[PARTNER] ALLICE's 16th Annual Free from Violence
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The partnership between the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco and ALLICE endures with their joint presentation of the 16th Free from Violence as a special episode of "Tanong ni Congen" in commemoration of the 20th death anniversary of Claire Joyce Tempongko.
"Tanong ni Congen" or "Congen Inquires" is an online program launched in the early days of the Covid19 pandemic to keep the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco connected with the community during the state-mandated shelter-in-place order.
"Congen" is the term of respectful endearment for the Consul General.
Current Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. hosts the brainchild of the consulate officers and staff that goes live on their official Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/PHinSF/ every Wednesday at 10 am Pacific Standard Time.
This month, TnC is devoting a full episode to commemorate October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month and honor Claire Joyce Tempongko, who was tortured and murdered on October 22, 2000, by her ex-boyfriend in front of her young children in their home in San Francisco.
Single mother Claire Joyce Tempongko dreamed of a better life for herself, son Justin and daughter Janine. (Contributed photo)
The special episode set for Wednesday, Oct. 21, will feature ALLICE Alliance for Community Empowerment, the SF Bay Area-based Filipino American nonprofit, and be headlined as the all-volunteer team's 16th annual Free from Violence presentation.
ALLICE was born to educate about the dynamics of abuse as a primary form of prevention.
“We are happy to make use of our Consulate’s online platform to discuss with and present, in cooperation with ALLICE, a crucial, life-saving topic as Intimate Partner Violence, to the community,” said Bensurto Jr., the highest ranking representative of the Philippine government in the US Northwest and vicinity. “At this time of the pandemic, it is very important for people not to feel alone and for them to know that they have people and organizations, such as ALLICE, to turn to, in case of need.”
Bensurto Jr. will explore the subject of dating and domestic violence with ALLICE founder-executive director Cherie Querol Moreno and 2020 secretary Anastacio "Junior" Flores.
"Ours is a movement of caring, empathetic and woke individuals who go out to their individual and collective orbits to impart facts about the dynamics of abuse: that it is a learned behavior, a pattern where one partner takes power and control over the other that worsens over time," said Querol Moreno, a state- certified domestic violence counselor who founded ALLICE in 2003 after attending a candlelight vigil for Claire Joyce attended by a handful FilAms. "Anyone can fall into an abusive relationship if they do not recognize the signs for abusive behavior or believe abuse happens only to certain people, which is one of the many myths we try to debunk at our presentations."
Held annually since 2004, Free from Violence is a seminar and resource provider fair open free to the public. At every event, a life-size photo of a happy Claire Joyce, Janine and Justin toasting the first day of 2000 welcomes attendees at center stage of a venue typically offered by an entity that concurs with the philosophy that the community is its residents' responsibility. A video of intimate partner and family violence survivors starts the program. Public officials and family health advocates issue a call to action against the problem that affects not only the parties involved but also the people around them, including strangers.
A high point of each event is the testimony of a survivor, who details the constant criticism, isolation and humiliation that often escalate to pushing, slapping and grave threats till she fears for her and her loved one's lives. Each event concludes with the Pledge to Help End Domestic Violence composed by ALLICE.
Partner organizations share resources to help stage each presentation. Last year, Free from Violence took place at the City Council chambers of Daly City, the first time a municipality offered its most sacred space to declare its stand against dating and domestic violence.
By stepping up anew to ensure that the annual fall tradition occurs despite the Covid 19 health crisis that has paralyzed the planet, the consulate is cementing the bond it established by hosting the first-ever Free from Violence at its Social Hall 16 years ago.
Domestic violence was largely believed then to be a private matter. ALLICE earnestness through the years, reaching out to prospect partners in various sectors to share resources to enlighten the public, engendered an openness to discuss the issue and embrace it as a community responsibility.
Flores, program director of Asian American Recovery Services - HealthRight 360, decided to join the organization after first participating as a resource provider and sponsor.
"In the past 4 years I've been on board, I've learned more tools to help people facing challenges and become their better selves," said the certified substance abuse counselor. "Intimate partner and family abuse are extremely complex. As Kumares and Kumpares we have consistent trainings by our member therapists that deepen our understanding of the issues involved. We acquire a level of awareness that enhances our interaction whether at home or at work."
Until ALLICE, the community knew little about dating and domestic violence, also referred to as intimate partner violence, particularly the cycle of abuse where the perpetrator manipulates the aggrieved partner with romance, tension and explosion in differing lengths of time but repeatedly. The pattern worsens over time. It the case of many like Claire Joyce, the explosion turns deadly.
Claire Joyce's mother Clara (seated left), sister Julia and daughter Janine (standing second and third from left) join ALLICE founder Cherie Querol Moreno and founding president Bettina Santos Yap (standing first and fifth from left) and speakers Perla de Jesus (standing fourth from left), Vangie Canonizado Buell and Nenette Flores (seated center) and at a reception honoring the all-volunteer organization for healing and empowering survivors of abuse. (Photo by Voltaire Yap)
The single mother had called 911 at least 5 times, whenever the man with whom she had an off-again, on-again relationship lashed at her.
By October 22, 2000, Claire Joyce had resolved to end the relationship for good. But he stalked her, demanding that she take him back. When she refused, he went on a rampage and repeatedly stabbed her and left her dying in front of her horrified children.
A special task force convened by the Mayor of San Francisco to review the case found authorities liable for freeing the assailant though hehad dropped out of a court-ordered domestic violence counseling and violated a standing restraining order. Many years passed before he was caught in his home country, tried, convicted and sentenced to prison.
ALLICE aims to shine the light on abuse and resources for people in troubled relationships.
Founding president Bettina Santos Yap spoke at a June episode of Tanong ni Congen on the uptick in child and domestic violence cases under the state shelter-in-place mandate.
"The consulate is a major resource particularly for newly arrived Filipinos. Our collaboration facilitates service to Philippine nationals seeking assistance in troubled relationships. Together we provide culturally sensitive first response to survivors and their loved ones until they request referral to direct service providers. We also provide training for consular staff to help them respond to disclosures of being in troubled homes," she explained. "We value our partnership and thank the Consul General for recognizing the importance of education as primary prevention."
The team is grateful to its community partners Kaiser Permanente Filipino American Association, Filipino American Law Enforcement Officers Association, the City of South San Francisco, the Town of Colma, Monica Yap, Inquirer.net, Positively Filipino, Philippine News Today and Monica Yap for this year's programs.
ALLICE members include 2020 president Allen Capalla and vice president Nan Santiago, MFT; Blessy Valera, Corin Ramos, Edna Murray, Elsa Agasid, FNP; South San Francisco City Council Member Flor Nicolas, Dr. Jei Africa, Jennifer Jimenez Wong, MFT; Colma Council Member Joanne del Rosario, Jose Antonio, Rev. Leonard Oakes, Malou Aclan, RN; Nellie Hizon, Ofie Albrecht and Paulita Lasola Malay, MFT.
For more information, visit sparkconnectempower.com or www.allicekumares.com.