GABRIELA Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas called for the urgent passage of a measure that seeks to incorporate the lives and heroism of comfort women into the curricula of elementary, secondary, and tertiary education institutions across the country.

Brosas stressed the need to pass House Bill 8564 or the Comfort Women Education Act as she emphasized the critical need to educate Filipino youth about the historical struggles of comfort women during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

“The recent social media buzz surrounding the upcoming GMA series ‘Pulang Araw’ has exposed a concerning lack of awareness about the plight of comfort women among our citizens. This gap in historical knowledge underscores the pressing need for the Comfort Women Education Act,” Rep. Brosas stated.

The move comes at a crucial time when the Philippines has recently signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan, raising concerns about potential historical revisionism.

“We cannot allow the sacrifices and struggles of our comfort women to be forgotten or minimized. By integrating their stories into our education system, we arm our youth with the truth and honor the memory of these brave women,” Brosas emphasized.

The lawmaker highlighted the importance of education as a powerful tool against historical revisionism.

“Knowledge is our strongest defense against attempts to rewrite or erase our history. Through this act, we ensure that the experiences of comfort women during the Japanese occupation remain a vital part of our national narrative,” she added.

Gabriela Women’s Party urged fellow lawmakers and the public to support the immediate passage of the Comfort Women Education Act, viewing it as a crucial step in preserving historical truth and honoring the courage of Filipino women who endured wartime atrocities.

“We owe it to our comfort women and to future generations to keep this part of our history alive. Their stories of survival and resistance against oppression should serve as a reminder of the strength of Filipino women and the importance of never forgetting our past,” Brosas stressed.