Philippine National Police data show that 6,117 suspected drug personalities were killed during its drug war operations as of April 30. Human rights groups have a grimmer estimate of 27,000 to 30,000 deaths, including victims of vigilante-style killings. Discussions about deaths associated with the government’s centerpiece drug war often boils down to a clash of numbers – a disagreement which overlooks the human stories behind these digits.
These wasted lives become muddled in our memory as numbers, statistics, and cases.
Artist and Rappler+ member Joy Watford felt a need to remember and humanize these numbers. She said she was “horrified at what was going on, but there were so many victims that they were starting to become a blur.”
In 2019, her desire to make people remember resulted in a personal project called Those We Lost, an online “collection of portraits and stories of the victims of the so-called drug war in the Philippines.” She started painting and writing about them as her way of honoring the memories of the victims. The experience allowed her to feel less helpless and more connected to what was going on.
Joy is a Filipino based in England where she has been living for almost 20 years. In this episode of #HoldTheLine, Maria Ressa talks to her about why she chose to do this and the stories that struck her while pursuing her project.
Through the Rappler+ program, members are able to network with like-minded people and be part of a global community that supports the values of Rappler. It was through a conversation in the Rappler+ private chat group that Maria Ressa learned about Joy Watford’s work. That connection resulted in this feature.
This episode was recorded on May 24, and as attended live by Rappler+ members. Part of the benefits of being a member is access to live show recordings where members can ask questions directly to featured guests. – Rappler.com
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