BONTOC, Mountain Province – Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., together with Vice Governor Francis O. Tauli and Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Mary Grace M. Dalog (representing Congressman Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr.) underscored the contributions of women to their respective communities during the International Women’s Day (IWD) program held at the Provincial Plaza on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
“This day is designated for us to appreciate the women for their contributions not only in building a model family but in bringing progress to the whole country,” Gov. Lacwasan said.
Subsequently, he cited some achievements of women in our province in three fields which many people think are areas where only men could excel – fields of environmental protection, peacekeeping, and community development.
On environmental protection, the Governor related how the women of upland Bontoc have resisted the operation of mining companies in Mainit. According to him, most people think that women have no or lesser participation in environmental protection.
“Ammo yo kadi nga iti kaistoryaan ket babaket ti nang-ipagel iti panag-umay ti mining companies ditoy Mountain Province. Without any clothes, the women of upland Bontoc formed a human barricade to deny the entry of mining equipment and mining prospectors in Mainit,” he shared.
“Nu awan dagiti babaket, naminas et ti ili tayo ken nakalbowan et dagiti bantay tayo. Idiay met northern Sagada, dagiti napinget nga man-implementar iti illegal logging laws ket babaket. Isuda iti ag-checkpoint ken isuda ti apan idiay bantay nga mang-iparit iti illegal logging activities,” he added.
On peacekeeping efforts, Gov. Lacwasan reminded everyone of the legendary and renowned Bontoc Women’s Brigade.
“Nagado ti recognitions nga naited iti daytoy nga grupo gapu iti panang- implementar da iti curfew ken liquor ban ordinances iti capital town. In other areas of the province, the involvement of women in peacekeeping bodies is very significant. Their voice is as potent and important as that of the men. In fact, a study shows that women are more impartial in making decisions and recommendations because they could manage their emotions more than their male counterparts,” he further said.
In addition, he underlined the active participation and membership of women in Barangay Lupon and local peace and order councils and their great number in the uniformed personnel dominated by males like the PNP, BJMP, BFP, and Army, among other professions.
Thirdly, the governor mentioned the strong voice of women in planning, monitoring, and implementation of programs, projects, and activities of the community.
Nonetheless, the governor said that while women in Mountain Province participate in most endeavors, there is a prevailing culture that limits the participation of women.
“There are still areas where the male members of the community enjoy more rights and privileges than their female counterparts. If I may suggest, it is time to reach out to these communities and share with them the concept of women empowerment and gender equality.
It is my dream that in the coming years, women from these communities be the ones standing here and declaring that they are already empowered….Agbiyag dagiti kababa-ihan,” the Governor ended.
Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Tauli also expressed his message through a song where he emphasized respecting the rights, support, and protection of women. He also mentioned the observance of gender equality.
“Amin tayo koma ket maamuwan, Ti kalintegan dagitoy kababaihan, Seguridad ken enda’y kaayuwanan, Protektaran tayo ken suportaran,” he sang.
Moreover, Tauli affirmed that women are now employed in offices that used to be dominated by men and this is because of their commendable traits. “Ti enak met nga maobserba, Am-amin metten nga opisina, Kaaduwan nga empleyado na, Ket babbai ti makitkita. Ket ti enta’y ton pagdanagan, Baka lallaki met ti maiyaw-awan, Ta uray opisina ti kapulisan, Babbai ket um-ad-ado dan, Nu apay isu’t gapo na, Ta nagaget ken naaanos da. Ta ti babbai awan ti bisyo da, ‘Serbisyong Totoo’ ti ipagpagna da. Ti met role yo iti society, Invaluable ti maibaga mi. Enta’y garud ipapati, Daytoy gender equality, Amin koma nga ahensya, Kasapulan nga agmaymaysa,
Ma-addressan amin nga problema, Tapno mayat ti panagtrabaho,” he further sang.
On the part of Rep. Dalog, he also cited the legal bases of the IWD celebration and expounded on the theme.
“.The passage of appropriate laws serves as the legal basis for the celebration we are having today, and which we will maintain to celebrate annually in favor of all women in our society who continue to make all things happen for us at home, at work, and at all places,” he said.
Among those he mentioned are:
Proclamation No. 224 s. 1988, ” Declaring the First Week of March of Every Year as Women’s Week and March 8 as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day,” which was signed by former President Corazon C. Aquino on March 1, 1988; Proclamation No, 227 s. 1988, “Providing for the observance of the Month of March as ‘Women’s Role in History Month” signed by President Aquino on March 17, 1988; and Republic Act 6949, “An Act to Declare March Eight of Every Year as a Working Special Holiday to be Known as National Women’s Day” which was also signed by President Aquino on April 10, 1990.
“The law (RA 6949) further strengthened the impetus for the celebration by declaring every March 8 as a special working holiday and enjoining employees from the government and private sector to participate in activities conducted by their offices,” he said.
On the theme, “2028: WE for gender equality and inclusive society,” Dalog said that this now emphasized the renewed commitment of the Philippine Commission on Women to the advocacy and the advantages achieved during the 2016-2022 theme, WE Make CHANGE Work for Women, which stressed the need for compassionate and harmonized networks toward gender equality and women’s empowerment
Moreover, the legislator said that the theme also is in parallel with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which envisions a “deep economic and social transformation to reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by steering the economy back on a high-growth path.”
This, he said, highlights that growth must be inclusive, building an atmosphere that will give uniform opportunities to all Filipinos and equipping them with skills to participate fully in an innovative and globally competitive economy.
He further underscored the many laudable qualities of women which make them serve as an inspiration and as great leaders.
Below is an excerpt of Rep. Dalog’s message delivered by his wife-representative to the program.
“Someone once cited: ‘Some women inspire. Some women influence. And some women are capable of doing both.’ Truly, women have been a noteworthy fragment of civilization. It is indisputable that women have proven themselves in all walks of life and work, side by side with men. Since time immemorial, womenfolk have been a great source of inspiration.
This is true for many women leaders and women workers from Mountain Province like that of our guest speaker who will deliver her Keynote Address later and like all of you who are present here today. You are just some of the many great women who inspire and influence our society today. You are the epitome of beauty, strength, wisdom, resilience, and care. You have made a significant difference in society. Truly, you motivate and encourage us, men, and women alike.
Today, as we celebrate women’s day, I call upon our women to draw strength and inspiration from these women leaders. I know how tough it is to be a woman serving your families while working to help your spouse deliver food on the table. But when you look at these women and how far they have achieved, it encourages you to keep moving on and moving up.
So, to all of you, please remain to be a woman of substance, a woman of positive inspiration, and a woman of meaning. Embrace your individuality and be happy the way you are. The pressure put upon you is immense and I admire every woman here who does not allow high demands and expectations to lower her morale.
Live up to your principles and values and always remain to be aware of them. In doing so, you are surely inspired, energized, and motivated for doing something significant. As an advocate for gender equity Kavita Ramdas said: ‘We need women who are strong, they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free.’
Again, happy women’s day and I take this chance to give my highest Commendation to all women of Mountain Province! Let us all work hand in hand for an inclusive society making change work for women and eliminating all forms of violence against women! By the grace of Almighty God, Gawis ay National Women’s Month, Gawis ay Mountain Province!”
