The exhibition “Faces of Justice,” which was on display last April at the Sint-Niklaas Church in Ghent, was organized by our volunteers Tinus, Léo, and Erwin, grew out of a solidarity trip. The trip they took to the Philippines in September 2025 with Viva Salud to meet our partners, who are fighting for human rights under sometimes deadly oppression. Together with six other participants, Tinus returned with images, portraits, testimonies, and a conviction: their struggle and ours are linked by the same system of oppression.
1. This exhibition grew out of last year’s solidarity trip to the Philippines with Viva Salud. Can you briefly explain what that is and why you went on this trip?
I had already been active in Belgium for about three years in organisations through which I took part in actions for Palestine and against the social dismantling by the De Wever-Rousseau government. In those moments I always felt a great deal of solidarity among the people here, but also with peoples from the Global South who suffer under the same economic system.
I then discovered Viva Salud, which organises that solidarity in a very concrete way through projects and partner organisations in Palestine, the Congo and the Philippines. When I found out that Viva Salud also organised trips to meet activists there, listen to their stories, learn from their struggles and bring those experiences back to Belgium, I didn’t hesitate for a second to sign up for the trip to the Philippines.
2. If you had to name one thing you took away from that trip, what would it be?
I didn’t know much about the country, but during those two weeks I learned an enormous amount. What will stay with me the most is the resilience of the Filipino people. Their optimism, their belief in a better world and their determination to keep fighting under incredibly harsh circumstances. The repression of activists by the army and police is immense. Everyone knows someone who has been arrested or imprisoned, who has disappeared or even been killed. A moment I will never forget: a young activist who had tears in her eyes when I told her that I didn’t have to fear for my life when I went to protest. She couldn’t imagine such a thing. Their activism is truly a matter of life or death, and that is precisely why they are so resolute.
3. Together with Erwin and Leo you organised this exhibition in Ghent — what motivated you to do that?
We really wanted to bring the stories from there to here. We spoke with women’s organisations (Gabriela), human rights activists (Karapatan), health workers (Council for Health and Development), researchers (IBON Foundation), trade unions, political prisoners, students… To all those people we wanted to show: you are not alone. All over the world we are fighting the same fight. We noticed that this solidarity moved them deeply. And of course we want to raise awareness among people here — not only about what is happening in the Philippines, but also as an inspiration to get involved here in building a better world.
4. It comes with the solidarity trip, but the exhibition you organised is also linked to a fundraiser for Viva Salud’s partners in the Philippines. Why did you choose to do that?
Raising awareness is important, as is financial support. Viva Salud and its partners are doing truly essential work, and that obviously costs money. And we can all play a very concrete role in this. Every euro supports wonderful organisations that provide healthcare to marginalised communities, empower women, offer legal assistance and much more.
5. What would you say to people who are hesitant to set up a fundraiser?
Just do it! It’s not difficult and you’re contributing to a good cause. And it can actually be a lot of fun too. At the end of January, for example, we organised a karaoke night to raise money. That’s the favourite pastime of just about every Filipino, I think. Especially after a few San Miguels!
