Journalist Maria Ressa was trending on Twitter list last night after Irish rock band U2 dedicated their song “Ultra Violet” to her during their concert at the Philippine Arena last night, Dec. 11.
Before performing “Ultra Violet,” U2 also sang “Beautiful Day,” which frontman Bono dedicated to human rights activists from around the world.
“Human rights churn out human wrongs, that’s a beautiful day. When sisters around the world go to school with their brothers, that’s a beautiful day,” said frontman Bono.
“When journalists don’t have to worry about what they write, that’s a beautiful day. When women of the world unite to rewrite history as herstory, that is a beautiful day.”
They then proceeded to perform “Ultra Violet,” which Bono dedicated to Ressa, saying, “For Maria Ressa.”
As they played the song, the big screen behind them showed photos of revolutionary Filipinas throughout history. This included Ressa, revolutionary hero Melchora Aquino, zarzuela singer Maria Carpena, former president Corazon Aquino, Lea Salonga, Sen. (and faux feminist) Pia Cayetano, youth activist Marinel Ubaldo, activist Lidy Nacpil Alejandro, and environmental and indigenous rights advocate Joan Carling.
Photos of women activist groups #BabaeAko movement, the One Billion Rising movement, and Grrrl Gang Manila were also displayed during their performance.
There were also photos shown of other women game-changers from around the world, such as comedian Ellen DeGeneres and young environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who was, coincidentally, also named Time’s Person of the Year on the same day as the concert.
“Women who light up history, your own Maria Ressa is an incredible woman,” said Bono. “But even Maria will say it’s not about individuals. It’s about collective action. It’s about social movement, so that all of you will grow up to be the president or Maria Ressa.”
As always, Philippine Twitter had mixed emotions about what happened, with some saying it was not right to include politics at a music concert or that the Irish had no place commenting about the state of human rights in the Philippines. Meanwhile, we applaud U2 for their initiative of giving women activists due credit for their contributions, fighting for human rights, and supporting Filipino journalists in their protest for freedom of information and speech.
Bono has expressed his support of journalists and human rights in the Philippines before the concert. He said during their press conference days prior to the concert that he had no plans to meet the president. “President Duterte is very popular, he doesn’t need me on his side, and as it happens I have a very deep conviction about journalism.”
He also said that he had been a member of Amnesty International, one of the activist groups that are constantly under the Duterte administration’s scrutiny. “I take it very seriously, and I think human rights are critical.”
The band also cited women advocates of different causes during the previous legs of The Joshua Tree concert in other countries.
Former senator Bongbong Marcos, who is friends with Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, was also reportedly seen at the event. We wonder how he feels about Ressa’s shoutout?
Photo courtesy of U2’s Instagram account
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