Tony Award-winning author of The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler, visited the Philippines recently to officially launch her massive, worldwide movement One Billion Rising happening on February 14, 2013.

One Billion Rising is Ensler’s invitation for women to “strike, dance and rise” to end violence against women (VAW). During her one week-stay, Ensler went to various towns around the country to invite Filipinas to join their advocacy group.

Her visit was also highlighted by the official media launch of the global campaign held at the Music Museum in San Juan City on December 20.

At the event, Ensler shared her vision for One Billion Rising and all the women of the world.

Present to show their support were actress Monique Wilson, women leaders and members of Gabriela, Migrante International, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Center for Women’s Research, Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy, Association for the Rights of Children in Southeast Asia, Amihan (Peasant Women Federation), Samakana (Urban Poor Women), Gabriela Youth and Lila Filipina, the cast Vagina Monologues and V-Day activists.

Ensler first told everyone the reason behind creating One Billion Rising. She began, “This is what I feel about violence against women. It is so entrenched. It is made ordinary and acceptable.”

“We assume women will be raped. We assume women will be beaten. We assume women will live in poverty. We assume women don’t have rights. We assume women will not get healthcare. We assume women will have underpaid jobs. We assume the given,” Ensler explained.

She then asked, “So how do we actually break apart the given. How do we make something ordinary become unacceptable?”

Her answer: “By saying that word [vagina], by breaking the silence and by deconstructing the taboo, people will see that the accepted is not acceptable.”

This according to Ensler, was her experience with the V-Day movement for the last 14 years. “My experience with V-Day and Vagina Monologues is that when people hear vagina, they pay freak out. But they pay attention it seems,” she shared.

However, she added that despite the V-Day’s numerous achievements there were still thousands of women who are violated. “For the past 10 years, I have been obsessed with this number—that one out of three women will be raped or beaten,” Ensler stated.

So with the organization’s 15th anniversary, she dreamed of one billion women rising against VAW. “So, we [V-Day] thought this year, OK, there’s a billion women. Why don’t we call them on February 14 and say let’s strike and let’s dance to put an end to violence against women,” Ensler concluded.

Besides the official launching of One Billion Rising, Ensler also led the premiere of the group’s TVC. The local campaign video was created by advertising agency DM9 Jayme Syfu, with original and Tagalized lyrics written by Syfu herself.

The video featured Filipina women rising and dancing against VAW, as well as the struggles of survivors Lola Narcisa, a comfort women, Angie Ipong, a political prisoner, Eden Abarientos, a raped and abused OFW, and “Elaine,” a 13-year-old rape victim.