***UPDATE***
Because of the recent changes of schedule, the RH debates in Senate might no longer push through today, and because of this, the Purple Ribbon candle lighting ceremony has been moved to 4pm – 5pm. The organizers at Purple Ribbon for RH apologize for this development, and we hope that some can still make it earlier despite the very short notice. Thank you for your support!
September 7, 2011
Senate Interpellation on the RH Bill: 3 PM, Senate Plenary Hall
National Day of the Purple Ribbon Ceremony: 6 PM, Senate Grounds
Wear purple and bring purple ribbons
Facebook RSVP
It’s clear: from SWS survey results to the President’s own LEDAC endorsement, the Philippine nation is clamoring for the decade long debate on the RH Bill to finally conclude. It is only the handful of anti-RH representatives in both our houses of Congress that still attempt to delay voting on the bill. This is due to the orders of their handlers from the CBCP, and done at the cost of women’s lives and health.
When Rep. Roilo Golez can freely quote medical evidence from Wikipedia as authoritative fact, and Senator Sotto can callously dismiss mothers’ deaths, literally laughing at the faces of the poor women who suffer due to the lack of this bill, it is up to each and every concerned citizen to go directly to them and show that our country is still a democracy.
We would like to ask any and all concerned Freethinkers to join fellow members of the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) for the National Day of the Purple Ribbon on Sept. 7, 6 PM at the Senate Grounds (right outside the main gate of the Senate Compound, which is also the GSIS Building in Pasay City). There is a simple ceremony to commemorate those who have died as a result of the bill’s being delayed. This will be the first of a series of monthly events until the end of this year’s legislative season.
Also, anyone interested in attending the Senate interpellation between Miriam Santiago (the bill’s cosponsor) and Senators Sotto, Enrile, etc. may come to the Senate Plenary Hall in the same building earlier, at 3 PM. It is open to the public, as long as one is ‘decently dressed’ and can present a valid photo ID. It is recommended that you come in by 230 PM to secure seats.
***
Reproductive Health (RH) supporters all over the country are calling for a series of nationally coordinated mass actions to ask Congress to finally put the RH bill into vote. Starting September 7, the RH Consortium, together with its allies and partners in the different regions, will organize a monthly “Day of the Purple Ribbon for RH” with various activities ranging from motorcades, candle and torch parades, purple ribbon tying and stickering, rallies and cultural presentations.
Hundreds of RH supporters from grassroots organizations, local government units, arts and entertainment industry, interfaith groups, academe, business and national government agencies are expected to join the mass actions. Likewise, the organizers are calling the public to participate in these activities and to wear purple clothes, tie purple ribbons in their homes and cars and to light a candle at exactly 6PM during that day.
The major staging areas for the September 7 purple ribbon events are the cities of Baguio, Iloilo, Davao and at the Senate grounds in Pasay City. The Baguio Day of the Purple Ribbon will feature street performances, an RH forum, a candle parade at 5PM and a concert at the UP Baguio starting at 7PM. In Iloilo City, the whole day event will start with the early morning tying of purple ribbons in major thoroughfares, memorial march and cultural program in the afternoon at the Jaro Plaza.
In Davao City, a motorcade in the morning will launch the purple ribbon campaign, followed by a photo exhibit and a rally at the people’s park. In Pasay City, women’s groups will hold a cultural rally at the Senate grounds to draw attention to the daily deaths of mothers. The rally will coincide with the plenary debate on the RH bill in the Senate. A candle lighting ceremony at exactly 6PM will be the common feature for all the activities on September 7 to remember women who died needlessly due to pregnancy and childbirth complications.
The other dates and venues for the National Day of the Purple Ribbon for RH are on October 7 in Pampanga, Legaspi, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga and on November 15 in Tugegarao, Tacloban and Quezon City.
For interviews and clarifications, please contact Ms. Vigie Benosa-Llorin, PLCPD Media Advocacy Officer, Mobile No. 0918-2936786.
