In photo from left: US Embassy CDA John Law, Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Dutch Ambassador Saskia de Lang, SPARK Executive Director Maica Teves
By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
Photos courtesy of SPARK! Philippines
The rise of women taking the lead is undeniable, whether in the corporate world or public service. Thanks to the awareness created in the consciousness of everyone that everyone, regardless of gender can collaborate and make this a better world.
Last March 08, 2021, SPARK! Philippines, a non-governmental organization that implements programs for gender and development, successfully held the first episode of #Women2021: Women in Action, its weekly series of roundtable discussions on women’s issues. Speakers, guests, and partners gathered on International Women’s Day to hear the inspiring stories and messages of empowered Filipina leaders.
The hosts, TV Personality and Miss Universe Philippines 2020 2nd Runner Up Michele Gumabao and Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands representative Kevin Punzalan kicked off the event and welcomed the first speaker of the day, Dutch Ambassador and 2021 European Gender Champion in the Philippines Saskia de Lang. Her Excellency Saskia de Lang remarked, “I’m honored to be in the presence today of women who have exemplified leadership and strength in times of extreme pressure and crisis. You have shown that women are not only capable to lead, but they inspire other women and girls… Gender equality is not merely a dream to aspire for but an urgent call to action. It is a prerequisite to realizing sustainability, development, and peace and economic growth.”
Charge d’Affaires John Law of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines delivered the second speech of the day. “Here in the Philippines, women’s empowerment is an intrical part of the partnership between our two countries. Together, we promote gender equality and women’s rights… [the] United States is delighted and honored to work with you to support this program and the innovative platform it provides to established Filipina leaders to tell their stories, to share their experiences, and offer their perspectives on the challenges women face, not only here in the Philippines but all around the world. We hope this series builds greater awareness on these important issues, generates frank and open discussion, and ultimately sparks positive social change.”
Keynote Speeches
Gumabao and Punzalan then presented the keynote video message of Vice President Leni Robredo who talked about the special challenges women faced and are facing during this time. “Women are bearing the disproportionate brunt of the pandemic… It is clear; issues of gender and women empowerment cannot be put to the way-side to service more important matters. Progress always depends on ensuring those on the margins, including women can survive and even thrive. So, while the pandemic might have changed our context, the task at hand remains even more urgent: to empower the last, the least, and the lost… This is not something a single organization can do on its own. We need as many of us as possible banning against the glass ceiling,” stated the Vice President.
Former Ombudsman and legal luminary Conchita Carpio-Morales followed and gave her keynote address. “The real battle is fought every day, every hour by most women of our times. As a woman who is fortunate enough to be able to break free from the stereotype and oppression that normally confronts a woman, it sends a lump to my throat trying to imagine the difficulties that have to be suffered by a woman. We are equipped with laws and policies; in comparison with other countries, we have slowly become open to women occupying leadership positions and having empowered opinions. If there is anything good a pandemic may bring, it is to teach us a hard lesson that good is never enough. Even outside the discourse of gender and women, policies and systems need to be crisis-proofed henceforth.”
The last keynote speaker was Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat who also sent in a special video message. In her message, Secretary Romulo-Puyat, discussed how the DOT is promoting gender and development as well as the Department’s plans to restart the tourism industry in which women comprise a significant part. The DOT provides GAD training for tourism frontliners and industry partners among other continuing education efforts, and is slowly reopening tourism sites. “This year, we will create campaigns to encourage responsible tourism practices and behaviors. This is, however, a shared challenge that must be met with shared responsibility. By working collaboratively, we can ensure that the reopening of tourism will benefit more communities and empower more women.”
Panel Discussion
Afterward, the panel, composed of Quezon City Councilor Lena Marie “Mayen” Juico, World Bank Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist Atty. Lesley Cordero, Social Entrepreneur Zarah Juan, Miss Universe Philippines 2020 2nd Runner-Up Michele Gumabao, and Interior Designer and Painter Kim Lim, engaged in a roundtable discussion expertly moderated by TV Anchor Korina Sanchez.
Gumabao talked about her advocacy and the organization she started with her partner, Your 200 Pesos. This movement aimed to help those struggling during ECQ last year and they provided P200 worth of relief bags which included basic necessities such as food, rice, canned goods, toiletries, and other hygiene products packed in an eco-friendly bag. She said, “Our advocacy mainly was to remind people of the value of our money and to remind people as well that P200, although for some can be quite small, for others it can make a huge difference.”
Councilor Juico discussed Quezon City’s efforts toward gender equality and women empowerment. “The top three on [Mayor Belmonte’s] agenda, when it comes to women empowerment, number one is giving [women] independence… The second is the fight against violence against women and children. When everything was closed and a lot of our services were cut off because of the quarantine, we re-opened our center for gender-based violence victims… Number three, I’d say is well-being and health for our women constituents.” Korina Sanchez further asked about the link between financial dependence and violence against women which Councilor Juico confirmed. “Those two relate to each other very well. If you were abused in a home and you didn’t have money to support your children, would you leave the home? That is what is happening to the women in our barangays.”
Zarah Juan shared her own experience, how she started designing, and her project to help jeepney drivers. “I discovered the jeepney drivers were really hit badly and you would see jeepney drivers losing their homes, begging on the streets, and here we are selling our iconic jeepney bag. For me, it doesn’t make sense. I’m selling a jeepney bag, a Philippine icon, but our drivers are suffering. I could not continue with that… it should be people over profits during the pandemic. We decided that we would give P2,000 for each jeepney bag we sold to give an opportunity to our buyers to help people. We were able to give 120 jeepney drivers P2,000 each and continue the livelihood of our weavers.”
Korina Sanchez then moved on to Atty. Lesley Cordero of the World Bank to ask about how difficult it is to wage war against an invisible enemy. Atty. Cordero explained, “No one was prepared enough for the magnitude, the scale, and the impact. Everyone had to diversify, grapple, adjust, adapt, as well as execute. The challenge now in doing this is how do we help our governments, the governments of other countries, how do we leverage private sectors, civil society, and the communities that were affected.”
Kim Lim talked about the advocacy of “living your best life even during a lockdown” as described by the moderator. She discussed rediscovery, self-improvement, learning new things, and opening her first gallery show as a painter. “I used art as a tool to be more curious than afraid.”
Sanchez concluded the panel discussion by asking all the speakers about what is essential about being a woman making a difference in the time of COVID-19. Their answers included women juggling several hats at a time, the strong empathy of women, women’s natural ability to provide comfort and healing, and women being the “silent heroes” of this pandemic.
SPARK! Executive Director Maica Teves closed the program. She said, “There is a need to talk about how we can work together to ensure that those with the right resources, those who are in positions of power and influence will perhaps look beyond International Women’s Day and see women empowerment as a cross-cutting concern, and finally end the vicious cycle of women getting the short end of the stick, time and time again. Because if we truly want to ensure equity, economic progress, and health for all – the Philippines, the entire world must put on a gender lens on response and recovery.”
This episode can be viewed on the SPARK! Philippines Facebook Page at facebook.com/SparkPhilippinesInc. Join SPARK! on March 15, 22, and 29 for the succeeding episodes of #Women2021: Women in Action.
