Fight continues for 'comfort woman'

Lola Estelita Dy knew that she might not get justice in her lifetime for being repeatedly raped by Japanese soldiers during World War II. But she fought on anyway.

- By MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Dy, an active member of the rights group Lila Pilipina and the last "comfort woman" in Malabon, died of cardiac arrest on Nov. 24 at the age of 94.

Dy was friends with another late comfort woman, Paula Atillo, whose son is the husband of Dy's eldest daughter Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Atillo told The STAR during Dy's wake that she would continue her mother's fight for recognition as part of her pamana or inherited vow.

"All of the lolas have children and grandchildren. We will inherit and continue their fight," Atillo said.

Atillo recalled that growing up, she would notice that her mother during the '90s would sneak out of the house and not tell them her plans for the day.

She would later learn that she was attending rallies for the wartime sexual slavery victims group Lila, at a time when rape survivors were holding rallies, led by Maria Rosa Henson, the first comfort woman to come out.