A person’s life can tell us so many stories about the world we are living in and how it can affect and change people. The Dolzura Cortez life story that had been put into movie tells us so many stories and realities that are currently happening nowadays. In the movie it shows us how the life of Dolzura started; a wife and a mother to her three kids. But like some of the family in the Philippine setting today, she also is receiving violence from her husband. And that is because she refuses to give sex to her husband. The reason is very shallow and absurd but the truth is it is really happening. Some wives in our society are often abused by their husbands from very absurd reasons in which they become helpless and being victimized by the dominance of men.

It also tells us how the life in big cities and urbanized areas such as Manila have become so complex that morals are often ignored and just put aside. The fast pace of life in the cities create things and places to satisfy the needs and the desire of the people. Usually, these things are often temporary and can burst like a bubble. It can be blinding since it feels so good and satisfy the darkest desires of men. And in the movie, Dolzura was immediately consumed by the blinding lights of the city life and its leisure that she adapts the life very fast and got engaged into affairs to satisfy our desires for flesh.

But fate can be very playful and cruel when we make poor choices and in the case of Dolzura, the consequences of her actions made a great impact to her life in a very negative way. Due to her behavior, she has gotten an illness and up to now, we have still no cure for it. And it is called AIDS.

Unlike any other sexually-transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, AIDS can be very fatal to those who are suffering it. It disarms our immune system, rendering us defenseless against so many sicknesses around us. This is why those who are suffering from AIDS do not die from it, but rather from complications of other diseases such as pneumonia, cancer and others.

The life of Dolzura after getting the disease slowly went bad to worse. Her health is deteriorating as well as people began to scrutinize and judge her. It’s a very depressing times for her but amidst all those things, we can find hope and salvation.

Dolzura met her ex-lover when she was confined into Manila Hospital where that man persuades her to tell her story in public. Amidst the adversities we face, there is hope for us to make a difference. And in her case, even it’s too late for her to be saved from the disease; she made a difference by telling her story and increased the awareness of people about AIDS. She has become a symbol for those people who are suffering from this disease.

One must see the story in different angles to fully comprehend what it’s all about and what is the message it wants to tell to us. It can be a depressing movie for some, yet it can be a source of lessons in life for us to ponder. Each of us has different perspective about it. But what does it want to tell me regarding gender and equality?

Throughout the movie, we can see how women are portrayed. They are beautiful creatures; that’s why they tend to become objects to satisfy the desires of men. And it is usually through the satisfaction of the flesh. Yet no matter how beautiful they are, most of the women are helpless against the dominance of men.

Women are susceptible to abuses whether it would be physical, psychological or emotional. They tend to be easily manipulated especially in the world created by men. They become products that can be easily traded for a sum of money; prostitution to be exact. And when they try to resist, they can be just easily tame through the physical violence to them. Reality can be very cruel at times.

Some women who have AIDS are often victims because they are forced to give sex to their partners. When they refuse, negative repercussions will befall on them. Also, these women don’t receive equal opportunities when they are trying to address these issues such as assistance, resources and others which is why they often suffer in silence and wait for their slow deaths.

In a society we are living today, we are enjoying the freedom to do the things that will benefit to us. It would be very essential that we promote the rights of women and people who are subjected to the many for abuses present nowadays. Each of us has its own right to live and we cannot just simple ignore the fact that there is an increasing number of people who are suffering from these abuses. We have to act fast before our society goes into the point where morals are useless anymore.

In the movie, we have learned that reality can be very cruel if we make a wrong turn in our lives combined with the poor choices we make as we traverse the path of life. Whether we choose to do what is right or not, we are the ones who can only decide about it. And we cannot undo it once we already done it.

It’s important that we live a life that is based on good morals, dignity and respect. We must not be carried away by the traps created by some people who want us to fall and never to recover again. Also, one must not sway from his/her beliefs easily even though the things in front of him/her are blindingly good, for we may never know what consequences it may bring to us.

We have one life and we must take good care of it. Being faithful and loyal to your partner is important because it will bring blessings in the relationship as well as to avoid consequences such as getting sexually-transmitted disease. Life is good if we spend it with the one we love whom we are faithful too and that person is the same towards you.

Each story we encounter teaches us a thing or two. And we must dwell on the good lessons.