Filipino ‘comfort woman’ still fighting for apology
Fidencia David, 86, wants the Japanese government to apologize for allowing soldiers to use her as a “comfort woman” during the Second World War.
Lola Fidencia David was forced to be a sex slave for Japanese soldiers who invaded the Phillipines during the Second World Ward. Now 86, she is still campaigning for an apology from Japan.
RICK MADONIK / TORONTO STAR Order this photo
Lola Fidencia David was forced to be a sex slave for Japanese soldiers who invaded the Phillipines during the Second World Ward. Now 86, she is still campaigning for an apology from Japan.
By: Patty Winsa News reporter, Published on Mon Oct 21 2013
Patty WinsaRSS
Email: pwinsa@thestar.ca
Twitter: @TOjournalist
Patty Winsa is a general assignment reporter in the city section. Reach her at 416-869-4884.
Fidencia David was 14 when she watched Japanese bombs drop in her Philippine village in 1942 during the Second World War. Soldiers burned down David’s house and used her as a sex slave for 10 days.
She escaped and for years lived in shame and silence. But she has since found her voice. In the ’90s, David became an activist, part of a vocal group of survivors who demanded an official apology and compensation from Japan
Now 86, David was one of more than 200,000 “comfort women” from across Asia. Therapist and author Cristina Rosello translated her answers into English during an interview with the Toronto Star. The text below is paraphrased.
What was it like in the Japanese garrison where you were held?
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David cleaned and prepared food in the Japanese garrison where she was held in the Pangasinan region, which is about five hours north of Manila. On her first night, a soldier gagged her and pushed her head into a wall. She was raped by five to 10 soldiers a night. On a trip back to her village to get supplies, David’s grandmother was raped in front of her and shot dead by soldiers.
How did you go on after escaping?
David married at the age of 20 and had eight children, but it wasn’t a successful union. Her husband squandered the family’s money and David had to scavenge from garbage bins before selling vinegar and charcoal to make money to feed her kids. Rosella says David’s children, who weren’t aware of their mother’s history, were troubled when she became uncommunicative when she was consumed by flashbacks.
What made you break your silence?
David was finally emboldened to tell her tale to her eight children — and the world — after a Korean comfort women finally spoke out in 1990. David was also encouraged by Rosa Henson, the first Filipino woman to come out. David joined a group of survivors, gained strength, support and political will and became part of the Lolas Kampanyera Survivors Organization. After hearing testimony from David and other survivors in 2007, the House of Commons in Ottawa passed a motion to recognize the horrific treatment of the women and to encourage the Japanese government to apologize.
What is most important to you now as a survivor?
A state apology and state compensation. David says many of her colleagues have passed away with no justice after fighting for 22 years. The Japanese government has not acknowledged the atrocities. The Philippine government has also denied support to comfort women survivors because the country receives aid from Japan, says Rosella. “It’s unfinished business,” Rosella says, translating for David. “She will fight up until her deathbed.”
What can people do now?
David is in Canada as part of an educational campaign organized by Winnipeg’s Museum of Human Rights and Toronto ALPHA, which promotes wartime historical events in Asia.
David spoke to students at two Toronto schools Monday. She’s asking the younger generation to support her as well as join the 100 Million Signatures Campaign to demand the Japanese government apologize. There are now only 26 comfort women still alive in the Philippines.
Fidencia David will be part of a panel discussion Tuesday at U of T from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the William Doo Auditorium and later at a community meeting at the Barbara Frum Library, 20 Covington Rd., from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
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Comments (6)
HowMayTimesDoWeHaveTolast week
Is it false that Japanese payout 2,000,000 yen, 877,192 peso or US$20,379 equivalent in current rate, for each victims in Philippine? Didn't you get the amount? Wasn't it enough? Or did you miss the boat? More over, Japan has been helping Philippine in ODA, more than any other countries in the world. Let me rephrase it. Until recently, Japan had spend in ODA for Philippine, more than all other countries COMBINED. Isn't this in Philippine's text book? I feel not.
Philippine had colonized by three nations in the past. Spain, U.S.A and Japan.
Within these three, the only country that apologized for the colonization in the past is: Japan.
Within the three, the only country paid compensation is : Japan.
Within the three, the country allowed independent of Philippine during its colonization is: Japan (Second Philippine Republic)
Before World War II: In League of Nations, former U.N, The country fought for indiscrimination act is: Japan which was turned down by Western countries.
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HowMayTimesDoWeHaveTolast week
To publisher, where did that 200,000 comfort women figure came from? Citation needed. Share the source please.
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HowMayTimesDoWeHaveTolast week
Is it false that Japanese payout 2,000,000 yen, 877,192 peso or US$20,379 equivalent in current rate, for each victims in Philippine? Didn't you get the amount? Wasn't it enough? Or did you miss the boat? More over, Japan has been helping Philippine in ODA, more than any other countries in the world. Let me rephrase it, until recently, Japan had spend in ODA to Philippine, more than all other countries in the world COMBINED. Is this even in Philippine's text book? I feel not.
Philippine had colonized by three nations in the past. Spain, U.S.A and Japan.
Within these three, the only country that apologized for the colonization in the past is: Japan.
Within the three, the only country paid compensation is : Japan.
Within the three, the country allowed independent of Philippine during its colonization is: Japan (Second Philippine Republic)
Before world war II: in League of Nations, former U.N, The country fought for indiscrimination act : Japan which was turned down by Western countries.
1
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JacquelineDlast week
Please keep this story alive
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JacquelineDlast week
I just came back from her talk. What an amazing vibrant woman! We must keep these and other stories of gendered militarized violence toward women in our present conscience. It happens daily all over the world in refugee camps, war zones and in our own backyard to our Aboriginal sisters. This beautiful person --Fidencia David--has inspired me to continue striving for social justice. I hope if I ever get to the ripe age of 86 that I too will have as much vigor and fight left in me to make such a difference.
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La_Marelast week
Thanks for sharing this. My grandmother used to tell us stories of the WW2 in the Philippines and how they would have to hide from the Japanese soldiers and pretend to be sick with malaria so that the Japanese soldiers would not touch them. She would always shed tears when she remembered and talked about those times. It's so awful how many women were ruined and not have the chance to speak up. I'm glad Fidencia David is doing this.
2
(mochi)
i guess some unfairly reporters use "so-called the issue of comfort women for japan imperial army" from their eager for fame like Patty.
they are not studying the problem, using artfully the women's right,they want to hire the distillate.
i guess the movement of "discovering the hired japanese war crimes!" will be raise up the the problem of mass media and propaganda.
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