Consul General Marciano Paynor Jr., Daly City Vice Mayor Ray Buenaventura, and Daly City Police Chief Manny Martinez will stress the importance of education about domestic of abuse and the impact of collaborations in promoting health and safety in relationships and neighborhoods at a community event next week.
In commemoration of October Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Seton Medical Center, Union Bank, Thomasians USA and Serramonte Homeowners Association are presenting the 8th annual Free from Violence 5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Gellert Clubhouse in Gellert Park, 50 Wembly Ave., here.
The free education forum and resource fair is a yearly event staged by the Kumares & Kumpares, members of the all-volunteer nonprofit ALLICE Alliance for Community Empowerment.
?We must continue to support efforts to raise awareness on domestic violence,? Paynor said.? ?Ensuring healthy relationships among Filipino families is our shared responsibility as a community.? ?
Colma Vice Mayor and ALLICE 2010 president Joanne del Rosario will share her experience in an earlier abusive relationship and how she transformed from victim to survivor to educator for abuse prevention.
?I am wiser today because of my experience, which taught me what to avoid and what to look for in a relationship,? said the first known elected official in the region to disclose such history. ?I am lucky to have survived because I had family that consoled me instead of judging me. Because they believed in me, they strengthened me.?
Local officials and community-based organizations have helped demystify domestic abuse and debunked misperceptions that it happens only to people from certain populations.
?To this day, there are still far too many victims who suffer from abuse and are afraid to seek help,? said Buenaventura. ?An eternal light must shine on this issue forever.? It?s only through continuous education and engagement that we can decrease the amount of domestic violence in our society.? Victims must know they are not alone and that there will always be support for them.??
?It took a lot of handholding and self-examination for me to have the courage to do this because I did not want to re-live my experience those 33 years ago,? del Rosario admitted. ?But as a member of ALLICE for three years and having been our community education organization?s past president, I believe it is important to model the empowerment we espouse. How could I turn my experience into something more than a really bad nightmare??
The now happily remarried advocate hopes that those hearing her story will realize their situation is not their fault and there are services to assist them.
Visible and consistent declarations of law enforcement, public and private agencies have encouraged survivors to seek help.
Twenty resource providers will be present to consult on their services and programs at the event, which has provided survivors a safe haven for learning about
more options to help them heal.
?Domestic violence is unacceptable and the role of the police department is to reach out to the public and let them know it is ok to call the police because we will be there for them,? offered Martinez. ?We will document the incident and refer the victim to agencies that will support the victim in whatever services they require.?
ALLICE is honoring community partners for their support in their advocacy: Steve Kaplan, LCSW, Director, SMC Behavioral Health and Recovery Services; Trina Villanueva of Union Bank; Fr. Obet Andrey, Albert Reyes, Sasa Puchbauer and the FilAm Group of San Bruno Church as Outstanding Allies.
Lucky Chances, Forex Cargo, Moonstar, Starbucks Coffee Company, Tastebuds, Kuya?s Asian Cuisine, Mia Bella, Perla?s Hair Studio, Ely Lynn and Dermasolutions are donating refreshments and raffle prizes.
?I applaud ALLICE in its 8th Free From Violence event and hope that participants will be inspired to actively join in the fight against domestic abuse,? said Paynor, who has headlined every Kumares presentation since he assumed his post five years ago.
ALLICE is composed of Alice Bulos, Bettina Santos Yap, Edna Murray, Elsa Agasid, FNP; Hon. Erlinda Galeon, Jeannette Trajano, RN; Dr. Jei Africa, Jennifer Jimenez Wong, MFT; Hon. Joanne del Rosario, Jose Antonio; Kristine Zafrani Averilla, Lina Susbilla, Lorraine Canaya, NP; Malou Aclan, RN; Paulita Malay, MFT; Sgt. Randy Caturay, Robert Uy, Esq., Sarah Jane Ilumin, Rev. Mark Reburiano, and Susan Roxas.
For more information, call (650) 872-2301 (Alice).
Cherie M. Querol Moreno is executive director of ALLICE.
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