Six women and their stories in pursuit of justice
By Lindy Rosales
On a cloudy spring day, it was a pleasure to walk through the verdant grounds of Harvard University on the way to the Asean Center. Parking is a scarcity in this university town unless you have a resident permit, or it’s a Sunday.
We were to attend the book launch of “Six Filipino Women for Justice,” an anthology of stories of six powerful women, edited by author, editor and columnist Asuncion David Maramba. The women in the book include Senator Risa Hontiveros, former senator and political prisoner Leila de Lima, activist nun Sister Mary John Mananzan, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, Rappler CEO and Nobel laureate Maria Ressa, and former vice president Leni Robredo.
One of the authors was to speak: Professor Ed Garcia. He was introduced by Ambassador Mario de Leon, the former Philippine Consul General in New York.
The book is a compilation of the stories of six women whose stories need to be told and shared with the younger generation, said de Leon. In this age of misinformation and disinformation it is important for the truth to be told.
Garcia shared insights and memories when Leni Robredo and Rosa Hontiveros were his students in college. Now, he said, “Hontiveros is the only dissenting voice in the Philippine Senate.”
This book is divided into two parts. One part is about the women who have suffered injustice in the hands of their tormentors, the people in authority: Robredo, Leila de Lima and Maria Ressa.
The other part is about the women who pursued justice: Risa Hontiveros, Conchita Carpio Morales and Sister Mary John Mananzan. “Tuloy ang Laban,” he said.
“The biggest challenge was getting the publisher and editor to come together to finish the book, with six authors trying to submit changes and last minute additions,” he shared.
“The editor is 90 years old and this is like a last hurrah for her. It took years to get this book together,” he added.
Said Garcia: “The best kept secret in the country is no secret at all. The President is a fraud…because he was complicit in plunder, complicit in the violations of human rights, both in the time of Marcos Sr. and Duterte’s drug war. And he was complicit in disinformation. He weaponized Fake News. He consulted Cambridge Analytica to rebrand the Marcos name and to destroy the names of his opponents.”
In a statement, San Anselmo Press, the book’s publisher, provided a glimpse into what the book is about: “Through their stories of trial, activism, and unwavering boldness, this book explores the stark realities of the Philippines, from dire prison conditions to widespread governmental corruption. ‘Six Filipino Women for Justice’ is not just a collection of life stories but a dynamic call to action for societal reform and reflection on the true essence of justice.
“Maramba’s work is a tribute to the spirit of defiance and hope, making it a must-read for anyone dedicated to the ideals of justice and societal progress.”
The book was launched in New York City on April 21.
(C) The FilAm 2024
