview is a perfect opportunity to talk to a Filipina who has used a dating site. The interview was not intended to clear Tierra Maria Estates, as the victim is clearly Mayen. Unlike most of us, Mayen does not have the financial resources to use the internet or even blog about it. Like Don, I was keen on hearing her side of the story.

2. Why place a negative story in FilipinaImages.com? I thought your goal is balance.

Yes, the goal is balance of the keyword “filipina” in the search engine results pages. We are slowly achieving that balance in google search engine result pages.

However in this portal, we give freedom to our contributors to post positive and negative perception of the Filipina. However, we will ensure that this won’t be abused like what Tim Cumper did.

3. Is FilipinaImages.com just an online campaign?

The online campaign does not stop in our blogs. We enjoin the viewers to freely use the word “Filipina”. Don’t be ashamed to use “Filipina”. I have seen a blogger use “Pacific Islander” to identify her ethnicity when she is clearly a Filipina. The more we identify ourselves as Filipina, the more diversity there is to the rest of the world.

4. Why did you filter our site?

We filter all dating websites whether the market is for local Filipinos or foreigners. Most of our readers clamored for the filter ever since we started this online campaign.

5. Why do I still see dating websites in the ads?

There are so many dating websites that come out daily. We try to filter them everyday. But if you see one, please post it in our list.

Here is a list of How to Filter Filipina Dating Site Ads.

6. Why is there an SEO campaign on Tierra Maria Estates Scam?

The SEO campaign is to provide a balance of the Tierra Maria Estates Scam since Tim Cumper flooded the internet with more than 30 sites accusing Mayen, Tierra Maria Estates, Medical Center Paranaque with a group of her Filipino friends from Tierra Maria Estates, Medical Center Parañaque, doctors and a lawyer of the latter, Chin Chin Gutierrez and many others including bloggers.

We started a silent SEO campaign via email since February. Now when you type “Tierra Maria Estates Scam”, you will see Tim’s blogs and videos and our blogs in the search engine result pages.

Recently, some bloggers initiated their own SEO campaign with the same purpose but with variable anchor text and link of choice.

and here is a video that explains the advocacy of the FilipinaImages.com

Any more questions?

100% Pinoy interviewed me for a segment on “Modernong Maria Clara” that was aired Thursday, April 24, 2008. The episode talked on the image and the evolution of Filipino women.

(If you don’t want to view the whole video, here is the short snippet on filipinaimages,com)

Maria Clara is said to be the quintessential Filipina icon. But the image of Filipino women is said to be evolving. From Rizal’s Maria Clara to the worldwide web’s connotations of the word Filipina, has the essence really changed or is it all perception? If it has, are the changes enough to alter the view of ordinary Filipinos to the Filipina persona?

With the launch of Playboy Philippines, is it fair to say that the public is more comfortable with a non-conservative Filipina image? 100% Pinoy finds out in an actual Playboy centerfold photoshoot. Miriam Quiambao explores the proverbial changing image of Maria Clara, particularly on how it is depicted in the arts and modern day media.

Behind the Scenes

(Click on thumbnails)

The interview for FilipinaImages.com is basically on the goals of seeking balance in the Filipina images that are available online. I hope the segment producer understood the objectives. I reminded him that we are not out to clean the images. Through our blog posts, we show the world that Filipinas are a diverse group of women.

The short segment was aired after Saksi thursday night and if you are based abroad, it will also be shown Pinoy TV International.

100% PINOY is GMA7’s magazine show about Philippine Arts and Culture and its significance to nation building. It aims to bring back the pride of every Pinoy in our heritage, tradition and identitiy as Filipinos. The program is hosted by Ms. Miriam Quiambao and Mr. Joaquin Valdes.

Congratulations to the WikiPilipinas Filipina Stories Contest

1st prize: The Filipina Doctor: Coming Full Circle by Dr. Claire Francisco

2nd prize: The Evolving Beauty of a Modern Filipina by Eddie Oguing

3rd prize: The Cyber Feminization of Poverty: Mail-Order Brides and the Image of the Filipina by Genevieve Ruth Villamin

And the winner of the Ipod nano is from Netherlands. Sorry I can’t remember the entry right now.

