20 October 2005 – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the first-ever Filipino-initiated  event on Domestic Violence Awareness was held on 05 October 2005 at the Social Hall of the Philippine Center where the Filipino community took concrete steps to reject domestic violence and extend assistance to both the survivors and abusers.

The forum, entitled “DV (Domestic Violence):  Not in Our Community,” was sponsored by the Filipino American Outreach Task Force of the San Mateo-based private non-profit organization known as  Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA).  Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez said the event broke the silence of Filipino American survivors and their families, and brought together advocates, activists and concerned citizens from each sector.

At the heart of the event was the pledging ceremony presided by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ronald Quidachay, the lone Filipino American on the bench in the nine Bay counties. He led the vow to end domestic violence at home, at work and in the community by fulfilling 10 specific acts such as learning about the dynamics of abuse and its effects on children as well as reaching out and providing resources to identified survivors or abusers.

Consul General Sanchez and CORA Executive Director Melissa Lukin invited the community to participate in the on-going campaign to end domestic violence, the leading cause of death for women worldwide.  More than 10 percent of the clients of CORA are Filipino nationals. CORA is the only domestic violence core service agency with a Filipino American specific outreach program.

The event also heard the testimonies of Clara Tempongko whose daughter Claire Joyce was murdered by her still missing ex-boyfriend in October 2000.  Television actress Giovannie Pico, a mainstay of the hit series “ER”, spoke about living in an abusive relationship. Both detailed their path to healing.

Though based in San Mateo county, CORA conducted the pledge to reject domestic violence at the consulate in San Francisco in a profound symbolic outreach to Filipino America.

The Filipino American Task Force of CORA is composed of Alice Bulos, Bettina Santos Yap, Dr. Jei Africa, Jojo LIangco, Kristine Zafrani Averilla, Erlinda Galeon, Lina Susbilla, Nelie Hizon, Nerissa Fernandez, Rachel Puno Juliana, Teresa Ferrer Guingona, and Yumi Querubin. The coordinator of CORA’s FilAm Task Force is Cherie Querol Moreno. END.