Pinsan | Telling Truer Stories III – 2020

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Telling Truer Stories III – 2020

Open House:

Telling Truer Stories III

On September 28, 2020 we held a live reading/artistic rendering of three real abortion stories for International Safe Abortion Day. We invited artists to translate the stories as they’re being told into narrative artwork.

Open House: Telling Truer Stories III is brought to you by The Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network (PINSAN), She Decides Philippines, Filipino Freethinkers, Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR), and Young Advocates for SRHR (yas!).

This event is also done in partnership with Amarela Philippines, Center for Reproductive Rights, Embassy of Sweden, FEU Young Women’s Christian Association, Lunas Collective, PUP Kasarianlan, PUP Office of the Student Regent, Student Council Alliance of the Philippines(SCAP), The Sanctuary Project, Wisdom PH, Womanhealth Philippines, Women’s clinic Pilipinas, Wondermag PH, and Youth Voices Count.

Our Stories

Cielo

Sixteen pa lang ako at nag-aaral noong nangyari ito sa akin. Dalawang buwan na akong hindi dinadatnan noon at nung nagpregnancy test ako, natakot ako ng dalawang linya ang lumabas. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko noon, hindi ko alam kung sino ang sasabihan ko, hindi ako makapagconcentrate sa pag-aaral, hindi ako makatulog.

Habang ginagamot nila ako ay patuloy ang paninisi at galit nila sa akin.
Napakasakit. Higit sa pisikal na sakit ay ang sakit ng salita at panghuhuhsga nila sa akin.

Download full text here >

Lisa

Pagdating doon ay binabalaan na ako ng mga doktor at nars, “gusto mo bang isumbong ka namin sa pulis?! Alam mo bang masama yang ginawa mo!” naaalala ko pang sabi nila.

Nooong araw na yon, ang daming nanganganak, tapos na sila lahat manganak pero ako nandoon pa din, natuyo na nga ang dugo sa akin. Maya maya pa ay tinali na nila ako para raspahin, nakakatakot, kulang na lang pati leeg ko ay itali nila. Natatakot akong matulog baka kung ano ang gawin nila sa akin.

Pagkasigising ko, napansin ko na tumitingin sakin yung mga taong napapadaan sa kama ko --- may nakalagay pala sa kama ko na sign na: ABORTION.

Download full text here >

Candice

She is at an age where sexual urges are high, and because of this, I made sure she could talk to me about anything, even about sex. I established an environment at home where she feels free to ask without being judged.

I wrote this because I am tired of girls being made to regret decisions that involve their own bodies. I am tired of women having to do what they don’t want to do because of the fear of being judged. Motherhood is a gift but it is also a decision.

So if I could go back to the exact same situation where I had to choose between keeping the baby or not would I still do it? Yes, and hopefully in a more sanitized, safe place for abortions.

Download full text here >