To the winners: Please Contact mindy@wikipilipinas.org.ph for more details.

Photos

At the Women Can’t Wait at the SMX Convention Center (In Celebration of World’s Women’s Month)

Dine Racoma being interviewed for the “Sexy Mom” nickname.

Me showing a Powerpoint presentation of the FilipinaImages.com website.

Some bloggers who joined the contest.

(To be continued)

Lorna’s Introduction: FilipinaImages.com’s advocacy blog and news portal would like to showcase more news and stories that impact Filipinas in terms of gender equality and gender mainstreaming — so please let us know what you are doing in your community for Filipina women, wherever you are in the world.

To listen to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Pinoy Pod’s podcast on the 2008 V-Day presentations, please click here.

As the Filipina community in the Philippines’ time zone sleeps, here in San Francisco, California, the Filipina Women’s Network’s members and supporters are still waiting for our evening on March 28 to finally arrive. Today, we launch our V-Day celebrations with a film showing of the documentary, “Until the Violence Stops”, and the FWN Annual Vagina Warrior Awards.

We have come a long way from 2004 when FWN started its first Vagina Monologues’ community production. Many in our Filipino American communities have come forward to help out in ending violence against our Filipina girls and women worldwide.

In 2005, FWN published its first Anti-Violence Resource Guide, named V-Diaries, that served as a supplement (to targeted zipcodes in the San Francisco Bay Area) for the San Francisco Chronicle, a playbill for its V-Day productions, and a real helpful resource guide for many of our Filipino families nationwide. It is also available online at FFWN.org. FWN continues to seek sponsorship and advertising for this yearly publication — so please keep this in mind if you are looking at sponsoring FWN’s efforts in helping end violence against our women and girls worldwide.

Among this year’s beneficiaries of the FWN V-Day productions (aside from the V-Day organization as a beneficiary) is the Liga ng mga Lolang Pilipina, the League of Filipina Grandmothers (LILA Pilipina). M. Evelina Galang, the celebrated author, tireless advocate for these lolas, and one of the 2008 Vagina Warrior awardees, recently wrote the FWN members this message:

“Thanks to all of you for choosing the lolas I have been working with, surviving Filipina “Comfort Women” of WWII as one of your beneficiaries for this year’s Vagina Monologues! I have already been working with several of you who are writing their profiles up and highlighting the struggles of their fight for justice and your excitement and enthusiasm has been amazing. I was actually in Quezon City working with the lolas during the time that Eve Ensler came out to interview them. Those same lolas you see in her film, UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS, are the lolas of Liga ng mga Lolang Pilipina. Many have died, but many in their late 80′s and 90′s are still fighting. Your fight, your hard work, your many hours of rehearsal, of marketing this program, of selling tickets and of speaking their words in these programs, are felt by the women of LILA. I am excited to come to SF and NYC to be a part of your productions on their behalf.”

We quote from the 2005 V Diaries, page 23, which explains what “Vagina Warrior” means.

What is a Vagina Warrior?

Someone who has suffered or witnessed violence, who grieved it, transformed it, and then does extraordinary work to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else in their community.

In every community there are humble activists working every day, beat by beat to undo suffering. They sit by hospital beds, pass new laws, chant taboo words, write proposals, beg for money, demonstrate and hold vigils in the streets. These women and men have dedicated themselves toward ending such violence through effective grassroots means. They have been the heart of V-Day since it was conceived as a worldwide movement to empower and enable local activists to raise awareness and funds locally through V-Day benefit productions of The Vagina Monologues.

In order to guarantee a world without violence, in a time of danger and escalating madness, we urged the following Vagina Warriors to come out and join us so together we can continue our work.

