February 14th 2013 marks the fifteenth anniversary of V Day, a global movement to end violence against women. This year, it will be marked by One Billion Rising, a single day of action, which urges everyone to ‘Strike. Dance. Rise’, in order to draw attention to the fact that one in three of women worldwide, are likely to be raped or beaten in our lifetime. One Billion Rising urges individuals and groups to take time out from their schools and workplaces and show their solidarity through a range of creative activities, but particularly in the form of dance.

A range of activities are set to take place in the Philippines. In Quezon City, Rehearsals are underway for a feminist flash mob composed of men and women from a range of local organisations. They have taken up One Billion Rising’s global anthem, ‘Break the Chain’ and it’s accompanying choreography, developed by Debbie Allen. These moves will be seen in dance protests worldwide, as well as on Thomas Morato, on February 14. The group is building on their successful performance for International Human Rights Day last year, and expect this performance to be bigger and better.

One Billion Rising also urges group to contribute original songs which form the play list to the global dance celebrations. Gabriela Philippines, have adapted the music of ‘Break the Chain’, with Filipino lyrics, for a song entitled ‘Isang bilyong babaeng babangon’ (A billion women will rise), complete with their own choreography. They organised events at Thomas Morato as well as Trinoma Mall Activity Centre in Quezon City, which will also feature V-Men, a collection of male Filipino luminaries, who have stepped out in support of the movement to end violence against women.

The Comfort Women Lolas are also leading “Sayaw Philippines” (Dance Philippines), a dance concert and rally to be held on Roxas Boulevard, featuring Filipino bands, theater and dance groups. Events are also slated to take place in Cebu.

Isis International is proud to take part in this global day of action, and encourage those who would also to take a stand against violence against women to join us. For further information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.