Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Beauty pageants violate women code: official
By Barbara Carla R. Quiero
COUNCILOR Angela Librado-Trinidad is pushing for a ban on beauty contests in Davao City, like the Mutya ng Dabaw and Hiyas Sa Kadayawan, claiming these competitions violate the city's Women Development Code.
Trinidad, chair of the City Council committee on women and children, cited a provision of the Violence against Women and Children, which prohibits the holding of beauty contests and other events exhibiting scantily clothed women.
The city's women code states that "beauty contests, which tend to abuse, humiliate, and treat women as sex objects shall be strictly prohibited in schools, communities, barangays, and by the City Government in its special celebrations."
It added that, "In their stead, the projection of women's strength and potentials, especially with regard to indigenous and culturally-relevant forms shall be encouraged."
"Diha mismo sa provisions, gisulti gyud nga miski ang siyudad sa Davao kung siya ang mangulo, dili siya exempted," Trinidad said in an interview Tuesday.
According to Trinidad, the holding of beauty contests exploits the physical attributes and the overall image of women and reduces them into mere commodities and objects of pleasure and entertainment.
"Ang mga kababainhan diri sa Davao, dapat siryusohon na nato ni siya ug pagtagad, pinaagi gyud sa pagpanawagan na ihunong na ni (beauty contests)," Trinidad said.
She said it is not enough to revise a portion of the contests, which was done recently, by conducting the swimwear competition behind closed doors and exclusive to the panel of judges.
"Although we appreciate nga adunay pagbag-o on how we have conducted beauty contests before and as of the present, ang mga kababainhan diri, labi na ang mga nihimo sa Women Development Code, dili lang kami, naghuna-huna dili lamang ang pagbag-o mismo sa format kun dili ang concept na ang babae gyapon ang ginaparada, kana man ang atong dili gusto," she said.
Trinidad said the importance of women and her contributions to the society could be displayed in different ways, like the Recognizing of Outstanding Davao Youth or the "Rody Project" and not just through beauty contests.
"That is why we are really bent on our campaign against these beauty contests sa city," she said.
"I think we can only stop beauty contests sa barangay, schools if we could show that we have successfully put a stop sa kaning beauty contest nga gilungsad sa siyudad," she added.
Trinidad said there are still women who are in favor of beauty contests, as it has been a long tradition of the country.
"But, if we educate them, they will understand. With an advocacy to stop these contests, it is also our duty to educate," she said.
Trinidad said her committee would hold an open debate inviting women in different sectors to also express their thoughts regarding the matter.
After which, she said, she would file a resolution before the City Council to stop the holding of beauty contests.
Meanwhile, Councilor Jose Louie P. Villafuerte said he does not agree with the advocacy of Trinidad.
"Dili ko uyon, gusto pud nako ma-promote ang mga beauties sa Davao," Villafuerte said.
Villafuerte said beauty contests are not bad, but it depends on the person on how he or she thinks of such contests.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (February 15, 2006 issue)
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