IMAGINING A VIOLENCE-FREE WORLD
AN EVENING WITH THE 2008 VAGINA WARRIOR HONOREES

What: Presentation and film screening of “Until the Violence Stops”
When: Friday, March 28, 6:30 p.m.
(reception at 5:30 p.m., courtesy of Ramar Foods)
RSVP: Online, go to http://morgan08.eventbrite.com
or Call 415.278.9410
Where: AP Giannini Auditorium, Bank of America Building
555 California @ Montgomery, San Francisco, CA

Who:

- Anna Lisa Enrile PhD, National Chair, GABnet; Professor, USC School of Social Work
- Ken Marquis, Senior Director, V-Day FWN; Team Manager, George P. Johnson Company
- Ken Theisen, Justice & Courage Oversight Committee Member; Advocate, Bay Area Legal Aid
- M. Evelina Galang, Filipino American Coordinator, HR 121; Asst. Professor, University of Miami
- Mona Pasquil, Board Member, My Sister’s House; Vice President, MSHC Partners
- Nenette Flores, Accounting Officer, San Mateo County
- Sonia Delen, Senior Vice President, Banc of America Leasing
- Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye, Justice, California Third District Court of Appeal

Anna Lisa Enrile PhD, National Chair, GABnet; Professor, USC School of Social Work

Experienced intimate partner abuse. From that situation she decided to work against DV and rape. She founded a program for high school students in San Diego which won a citywide leadership award. She then began working with GABRIELA Network in 1994.

Ken Marquis, Senior Director, The Vagina Monologues & MMRP; Team Manager, George P. Johnson Company

The transformative power of theatre brings Ken back every year to V-Day FWN helping cast members find their interpretations of the monologues, as they find healing and empowerment within.

Ken Theisen, Justice & Courage Oversight Committee Member; Advocate, Bay Area Legal Aid

Ken has dedicated his life to educating, improving and changing policy on nearly every facet of domestic violence. Over the years, Ken has helped train thousands of staff and volunteers at agencies that assist survivors. He has also worked with the SFPD, judges, DAs, lawyers, students, and medical personnel on domestic violence issues. He has met with the last 4 mayors and the last 8 police chiefs. He’s not one to hold back his opinions and says, “I don’t care if they like me or not” just as long as he’s getting through to them.

M. Evelina Galang, Asst. Professor, University of Miami

Evelina tirelessly collected signatures and travelled to Filipino communities nationwide as the Filipino American Outreach Coordinator for the passage of HR 121. Continues to document the stories of the surviving Filipina “Comfort Women” as a legacy reminder of the atrocities of war.

Mona Pasquil, Board Member, My Sister’s House; Vice President, MSHC Partners

Mona’s work for the California Senate, the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton White House has provided her the opportunity to affect social policy giving voice to the issues that face the community especially at My Sister’s House, the only nonprofit DV agency in the Central Valley’s highly diverse Asian and Pacific Islander community.

Nenette Flores, Accounting Officer, San Mateo County

From survivor to advocate, Nenette shed her reticence to speak up against intimate partner abuse at many community events. Her courage and generosity are astounding, considering her experience and ongoing struggle against the enduring effects of domestic violence.

Sonia Delen, Senior Vice President, Banc of America Leasing

Sonia’s strength is a culmination of many tests and triumphs — arriving in the U.S. as a 26-year old, pregnant and single. Her son, David, was born blind, hearing impaired and developmentally disabled. She was adamant abut not going on welfare and raised David on her own for seven years while climbing the corporate ladder as the highest ranking Filipina in her company and still finding the time for DV advocacy work.

Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye, Justice, California Third District Court of Appeal

Presided over the first court in Sacramento dedicated solely to domestic violence issues (1997). Currently, Judge Tani serves on the Judicial Council’s Task Force on Domestic Violence Practice and Procedure, charged with recommending changes to improve court practices and procedures in cases involving domestic violence allegations.

Until The Violence Stops features playwright and activist Eve Ensler in a powerful film that documents how The Vagina Monologues grew into an international grassroots movement called V-Day to stop violence against women and girls. When this documentary was made in 2002, eight hundred cities around the world participated in V-Day by staging benefit performances of The Vagina Monologues.

Director Abby Epstein takes us on a poignant journey into the hearts of women and includes revealing testimonies from men, who expose social and cultural attitudes that perpetuate the pervasive violence against women. In emotionally charged interviews and performances, everyday women and celebrities like Rosie Perez, Salma Hayek, Tantoo Cardinal, Jane Fonda, and Lisa Gay Hamilton embrace their bodies, reconcile their past, and bond together to break the silence that surrounds abuse.

For the V-Day benefit performance schedule, please click here.