14 Sep 2011

PHILIPPINES / SEX STRIKE

Displaced women in two villages on Mindanao Island find an unconventional way to stop their men-folk from fighting, clear roads and start rebuilding amid a separatist rebellion. UNHCR

Posted at: September 14, 2011 1:29 pm

Duration: 03:21

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: PHILIPPINES / SEX STRIKE
TRT: 3.21
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: LOCAL DIALECT / NATS

DATELINE: 5 JULY 2011, DADO VILLAGE, MINDANAO ISLAND, PHILIPPINES

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, armed group walking on road 
2. Med shot, armed group on road
3. Med shot, armed group sitting inside jeep
4. Wide shot, motorbike on road to Dado village
5. Med shot, UNHCR meeting Dado residents Hasna Kandatu and husband Lengs Kupong
6. Various shots, fishermen in boats casting nets
7. Wide shot, armed group walking on road
8. Wide shot, armed group on road
9. Wide shot, Road barricades 
10. Med shot, feet on sewing machine
11. Close up, hands on sewing machine
12. Wide shot, sewing room with women Hasna Kandatu foreground
13. Med shot, sewing room with women
14. Med shot, sewing room with women sitting together
15. SOUNDBITE (Local dialect) Hasna Kandatu, Dado villager:
"If our husbands wanted to fight, we'd tell them not to.  If they still went, we'd say ok, it's up to you.  But you will not be accepted at home." 
16. Close up, Lengs Kupong riding motor bike on road
17. Wide shot, Lengs Kupong and Hasna Kandatu walking on road 
18. SOUNDBITE (Local dialect) Lengs Kupong, village Leader:
"She says to me if you do bad things then we will be separated."
19. Med shot, Entrance to sewing cooperative
20. Med shot, View from window into sewing room
21. Med shot, View from behind women sewing
22. SOUNDBITE (Local dialect) Ainon E. Kamanza Filipino, Dado villager:
"I told them Ma'am if you don't agree with me then you have no salary from me!"
23. Wide shot, children walking from school
24. Med shot, chidren at Dado school
25. Wide shot, road leading to market with motor bikes
26. Med shot, fisherman Mama Zainal in boat
27. Wide shot, fisherman making net at home
28. Wide shot, boy raking corn 
29. SOUNDBITE (local dialect) Hasna Kandatu and Lengs Kupong:
-Lengs: "Two!  I want two wives!" 
-Hasna: "Me if I have more money then I would like to help other families, who could not afford to provide for their children.  I would like to have more money so I could help others." 
30. Med shot, villager chopping fish 
31. Med shot, villagers selling fish
32. Wide shot, Hasna Kandatu and Lengs Kupong walking away

STORYLINE:

Since the 1970s a separatist rebellion has racked The Philippines Mindanao Island.

About 100,000 people were displaced by fighting in 2008 including the families of Dado Village.The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) consulted with the village to identify their needs. The agency provided fishing boats, nets, a landing site, and sewing machines.  However, one problem remained.

To send their goods to market, Dado residents had to pass through two villages where fighting had flared again.

There was only one road and it was closed.The women of Dado quietly organized a clever solution to bring peace. They called a sex strike.

SOUNDBITE (Local dialect) Hasna Kandatu, Dado villager:
"If our husbands wanted to fight, we'd tell them not to.  If they still went, we'd say ok, it's up to you.  But you will not be accepted at home."Hasna Kandatu's husband, Lengs Kupong, was a key leader. He told the two villages that continued fighting would damage the economy and perhaps more importantly his marriage.

SOUNDBITE (Local dialect) Lengs Kupong, village leader:
"She says to me if you do bad things then we will be separated."

Hasna Kandatu admits the plot was conceived at the women's sewing cooperative. And Ainon Kamanza says many of the women used their powers of seduction.

SOUNDBITE (Local dialect) Ainon E. Kamanza, Dado villager"I told them Ma'am if you don't agree with me then you have no salary from me!"

It worked within a week the women brought peace to the nearby villages. The road to the market reopened, enabling Dado Village to continue rebuilding. The villagers still need more help.  They share just 16 boats among 102 families.

However, they say they feel a renewed sense of empowerment.

Now they can earn a living, instead of receiving food aid.Hasna and her husband Lengs are looking to a brighter future too.

SOUNDBITE (Local dialect) 
-Lengs Kupong:  "Two!  I want two wives!" 
-Hasna Kandatu, Dado villager:"Me if I have more money then I would like to help other families, who could not afford to provide for their children.  I would like to have more money so I could help others."

Dado village, like many communities on Mindanao, struggles to rebuild. And if the women continue to prevail then peace may bring prosperity.

Filed under 13.01.00 - PROTECTION OF AND ASSISTANCE TO REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS PHILIPPINES UNHCR - Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.