Through the yearly global platform "One Billion Rising," St. Scholastica's College Manila (SSC) community came together to speak out against gender-based violence against women and girls and for those who are persecuted for their gender.

In a program held on Thursday, Feb. 15, SSC president Sr. Christine Pinto encouraged the students, faculty, and staff to be the conveyor of "good news" by creating a safe space for all.

"Let us also be bearers of the good news. Let us rise for freedom. Let us do our share in creating a space where there is no fear, where each one can be who they are," Pinto said.

Several talents and skills were also showcased by the students in the program with this year's theme, "Rise for Freedom: Be the New World" through spoken word poetry and dance presentations, among others.

"Our dance is a war dance. Isinasayaw natin ang ating pagkamulat na talagang hindi tayo pwedeng biktima lamang kundi tayo ay survivors at tayo ay advocates against violence against women (Our dance is a war dance. Through dancing, we express our enlightenment that we should not only be victims but survivors and advocates of violence against women)," Director of Institute of Women's Studies Sr. Mary John Mananzan said.

Moreover, women's rights activist Monique Wilson emphasized the meaning of the platform and why there is a need to "rise for freedom" by highlighting certain issues in the Philippines.

"We need to really look at all the social context of poverty especially here in the Philippines, of exploitation, of abuse, of inequality, of lack of dignity, and we must do everything in our daily lives to stay aware about those issues even at a young age," Wilson said.

She added that "Rise for Freedom" is to also learn how to think of other people who do not have the same freedom as others.