No Sex, Unless

Independent Films, Politics, Women

Since the 1970s a separatist rebellion has racked The Philippines Mindanao Island.

About 100,000 people were displaced by fighting in 2008 including the families of Dado Village.The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) consulted with the village to identify their needs. The agency provided fishing boats, nets, a landing site, and sewing machines. However, one problem remained.

To send their goods to market, Dado residents had to pass through two villages where fighting had flared again.

There was only one road and it was closed.The women of Dado quietly organized a clever solution to bring peace. They called a sex strike.

SOUNDBITE (Local dialect) Hasna Kandatu, Dado villager:
"If our husbands wanted to fight, we’d tell them not to. If they still went, we’d say ok, it’s up to you. But you will not be accepted at home."Hasna Kandatu’s husband, Lengs Kupong, was a key leader. He told the two villages that continued fighting would damage the economy and perhaps more importantly his marriage.

SOUNDBITE (Local dialect) Lengs Kupong, village leader:
"She says to me if you do bad things then we will be separated."

Hasna Kandatu admits the plot was conceived at the women’s sewing cooperative. And Ainon Kamanza says many of the women used their powers of seduction.

SOUNDBITE (Local dialect) Ainon E. Kamanza, Dado villager"I told them Ma’am if you don’t agree with me then you have no salary from me!"

It worked within a week the women brought peace to the nearby villages. The road to the market reopened, enabling Dado Village to continue rebuilding. The villagers still need more help. They share just 16 boats among 102 families.

However, they say they feel a renewed sense of empowerment.

Now they can earn a living, instead of receiving food aid.Hasna and her husband Lengs are looking to a brighter future too.

SOUNDBITE (Local dialect)
-Lengs Kupong: "Two! I want two wives!"
-Hasna Kandatu, Dado villager:"Me if I have more money then I would like to help other families, who could not afford to provide for their children. I would like to have more money so I could help others."

Dado village, like many communities on Mindanao, struggles to rebuild. And if the women continue to prevail then peace may bring prosperity.

Tags

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Directors:

• Muhamed Sacirbey (UNTV-UNHCR)

Producers:

• Susan Sacirbey (UNTV-UNHCR)