Liza napaiyak dahil sa mga batang biktima ng pang-aabuso: Dapat tayong lumaban, manindigan

IYAK nang iyak si Liza Soberano habang nagbibigay ng mensahe para sa mga kabataang miyembro ng women’s rights group na Gabriela.

Hindi napigilan ng Kapamilya actress ang kanyang emosyon nang mapag-usapan na ang naging karanasan ng ilan niyang fans na may kinalaman sa sexual abuse at harassment.

Marami raw nag-open up sa kanya tungkol dito nang idemanda niya ang isang netizen na nag-post ng rape joke laban sa kanya sa social media.

Sa ginanap na webinar na in-organize ng Gabriela Youth, isa si Liza sa mga naging speakers para sa “Tinig ni Nene: Reclaiming Our Voice on the International Day of the Girl Child”.

Dito ipinakilala ang aktres bilang “Young Woman Influencer” at ang natokang subject sa kanya ay, “The young woman’s contribution to raising awareness and creating a safe environment for young women amid the pandemic.”

Ayon sa dalaga, nagsimula ang pakikipaglaban niya para sa mga kabataan nang mag-join siya sa kampanya kontra online sexual exploitation.

“My experience with this is during the pandemic, a lot of tragedies and hardships were happening not only to women and children, but a lot of of people in general. Not just in the Philippines, but in the whole world.

“There was one day when I came across a tweet by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, talking about the increased in online sexual exploitation of children during the pandemic because of the access to internet, and the lack of awareness that this is an issue that has been going on in the Philippines for the longest time,” simulang pahayag ng girlfriend ni Enrique Gil.

Patuloy pa ni Liza na kasalukuyang nasa Amerika kasama si Quen, “I know that I haven’t been the most vocal about my opinions and about the advocacies that I feel very strong for, because I was always afraid that I would be dividing my supporters. I was afraid of creating conflict.”

Aniya pa, “Ang paniniwala ko po dati na kapag artista ka, dapat umiiwas ka sa lahat ng issues. Dapat we just keep talking about our craft, and the next movie we’re making and everything. Kasi, I was afraid that people would judge me. They would say, what do I know, I’m just a girl, I’m just an actress.

“But then I realized, especially, most recently when there was someone who made a sexual abuse comment towards me, I realized the impact of me standing up for myself, especially after I filed a criminal case against somebody who made a rape joke against me.

“A lot of my supporters, actually I think there were five, messaged me and were saying, ‘Thank you.’ Honestly, I cried when they sent me those messages, because I didn’t realize how many women were struggling to stand up for themselves,” pahayag pa ng dalaga na hindi na napigilan ang pagluha.

“Sorry, I get kind of emotional because I’ve had the experience, not firsthand experience. I’m actually privileged and blessed to have, I’m getting so emotional. Sorry.

“I know a lot of women in my life who had struggled with this. And I find it so unfair that we women have to go out every day with fear of being catcalled, of dressing a certain way and getting called out for the way we’re dressed.

“I fear that my nieces and future children won’t be able to go out into a safe environment. That’s why I find it so important to start spreading awareness to the future generations, as early as now, so that we can create a better future for everyone,” lahad pa ni Liza.

Dagdag pa niyang mensahe, “As a woman, as a Filipino artist, I think that women and influencers alike should start speaking up.

“They can contribute not only awareness about these issues, but also encouragement and confidence to our fellow women and children, that they need to learn to stand up for themselves.

“I know it’s easier said than done and not all of us have the luxury or the confidence or power or support system to do so.

“But based on my own experience, when I saw more and more of my friends starting to speak up about issues that mattered to them, like Ate Angel Locsin, or even my idols Angelina Jolie and Emma Watson, it empowers me.

“And it gives me the courage to start speaking up about these issues, too. Because they matter, and we need to start seeing change in the world,” matapang pang pahayag ni Liza Soberano.