OVER the years, women have worked hard and refused to be labeled as ‘just a woman’ or someone who belong in the kitchen or the sewing machine only. In the years of experiencing inequality and discrimination, our grandmothers and great grandmothers have stood their ground, fought for their rights, and let their voices be heard. Eventually, this fight that they had and are having resulted to freedom that we are experiencing now. Women are now business bosses, political leaders, doctors, and even decision makers in the midst of men.
Even if inequality and harassment is still rampant and the fight against it continues until now, we still take pride in the fact that the fight our grandmothers fought for us has come a long way. And there is still more to go but as we know, baby steps are still steps forward. We continue to hope that women will be treated more fairly and respectfully in the future.
Here in Davao City, we were able to talk to these ‘superwomen’ in their respective fields who did not only inspire others to become the best versions of themselves, their excellence also contributes to the development in their chosen field.
Isip usa ka babae, kita dili muhunong sa pagkat-on kon unsa man ang bag-o karon. Kinahanglan ang mga babae mogawas na sa kahon nga sa una gihikaw kanato. Ang mga kababaehan karon lahi na unang panahon kay ang karon kaya na ni babae ang trabaho ni lalaki. Women are empowered na.
Marivic Dubria
Balutakay Coffee Farmers Association (Bacofa) manager
Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) 2019 Winner
I participate in the formulation of agreements, guidelines, and standards meant to address the unfortunate condition of women and children and at the same time secure the realized achievement. I share with other Asean member states and entities the Philippines’ best practices and experiences in protecting the rights and fundamental freedoms of women and children and reversely learn from them too. The platform is one of Asean’s ways of guaranteeing that no one is left behind.
Lourdesita Sobrevega-Chan
Ateneo de Davao University Political Science professor
Philippine Women’s Rights Representative to the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children.
It would be great if women would really feel their vast potential and discover how powerful we are in terms of managing an industry, in terms of planning because women have a special skill in terms of planning. We have the intuitive skill which are absent in other gender. When there is a woman in an organization chances are this organization will succeed because of the intuitive skill of a powerful woman. I believe that an organization is bound to fail if there is no single woman as part or member of it.
Ma. Ines Asuncion
Department of Education-Davao Assistant Regional Director
To be playing contact sports is scary and fun all at the same time. It really didn’t matter to me if the sports I’m in is dominated by men. Because inside the playing area, you’re just you. You’re a whole different kind of person aiming for the kill. Of course, training with men means you have to adapt to how they train and the extremes. It’s not training with a mentality of a man but training with a mentality of a champion... I think a woman never settles for less, she always strives to exceed more than her usual goal. Women can do anything a man can but expect that she’ll be the best at it.
Sydney Tancontian
World youth and junior sambo championships 2019
Bronze medalist and sea games 2020 kurash bronze medalist
Because of the nature of my work, nurturing and giving love to my work is essential. It’s seen on how I consider the decisions of the family members and decision-makers. There’s more compassion because of the nurturing characteristics of a woman. The ideas of a woman are very much needed because after all we’re the ones who really take care of the family. If this is applied and considered well in conceptualizing the property, it will be more useful for the property and for its future residents.
Elizabeth Ventura
Anchor Land Holdings, Inc. president
We are grateful for these women in their respective industries who pave a better way for women after them. Because of the achievements that they have reached, they provide inspiration to the others to maximize their potential and to be the best that they can be. Afterall, “Babae Ka, Hindi Babae Lang.”
These five women are only few of the superwomen we know of and are inspired of. We need not go far knowing that our very mothers, teachers, and sisters embody the strong woman that we want our future generation to look up to and set as examples.