QTV's Rhea Santos: Empowering women

"Being instrumental in positively changing the lives of others makes me fulfilled. I'm happy to be part of QTV's WOMEN'S DESK because the show makes me realize and appreciate the worth of being a strong and fighting woman," shares program host Rhea Santos.

Women's Desk, currently on its second year of airing and Silver Screen awardee for the Social Issues genre at the 2005 US Film and Video Festival, aims to inform its viewers - particularly women and children - of their rights and more importantly, to teach them how they can protect themselves from further abuse.

To date, Women's Desk has facilitated in the rescue of 24 women and 72 minors from abusive circumstances. The program also continues to receive an average of 10 "walk-ins" daily while its hotline number receives an average of 25 to 30 calls everyday.

And even if not all cases are aired, Rhea assures that each call or each "walk-in" is given the necessary assistance to ensure that help will be made possible and available.

"I believe the show has done well in terms of educating abused women and children. Our rescue operations have always been successful with the help of the proper authorities," Rhea added.

Image Shift

A veteran broadcast journalist and public affairs program host, Rhea is all but a greenhorn in her field. Viewers get to see her Monday to Friday in GMA's early morning program Unang Hirit and in QTV's late-night newscast News on Q. She is also one of the faces of GMA's 100% Pinoy which airs Thursday midnight.

But undeniably, Rhea as Women's Desk host is nowhere near the image that is associated with her, or more aptly, used-to-be associated with her - classy, fragile and very lady-like.

With Women's Desk, she's no longer just the person in-front of the camera reporting the news or doing feature documentaries. She now makes it a point to be physically present and involved in the whole story, wherever and whenever. And when asked to describe her experience with the program, she's quick with the words "maaksyon" and "exciting".

Apparently, it is Rhea's other side that viewers are unaware of. "Ako, I love action, I love yung mga ganito na tinututukan mo, it excites me." Rhea, though, was quick to add that she is not the confrontational type, or the girl version of the "Imbestigador ng Bayan" Mike Enriquez. "I can say na matapang ako pero iba yung approach ko sa suspect," explained Rhea.

Agent of Change

As the face of Women's Desk, viewers - especially those who have been rescued or at the very least touched by the program - now look to her as their real-life "agent of change".

"I always instill in women that they shouldn't depend on others to defend themselves. We'll be here for them but the fight will begin once they say 'stop' or 'no' from further abuse," shares Rhea.

And this, the program is doing through informing its viewers - not only the females but the males as well, about their rights as individuals, with great emphasis on the fact that women empowerment is knowing their rights and teaching them means to protect themselves. Its male viewers, on the other hand, are encouraged to respect the rights of their partners and their children as well. Knowledge, after all, is power.

Women's Desk usually involves actual "rescues" of women and/or children, all of which are done in coordination with the authorities. The program also seeks to give hope to victims by sharing with them "survivor" stories and by showing them ways to move on from the abuse.

Acknowledging the sad reality that there is still quite a number of abused women and children out there, and if plans will push through, the program is looking at having its very own action center for next year. That, according to Rhea, is merely a part of their Serbisyong Totoo.

Women's Desk airs every Thursday, 10 pm at QTV.