A Woman, Unchained*

Just as wars have been waged continuously in the history of mankind, abuses of women have been rampant in all races around the world. Even though , it is a woman’s hand that rocks the cradle, another chain binds the other.

I have personally witnessed different forms of abuse suffered stoically by women. I saw a woman whose voice is not heard by her own husband, a woman betrayed by her husband for a prostitute, and a woman whose tears flow at night as she suffers the body pains given to her husband because of an unfounded jealousy.

I know of a pregnant woman whose marriage she decided to end to protect her child from an abusive junkie, whose love she had blindly trusted.

I saw a girl abused by her own grandfather, who grew into an aloof woman whose pains she carefully hid inside. I know of an orphaned girl whose innocence was shattered by her own uncle.

I saw another girl who is tortured and belittled by her own mother.

These are just a few of the abuses women had suffered. However, it is not the form of abuse that shackled these women for life. It is the self-belief that they deserve the anguish. For if one has suffered such torment, one is bound to believe they deserve it.

Photo by Joel R. Locaylocay

And so this work of art is dedicated to ALL WOMEN who decided to free themselves from the crippling abuse and believe steadfastly that they, too, deserve the fullness of life.

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This work of art is the project I had submitted during the culmination exhibit in my art class, on July 9, 2011. It was done on acrylic on a 24 cm  x 30 cm  triple gesso canvas. Surprisingly, this painting had caught the eye of the grandfather of my classmate, Stian. 

*The title of the painting was given by Mark Gary, the renowned film maker of Sandalang Bahay and Hubad. 

I miss this painting, spent several days on this. Thanks to Pareng Jotay for taking a photo of this woman before the exhibit. A wonderful piece of art, now a memory I would keep close to my heart (it has rhymed!).