It was her night of nights, and Liliana Maria Margarita “Matti” Sitoy was the belle of the ball at the flower-bedecked ballroom of Radisson Blu Cebu. Her doting parents, Dr. Apollo and Dr. Stephanie Sitoy, left no stone unturned to give her an 18th birthday party to remember.
December 13, 2020 THE Philippines has passed so many laws on gender-based violence and violence against women and children.
However, a review stated that gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against women and children (VAWC) remain an area of utmost concern, describing these problems as “shadow pandemic” as these mostly occur at homes and unreported to authorities.
Dr. Rhodora Bucoy, former chair of the Philippine Women Commission, said there is an urgent need for everyone to join the campaign against VAWC/GBV, not only in the country but throughout the world. Bucoy delivered the keynote message during the Zonta Club of Cebu 2 webinar on “Creating Safe Cities” on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. The event was part of the 18 Days Campaign to End Violence Against Women and Children.