sexandsensibilities.com

Washington, D.C. — I was thisclose to Christiane Amanpour and Annie Lennox.

I was sitting so close to Ashley Judd that I could peak into her light blue Birkin bag and see its contents (if you must know, the visible contents  were her pen, a notepad and pouch. She likes to take off her shoes and sit Indian style).

I even managed to speak to Christy Turlington–Burns and start what I hope was an interesting conversation.

But “meeting” these ladies at Women Deliver didn’t have the effect on me as meeting DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral did.

I was tongue-tied. I stammered and stuttered and couldn’t find the words…and for a journalist, that says something.

But what does a journalist and sexual health advocate say to the one woman who made national headlines with DOH initiatives that nearly everyone had an opinion on and were deemed either to be bold and daring or innovative and out of the box — depending on which side you’re on?

What do you say to the woman who remained composed, level-headed and rational when bishops with vein–popping indignation challenged her to a debate about condom efficacy, and only asked one question:  when?

What do you tell the woman who was asked if she, in her good conscience as a mother and a Catholic would give condoms to her unmarried son, answered pragmatically, “I don’t have to. He can very well buy them himself.”

What do you say to the woman who could discuss risqué topics like condoms and sexual behavior with such…class?

All throughout the drama following the  giving out of free condoms by the DOH on Valentine’s Day, nothing seemed to ruffle Secretary Cabral or make her lose her composure. She was no ordinary health official. She was also a lady who managed what had since then been unthinkable – merge “sexual” and “health” into one word that was not charged with politics; not laden with morality. With her matter-of-fact, determination to live up to the DOH mandate, Secretary Cabral made “sexual health” stand for the basic human right of every individual to have control over their bodies.

What do you say when you’re introduced to such a woman?

“I’m such a fan.”, I gushed.  Yeah,  along with a couple of hundred other people on your Facebook page, I could have added.

Luckily, I gathered my wits quickly enough and began with the shameless plugging, “I founded a website called Sex and Sensibilities….”

“Oh yes!”, Secretary Cabral interrupted, as a flash of recognition came across her face. “I’ve been to that site. You wrote something about MDG5.”

Again, I was at a loss for words.

“Thank you for writing that.”, Secretary Cabral said.

“My pleasure. Thank you for doing so much to advance RH.”, I think was the reply that I mustered.

“Well, I only have a few weeks left. Let’s see what happens after June 30.”,Secretary Cabral replied, echoing the anxiety of many RH advocates about the June 30 D-day.

During his campaign, one of Noynoy’s platforms was RH. He’s not on Secretary Cabral’s Facebook page, but I hope he’s one of her fans, too.

        

Washington, D.C. — I was one of those millions of girls who grew up devouring fashion magazines with Christy Turlington in them. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would ever be in the same room with her, much less have something to talk to her about — apart from me gushing over her past magazine covers and how I was convinced to spend my limited allowance buying the Maybelline cosmetics that she endorsed, hoping that I, too would be “born it”.

But as it turns out, I would have the chance to meet Christy Turlington and actually had a lot to say. And it was all because of a documentary on maternal health entitled, “No Woman, No Cry” that she directed.

The documentary marks the directorial debut of Ms. Turlington and is in part based on her own personal birthing experience.

Shortly after she gave birth to her daughter, Ms. Turlington hemorrhaged. Thanks to timely care and intervention, she was saved. It made her think of all the other women out there who suffer the same kind of birth complications, but do not get the same care. “About 15 percent of all pregnancies will have complications, but not all women will get the emergency care that they need.” says Turlington.

“No Woman, No Cry”, which Turlington personally financed, is filmed in various parts of the world – in Tanzania, Bangladesh, Guatemala and the US. In Tanzania, a young pregnant woman named Janet has to walk to the rural health clinic which is one hour away. The clinic only has four beds, one mid-wife and one nurse.  On occasion, there is an attending physician.

In Bangladesh, 91 percent of all births occur at home. It is considered a disgrace for a woman to go out and give birth at a health clinic. Giving birth at home poses its own dangers, but if a woman should due to birth complications, it is considered a heroic sacrifice.

In Guatemala, “No Woman, No Cry” delved into abortion. Since abortion is illegal in Guatemala even in cases of incest or rape, women who have tried to undergo one are highly stigmatized. According to Turlington, she particularly chose this story, because in hospitals, there are wards of women who are denied post-abortion care because of the stigma attached to abortion.

Christy Turlington Burns answers questions about her documentary, "No Woman, No Cry". Other female movie makers were part of the panel.

After the film showing, I introduced myself to Ms. Turlington and told her that like Guatemala, in the Philippines abortion is also illegal even in the cases of rape and incest. I added that in the Philippines, abortion is a crime punishable by law. A woman who tries to get an abortion could be imprisoned for a maximum of 6 years and medical care practitioners who give her post-abortive care also risk punishment. Her eyes widened when I told her about this. “It’s sad that the similarity between the two countries had to be this.”, she said.

I wanted to tell her so much more. About how the poor women in Manila are outright denied contraception; how there are 4 babies born every minute and about haf of them are unwanted or unplanned. I wanted to tell her how similar to the use of an art, as with “No Woman, No Cry”, Sex and Sensibilities was trying to bring home the messages of sexual health and the need to assert reproductive health rights in a medium like the internet, all packaged in a sexy chic manner that girls would hopefully gravitate to.

But of course, there were too many people who also wanted to have their photo taken with Ms. Turlington, who wanted a copy of her video or simply wanted to congratulate her and commend her efforts on driving awareness of maternal health.

Our conversations about motherhood and other girl talk will have to be saved for another day, or may be never. When would be the next possible time that I would be in the same room as Christy Turlington?

Supermodel Christy Turlingtonn Burns and myself.

So I will go home with a picture and know that though magazine pages and fashion runways will forever differentiate us from one other, the more universal values of motherhood and the hope for equality for all mothers and their children once brought us together.

And if you think about it, these are issues all women can relate to — supermodel or not.