THE merry month of March is here! Aside from the warmer temperature, there are lots of reasons the third month of the year is awaited.
Foremost is the celebration of Easter Sunday when our Lord God Jesus Christ has risen from death after undergoing torture and crucifixion. For weeks in the Lenten season, the Christian world prepares for this day enduring self-imposed sacrifices to empathize with His suffering in the misguided and warped-up disposition of justice of the Roman Empire.
Yet Holy Week in our country is not at all about His rise from death but an imprudent notion to take and enjoy a vacation in tourist spots like the fresh air of the countryside, the beaches, and picnic grooves. People prepare and save money including taking off from work for a week-long good time. They forget to take the real meaning of Holy Week.
Yes, March is also named International Women’s Month. It is a reminder of calls for women empowerment and respect for the role they play in society. Yet, they are still dubbed as the “weaker sex” and other demeaning words placing them lower in the category of their male counterparts.
President Duterte himself can be accused of chauvinism when he, in several public announcements, said that the presidency is not a place for women. He justifies his belief that women cannot emotionally and physically deal with the heavy load of work and the horrendous responsibilities of the highest office in Malacanang.
Perhaps our feisty President forgot that in history are women leaders who served their respective countries with strength, dignity and courage, elevated living standards of their constituents, and earned worldwide respect and admiration.
Offhand we remember Israel’s Golda Meir who stood beside military leaders in the wars with neighboring Arab countries. And as Prime Minister, she withstood her ground to protect the interest of her country Israel.
How about Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi who suffered years of home imprisonment under military rule yet became the rallying figure for the survival of democracy in her country. Again, she is under house arrest following the recent military coup.
There was Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She was known as the “Attila the Hen” and “Iron Lady” for her ardent stand on national and world issues.
Other women leaders were former PM Julia Gillard of Australia, India Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who was central figure in the Indian national congress, Canada PM Avril Kim Campbell. Even China had a woman Co-Chairperson by the name of Soong Chingling, Argentina’s Isabel Martinez de Peron, and Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto.
There are countless women heads of states who are outshining their male counterparts in other parts of the world.
Presently, they are Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, PM Jacinda Ardern of New Zeeland who earned praises for successfully containing the Coronavirus 2019 with strict protocols. She is the second world leader who had a baby while in office. Another is PM Erma Solberg of Norway whose economic and social policies have shot up the Norwegian life standards.
Perhaps President Duterte centered his opinion on the wracked regime of Corazon Aquino that saw the dubious oligarchy resurface in the country. Rumors assumed her to be “walang alam” and whispers pictured her spending most of her time allegedly playing mahjong among friends in Malacañang.
We need not go far to see women in public service. Decades ago, Baguio City had a lady mayor.
In the City Council today, we have Betty Lourdes Tabanda who was elected several times over and must be serving the longest number of years as a local legislator. Others are Mylen Yaranon, Elaine Sembrano, Lilia Farinas and Philian Weygan.
We have women organizations that are known for causing heavy traffic in the heart of Metro Manila with street rallies. Notorious, among others, are “Gabriela” and “Migrante” which are known for taking the cuddles of abused women and overseas contract workers.
Lest we forget, we have religious groups such as the Catholic Women’s Leagues and Handmaids of the Lord of Couples for Christ.
Mabuhay to all the women out there! Special mention is for my late widowed mother Angeline who reared seven upright children on her own.