Tribute to the Lolas

I spent an evening with The Lolas of Lila Pilipina, the surviving comfort women of WWII in the Philippines. An evening of strength and joy, these women danced and sang their hearts out. When the music didn’t come out of the karaoke machine, they danced a capella to, “You are My Sunshine.” It wasn’t that […]

Tribute to the Lolas

Hung on a wall of their home, many tapestries tell the story of the violence inflicted upon them by the Japanese soldiers during World War II.  Often kidnapped, coerced, or tricked into going with the soldiers, they were made to work during the day in garrisons doing laundry, cleaning, and cooking.  By nightfall, they were […]

The Monologue that Should be a Dialogue

The Vagina Monologues, written by Eve Ensler, is a popular conversation topic in February.It is a production that has sparked a larger movement: Vday.  Every year, February 14 is V-Day, a day marked to end violence against women, and thousands of productions take place across the world.  All proceeds benefit local sexual assault services and […]