Capitol glows orange

The provincial government of Misamis Oriental has opted to light the Capitol Building with the color orange instead of putting up the usual Christmas lights to highlight its support to the campaign to end violence against women (VAW).

As the capitol lit up with the color orange, some cannot help but ridicule and criticize the color.

But lawyer Jeffrey Saclot, the provincial tourism officer brushed aside the criticisms and pointed out that the color orange represents the capitol’s support to women.

“Just to educate those who misinterpret the orange lights of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Capitol Building, they are part of the 2018 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, and not Christmas lights,” he said in a Facebook post.

The 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women is observed annually from November 25 to December 12 to raise awareness that VAW is a public issue of national concern. It supports the Philippine Government’s goal to protect the human rights of women and its commitment to address all forms of gender-based violence.

Now on its third year in the Philippines, the Orange Your Icon for 18 Days Advocacy Initiative of the government aims to strengthen the anti-VAW advocacy by enjoining new audiences to join the cause to end VAW.

According to the Philippine Commission on Women, the idea is to attract the public’s curiosity on why major landmarks or icons nationwide are colored orange, thereby providing opportunities for advocates to explain the Anti-VAW advocacy.

“To make a mockery of this color representation is to insult women, especially those who have been victims of violence,” Saclot added.