“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” - Ambrose Redmoon
For 24 years, Visayan Forum has been fighting for freedom, justice, and hope for victims and survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery. Our courage stems from the belief that the dignity of the human being is paramount, and our lives shall be dedicated to ensuring that rights are upheld, welfare is promoted, and the person is protected.
On February 26, 2015, we celebrated 24 years of courage, hope, and innovations in the fight to end modern slavery – not just of Visayan Forum, but also of the partners who have supported and worked with us through the years. For one night, we gathered over 120 partners and friends to join us in a thanksgiving for the mission that has been entrusted to us, and in prayer for greater strength to work towards our shared vision. It was a night of sincere gratitude, joyful cheers, tear-jerking testimonies, inspiring words, and promising visions among colleagues, friends, and as the VF survivors put it in their opening song, “family”.
Why celebrate courage, hope, and innovations?
Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar of the Department of Justice – Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, through Assistant Secretary Neil Silva asked us a very important question – “In this second age of globalization, where people are transported to sweat shops and brothels through jet propulsion, where predators abuse children across half the world at nearly the speed of light, who will stand for justice?”.
David Bussau, Visayan Forum’s new Chairman of the Board of Trustees (see related article: VF’s new Board of Trustees), in his inspirational message, answered it best when he saluted VF and its anti-trafficking network for being “people defined by their courageous choices”, and the survivors for being “courage personified”, emphasizing that “courage is a choice”. David acknowledged that everyday, we choose to be strong in the face of pain and danger as advocates against human trafficking, everyday we stand for survivors, everyday we stand for justice. And it is this choice that defines the persons that we are.
Ma. Cecilia Flores – Oebanda, President and CEO of Visayan Forum, in her opening remarks, reminded everyone to celebrate every victory in the fight against human trafficking, because the advocacy is laden with threats and dangers at every corner, and each bit of winning will reinvigorate the movement, draw courage, and inspire everyone to move forward and continue the fight.
Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon ‘Dinky’ Soliman, through Director Marites Maristela, said “the reward of good work, is more work”. The Honorable Secretary challenges us to do more, “hanggang sa wala ng mabibiktima pa at wala ng magtatangkang sa kanila’y mambiktima.”
Bringing everyone to tears, Chel, a human trafficking survivor cared for by Visayan Forum, reminded us why we need to work harder – because there are still those who need to be protected, rescued, healed, and transformed. She said, “Sila yung naging daan upang maabot namin yung mga pangarap namin. Dahil sa Visayan Forum, nakita namin yung liwanag na hinahanap namin.”
Celebrating Our Partners
In acknowledging the invaluable partnership and support of its partners, Visayan Forum specially thanked ten (10) organizations and individuals who have continuously shared VF’s vision and tirelessly collaborated in achieving its mission, by giving them a painting crafted by survivors during a healing and therapy session at VF’s shelters.
The partners and individuals acknowledged were:
- The Wholistic Transformation Resource Center Foundation, Inc.
- The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking
- The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Secretariat
- The Manila International Airport Authority
- The Zonta Club of Pasig
- The Zonta International
- Cecilia Espenilla of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena
- The Religious of Mary Immaculate
- International Justice Mission
- Adamson University’s Office of Vincentian Identity and Mission
Celebrating Visayan Forum
DSWD Director Marites Maristela, thanked Visayan Forum for its “unending work against this illegal human trade” and acknowledged that VF has “exerted all out of efforts in assisting rescued victims and ensuring that perpetrators are convicted”.
Commissioner Remy Rikken of the Philippine Commission on Women candidly congratulated Visayan Forum on its founding anniversary even as she corrected the organization, saying “hindi lang 24 years yan, you’ve been working for decades”, explaining that VF has been working to end modern slavery through its founder, Cecil Oebanda and her peers in the late 80’s, way before the organization was built.
Assistant Secretary Neil Silva further lauded Visayan Forum as the organization who started the fight against human trafficking in the Philippines, saying “…long before there was a law creating the IACAT, the Visayan Forum was already at the vanguard of efforts to protect trafficking survivors and to educate the public on the evil perpetrated against them”.