Members of militant women’s alliance Gabriela yesterday protested  the US military intervention in the Philippines, as well as the various government policies that adversely affect Filipino women and the people.

And they did it through dance: a flash mob of the One Billion Rising (OBR) anthem “Isang Bilyong Babae ang Babangon” in the middle of the bustling intersection of Legarda and Recto Avenues, near Don Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge, in Manila.

In a statement, Gabriela said the protest action kicks off the month-long series of actions, including the global day of dancing and protesting for OBR on February 14, and will culminate on March 8, the International Women’s Day.

Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said that they launched the action to protest the Aquino government’s complicity with the US military violations of the country’s national sovereignty and even abuse of women.

“When we rise against violence (in OBR), what we want to show is primarily state-instigated violence. (This includes) all the policies of the government that opens the gate for (Filipino) women to experience different kinds of violence,” De Jesus said.

She reiterated Gabriela’s call to scrap the PH-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that reinforces the one-sided relationship between the Philippines and the US. The VFA mainly benefits US interests, De Jesus said.

“Why do we allow the use of Philippine soil for their military exercises when in fact we are not associated with their wars of aggression?” De Jesus asked.

Meanwhile, Nitz Gonzaga of the women’s department of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said the OBR movement is not only a protest against gender-based violence.

She said it is also a protest against many issues confronting women, including the rampant demolition of urban poor communities as well as the lack of policies that favor workers such as substantial wage hikes, abolition of contractualization of work and others.

Gabriela also criticized the Aquino administration for pushing for the privatization of public hospitals, including the Philippine Orthopedic Center, where many impoverished women and men turn to for medical assistance.

According to medical doctor Julie Caguiat of Doktor Ng Bayan – Network Opposed to Privatization, public health services under President Aquino are becoming even more privatized and profit-oriented in the country, to the detriment of many women and men who can ill-afford expensive medical care.

The flash mob commenced a series of activities for OBR’s global campaign against violence against women (VAW). In the Philippines, it is led by Gabriela, Gabriela Women’s Party and New Voice Company.

According to Joms Salvador, Gabriela secretary-general, there will be similar events leading up to the “main rising” on February 14 at Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City, and in different parts of the country.

This event will raise issues such as imperialist plunder, poverty and VAW. Salvador said the protests will also focus on the “rape of Tubbataha” by the US military, as well as the “rape of the Motherland” through US military, political and economic intervention in the country.

The activity will also raise issues that deeply affect Filipino women and people, including increasing costs of public utilities such as water and electricity, privatization of social services and, of course, increasing number of VAW cases as economic crisis intensifies.

“Filipino women are joining a billion people in nearly 190 countries next week to protest VAW, the rape by foreign military troops of our Motherland and our women, and poverty and economic policies that destroy our lives,” Salvador said.