NAKAKABILIB talaga ang aktres na si Michiko Unso. Left and right ang kanyang advocacies in and out of showbiz. Ang latest project niya na pinuntahan namin ay ang workshop for self-defense na binuo niya para sa lahat ng kababaihan.
Itinayo ni Michiko ang B.R.A.V.E. (Bolder Reaction Against Violence to Empower) Women kung saan ang unang proyekto ay ang workshop on self-defense kung saan dinaluhan ng ilang celebrities gaya ng komedyanteng si Mosang mula sa programang Pepito Manaloto ng GMA 7.
Ang BRAVE Women ay isang adbokasiya na sinusuportahan ng Junior Chamber International (JCI) Makati Princess Urduja. One year na siyang member ng JCI Makati.
“Magagaling ‘yung members namin, composed of executives, CEOs and employees. Idea ko ‘yung BRAVE, ako ‘yung chairperson. Tapos it’s under the organization. Kasi maganda kapag under organization and JCI Makati Princess Urduja is really into women empowerment,” pahayag ni Michiko.
Siya raw ang nakaisip ng BRAVE na acronym pero ang unang pangalan na naisip niya ay Don’t Cry Rape.
“Kasi supposedly puro rape lang. Pero naisip namin sobrang daming violence against women. Actually, marami ngang beauty queens na makikiisa sa amin,” lahad niya. Gusto raw nilang ma-achieve ng mga participant ‘yung skills na itinuro sa workshop na very practical naman.
“Pero ang gusto naming i-instill is the brave mind set na you can fight back or you can protect yourself or prevent it. We feel kasi that we are the weaker sex. Hindi totoo ‘yun. We are equal with men. Even transgender women should attend this because they are also prone to violence. They’re very much welcome here,” panawagan niya.
As of now, pang-Metro Manila muna ang mga proyekto ng BRAVE Women, “Since this if for free, this is an advocacy, there’s no funding really. Some part of it is subsidized by JCI Makati Princess Urduja but of course, with this kind of advocacy it takes a lot of money, effort and people. That’s why we are asking for your help para ma-propagate siya. So that we can come up with people who are willing to support us and the projects.”
Target nila na ma-invite ang transgender na nanalong congressman sa Bataan. May second part pa ang for self-defense na proyekto ng BRAVE Women. Pupunta naman sila sa ibat ibang shelters for women to provide them inspirational workshop led by former victims themselves na naka-survive despite their experiences.
Galing, ‘di ba? May your tribe increase BRAVE women!