Diwa — and many more women like her -- get beaten, emotionally tortured, and/or sexually abused by their boyfriends or husbands not just once or twice...
and they need your help to get out of this trap they’re in.
Image Source: NoMoreHidingPH YouTube Video
Give Hope to Diwa...
Diwa was rushed to the hospital because she was badly beaten by her husband in front of their 3 very young children..
Marami siyang pasa sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng kanyang katawan pati mukha. May malaki siyang bukol sa ulo.. putok at dumudugo ang kanyang labi..
Worse, ito ang pangatlong beses na binugbog siya ng kanyang asawa sa loob lamang ng isang linggo…
I don’t know about you, but I could clearly imagine what was going on inside this innocent woman’s mind…
Prior to this kind of life, Diwa was a gentle and kind lady who only dreamt and prayed to have a peaceful and happy family of her own…
Image Source: Free Download from Unsplash.com
Lumaki siya sa gabay ng kanyang mga magulang na walang ibang hinangad kundi magkaroon silang magkakapatid ng mabuting kinabukasan…
Dahil dito, nasaksihan niya kung gaano nagsipag at nagtiyaga ang kanyang mga magulang para sa kanilang pangangailangan…
Masaya silang lagi na kumakain, kumpleto sa hapag, habang pinagsasaluhan ang simpleng kanin at gulay, at kada sasahod ang kanyang ama, sila’y makakapag-ulam ng manok…
Masipag at mapagmahal ang kanyang ama, hindi niya kailanman nakitang sinaktan nito ang kanilang ina…
Ngunit isang araw, nalaman nilang may malubhang sakit ang kanyang ama.. Hindi nagtagal, pumanaw na ito…
Bilang panganay, kinailangan niyang tulungan ang kanyang ina sa paglalako ng kung ano-ano sa kanilang bayan…
Sa awa ng Diyos, nakakaraos sila at hindi naman umabot sa puntong hindi sila nakakakain…
At dahil sa pagtutulungan nilang lahat, kahit patigil-tigil, siya ay nakapagtapos pa rin ng pag-aaral… Mabait talaga ang Diyos dahil siya ay pinalad na makapagtrabaho agad..
Doon niya nakilala si Harris..
Mabilis silang nagkaroon ng magandang samahan dahil pareho silang lumaki sa hirap.. Ang kaibahan lamang, itong si Harris, lumaking magulo ang pamilya..
Madalas nitong ikuwento kay Diwa na ang tatay niya ay lasenggo at laging binubulyawan ang kanilang ina maski sa harap ng hapag kainan..
Bilang kaibigan, mabait naman si Harris.. hanggang nahulog ang loob nila sa isa’t isa.. nagkaroon ng ligawan at naging magkasintahan..
Nung una, masayang masaya si Diwa.. maalalahanin at maalaga si Harris sa kanya kaya naaalala niya ang kanyang ama sa kanya…
Pero ang hindi niya napansin, unti-unting binabago ni Harris ang kanyang pagkatao.. Wala siyang kamalay-malay, kontrolado na nito ang kanyang mga desisyon at galaw..
Isang araw, bigla na lang siyang ipinahiya nito sa trabaho, bakit daw ang iksi ng kanyang palda..
Minsan pa, habang nakikipag-usap siya sa isang kaopisinang lalaki, biglang dumating si Harris at hinila siya palayo dito..
Ang mga dahilan ni Harris, mahal siya nito at ayaw niyang pinag-chichismisan siya ng kanilang mga katrabaho..
Ayaw daw siyang pagsabihan na malandi at lalakero..
Naniniwala si Diwa dahil pagkatapos ng mga ganitong nakakahiyang eksena, balik na naman sila sa masasayang araw nila..
Nung nag-desisyon na silang magpakasal, sobrang saya ang naramdaman ni Diwa.. Magkakaroon na siya ng pangarap niyang masaya at payapa na pamilya..
Pero kabaliktaran ang nangyari…
Pagkatapos niyang isilang ang kanilang panganay na anak, biglang nagdesisyon si Harris na iuwi sila sa kaniyang probinsiya dahil kawawa daw ang kanilang anak kung ibang tao ang mag-aalaga dito…
Siya na lang daw ang magtatrabaho at kaya naman daw niyang buhayin silang lahat..
Pumayag naman si Diwa at nag-resign sa trabaho dahil gustong gusto din niyang maging hands-on mom sa kanyang anak..
At hindi pa man nag-iisang taon ang kanilang supling, naranasan na ni Diwa ang pisikal na pananakit ni Harris sa kanya dahil lamang sa mga simpleng rason gaya ng hindi paggising ng maaga para magluto..
Lumala ang sitwasyon, naging sobrang seloso at paulit-ulit ang pambubugbog ni Harris kay Diwa..
Pagkatapos humingi ng tawad at mag-uwi ng regalo tuwing uuwi ng weekends, babalik ulit sa pananakit..
Hanggang sa naging tatlo na nga ang kanilang supling, ganito pa rin ang palaging nangyayari..
Ilang beses na nag-isip si Diwa na ilayo ang kanyang mga anak pero lagi siyang sinusuyo ni Harris at sinasabing hindi na uulit..
May mga tao at kaibigan din si Diwa na kumausap sa kanya at nag-ooffer ng tulong, pero tinatanggihan niya..
Para kasi sa kanya, magiging maayos din ang lahat at matutupad ang pangarap niyang payapa at masayang pamilya…
Hanggang sa dumating na nga sa puntong nawalan si Harris ng trabaho dahil sa pandemya…
At siya pa ang sinisi nito noong magkaroon na sila ng pinansyal nilang problema.. Ang problemang ito ay dahilan ng sunod-sunod nitong pananakit sa kaniya hanggang sa mapuruhan na nga at dalhin na siya sa ospital…
I’m sure Diwa is in pain, terrified, lost, and don’t know what to do that time…
Imagine yourself saying goodbye to your one and only DREAM of having a peaceful and happy family…
Kaya nung kinausap ulit siya ng kaibigan para magsampa ng kaso, tinanggihan na naman niya ito…
Hi, I am Charlyn June representing Break Free Ph!
I once struggled to find the meaning of my life.
I was a Victim of Domestic Violence and I thought that it was my fate.
I suffered from fear, emotional turmoil, verbal, and physical abuse for more than 5 years.
Whenever I watch or read the news or forums and see more and more women like Diwa, I feel weak, sad, and emotional…
Others might think, “DON’T, it’s normal na nangyayari ang mga ganyang problema sa mundo..”
BUT NO…. I JUST CAN’T TOSS IT OUT OF MY MIND, FORGET ABOUT IT, AND GET ON WITH MY LIFE..
I’m thinking not only about Diwa or the other women experiencing similar situations.
I know friends and relatives who are going through this situation and it’s heartbreaking.
If you have a mother, sister, friend, or relative who has been or is being abused physically, emotionally, or economically by their boyfriend, partner, or husband, you’ll know exactly what I mean…
Your loved one is like Diwa — they ONLY pray for a happy and peaceful family and they want to receive back the LOVE they deserve…
Wala nang iba…
This is the reason why as a survivor, I embraced this mission to speak to and help women through my book.
Now, this is also why I wrote this message for YOU… I need your help.
Break Free Project Milestones
The book is not only calling the attention of a victim but also of a family, friend, neighbor, or colleague to be awakened of their responsibility and support they could give to a victim they know
Ms. Fe, Violence Against Women Victim
**not her real name
"Break Free" is for every woman out there. Yes, many women can learn about Violence Against Women topics on radio, TV, and the internet but not all have the means to do so. And even if they have access, without a support group to help them go through what they’re exactly feeling, they will still be silently suffering. They need other women to empower them, women who have experienced their challenges - and this book is going to do that.
Ailyn Lagda, VAW Survivor, Teacher, OFW
In 2019, I was able to raise at least P9,000.00 through a T-shirt for a Cause initiative. I planned to use it as a startup fund for the printing of the book “Break Free: How to Let Go and Move on from an Abusive Relationship” but when the pandemic hit in 2020, I decided to launch a website using this fund to reach people online instead.
Like-minded women eventually joined me in this project and the Break Free Angels were born. They helped me realize and maintain the website and our social media page.
It became our common goal to help at least 1000 Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) victims (every year) to validate their current situation, learn ways to break their silence, let go of an abusive relationship, heal, move on, and achieve a better life through the Break Free book.
- Since then, we have been receiving inquiries from victims around the country.. We answered their questions, made them feel they’re not alone, and that they’re supported using whatever resources we have..
- We also guested in some virtual meetings and webinars while continuously posting relevant content in our pages to help spread awareness about VAWC..
- We have received positive feedback from women and other audiences so we feel that our efforts are working.
- As of July of 2021, we have raised a total of 31,000+ allowing us to pay for the printing cost of 400+ copies of the book.
- At least 150 recipients from the different parts of the Philippines have been recorded since the receipt of the printed copies. An additional 200 copies were sponsored and delivered to a municipality earlier this year.
Ang aklat na "Break Free" ay isang instrumento upang imulat ang mga kababaihan na hindi normal ang anumang uri ng pang-aabuso. Ituturo rin nito ang mga senyales upang malaman mo kung isa ka nga ba sa mga biktima ng domestic violence. Sa pagbasa nito mapagtatanto mo na panahon na upang tumindig para sa sariling karapatan at buksan ang mga mata sa nakaambang panganib kung mananatiling matatakot na ilabas ang dinaranas na kalupitan mula sa kamay ng taong minahal at pinagkatiwalaan mo.
Send Orbillo, Gurong-Manunulat, Kahintay-hintay Ka
Break Free is an important read for all women and men. It brings about healthy discussions about this dangerous crime, and removes the stigma from the victims.....It helps you understand the psyche of both the abuser and the victim, followed by steps on how to break free from the abusive relationship.
Rose Fres Fausto, FQ Mom, Writer and Speaker on Money and Family
You see, we’ve tried various ways to be able to raise funds: joined affiliate programs, launched info products for a cause, and reached out to generous individuals like you..
However, no matter how passionate and pure our intentions are to help 1000 abused women yearly, we are challenged financially.
I, for one, am still not in the position to donate money because I also have a family (4 kids) to take care of..
But I launched this project investing time and effort because I know that there are a lot more Diwa out there who need help..
Like I said, I can’t just sit or sleep and forget this fact and just wait for that time when I’m already financially capable because I know I can do a SMALL ACTION RIGHT NOW…
I BELIEVE YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY TOO!
I already tried to reach out to big names here in the Philippines but I figured out it’s also great to talk to someone like you who really cares about your mother, sister, friend, or relative…
Someone like you who also cares about the children who are witnessing abusive incidents in their homes while they’re locked down
Children who might grow up to be like Harris or another Diwa…
because they think that such kind of abuse is normal.. 🙁
Now, you and I both know we could have saved Harris from becoming an abusive person and we don’t want any more violence in this world, right?
Let’s do this together.
Because it’s already on the news, hindi lang po natin every day na nakikita since we’re too focused on the status of the pandemic and other more talked about events…
“Emerging data shows an increase in calls to domestic violence helplines in many countries since the outbreak of COVID-19.” - unwomen.org
“A study by an international group revealed that online searches related to violence against women in eight Asian countries, including the Philippines, increased from October 2019 to September 2020.” - CNN Philippines
Ibig sabihin, kung iyong bilang ng mga kababaihan na humihingi ng tulong ay tumataas, kumusta naman po kaya iyong mga nasa liblib na lugar?
… o iyong mga biktima na walang access sa internet?
… o telepono?
I genuinely feel pain for these women and their children…
We want to also reach them.. Let them know that there’s help… and stop them from thinking that they deserve the pain and fear they’re experiencing every single day..
We want to stop the worst scenarios that could happen…
They could get killed by their abusers…
Or they could commit suicide…
We want to give them hope… and know that they are loved and deserve happiness…
I BELIEVE YOU WANT THAT TOO…
Kudos to the brave women in this book who chose to be vulnerable so others may be empowered. The captivating and genuine stories of their lives inspire the reader to break free and live life being the best version of themselves. This book is meant to be out there for all men and women to read.
Pharisia Gail Leyaley Tudlong, Author, Life Coach, Physical Therapist
The book is very informative and experiential.
Contributors have also added to the content which makes it more generalizable in some way.
Kate, Psychologist, DSWD-CAR
As an expression of our gratitude, here’s what you will get:
for P2,000 donations:
- You select the location where we send your sponsored copies
- You'll receive a Copy of the E-book and Paperback versions
- Your name/company name will be written (manually) on the books that you've sponsored
- Your name/company name will be published on our website: www.breakfreeph.com and social media platforms
for P5,000 donations:
- You select the location where we send your sponsored copies
- You'll receive a Copy of the E-book and Paperback versions
- Your name/company name will be written (manually) on the books that you've sponsored
- A separate acknowledgement post with your name will be published on our Social Media platforms
- You will be invited as a speaker in upcoming virtual webinars
You can also help by simply GIFT’ing’ a copy or copies of the book by paying the printing cost:
for P300.00
Together, we CAN…
This year, 1000 women will feel blessed because of people like you…
Please be our sponsor or donate today so we can continue saving all these innocent women and their children.
Whether you donate 300, 2000, or 5000 pesos today…
Your help will be forever appreciated.
It would also mean HOPE to women like Diwa.
Because again, they need to feel that they’re not alone, there’s hope, there’s help, and that they’re loved.
With your donation, they could get that…
Now, if you’re ready to help, click the button below or contact us directly at any of these addresses: breakfreefromvaw@gmail.com or charlynjune@gmail.com
Whichever way you choose to donate is fine with me.
I want to say “thank you” for all the actions you’ve already taken to help similar missions.
The Break Free book project won’t have become an idea without generous people like you.
Abuse survivors like me might still be living in fear, turmoil, anxiety, pain, and anger without people like you…
More and more survivors enjoy God’s blessings, love, and peace because of your donations…
And now most of us are also giving back to the community because you showed us hope…
We can now help Diwa and other abused women in the country so they could experience the same..
However, I feel worried that if you read this you might assume that there’s someone else more capable than you to help.
Kung ganun po ang iisipin ng lahat, mas lalong mahihirapan tayong ma-achieve iyong goal natin..
Baka umasa lang tayong lahat na may ibang tutulong kay Diwa at sa iba pang mga inaabusong babae..
So if you’d really like to help us save and give hope to these mothers, sisters, friends, relatives, and their children…
I invite you to do so today…
Again, your 300, 2000, or 5000 pesos donation will make a big impact.
It could help prevent another case of physical injury, emotional abuse, homicide, murder, or suicide…
