“Dito sa Maynila, Babae ang Bida!”
Thus said Mayor Honey Lacuna, as she led the holding of the second Manila Women Summit at the Metropolitan Theater, where she once again thanked Manilans for giving her the unique opportunity of being the first lady mayor in the city’s 450 years of rich history.
In the said affair organized by Manila department of social welfare chief Re Fugoso, Gender and Development Council of Manila and city administrator Bernie Ang, the mayor also cited the many women who have seized the chance to showcase what they can do to succeed and be the best in their chosen fields of endeavor, be it in the private sector or as public servants.
“Marami nang Pilipina ang nabigyan ng pagkakataong mamayagpag at magtagumpay sa iba’t ibang disiplina. Hindi na kaya sa isang pahina lamang maisulat ang lahat ng mga pangalan ng mga Pilipinang nagsikap, nagpunyagi, at nag-iwan ng legasiya sa kani-kanyang larangan,” Lacuna said.
As she enjoined all the women present in the affair to continue supporting her administration, Lacuna said:”Napakalaking karangalan ang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa akin na maging kauna-unahang babaeng Alkalde ng Maynila makalipas ang apat na raan at limampu’t isang taon ng pagkakatatag nitong ating lungsod. Kaya’t buong pagpapakumbaba kong sinisikap na isulong ang isang uri ng pamumunong nakaugat sa mga pangunahing katangian ng babae. May positibong pananaw, matatag ang loob na malampasan ang anumang hadlang at balakid, busilak at malambot ang puso, may mataas na integridad, kumikilala sa kahalagahan ng balanseng pamumuhay, nagtatakda ng malinaw na mga layunin at maingat sa paglalatag ng mga hakbang upang harapin ang bukas.”
The mayor added: “Hindi ko mapagtatagumpayan ang pagkakataong ito kung hindi ko kayo kasama, katuwang at kasabay sa paglalakbay sa patuloy na pagpupunyagi ng ating hanay. Kaya’t hinihiling ko ang inyong tulong, ang inyong pakikiisa.”
For her part, Fugoso said this year’s summit, aimed at undesrcoring the significance of the role and contribution of women to everyday goings-on in our society, is specially made historic since the sitting mayor is the first woman to have been ever elected to the said post.
Fugoso cited the all-out support of Lacuna to all programs that would benefit women, such as the creation of the crisis center for women and children.
Lacuna, in her message, said that while the history of women empowerment does not have an exact date, it is a result of the struggles that women have undergone through various events and processes.
Over the years, she said that numerous movements, protest actions and other forms of unified actions hastened the process of strengthening women power in the country.
“Noong unang panahon at maging sa nakalipas na taon, ang mga kababaihan, sa daan-daang bansa, ay hindi pinapayagang bumoto. Ngunit sa paglipas ng mga araw, parami na nang parami ang mga babae na nagsama-sama at nanindigan upang ipinarinig ang kanilang mga tinig,” she said.
“Mayroon pa ring ilang mga bansa sa buong mundo ang tila malalim ang impluwensiya ng kultura at pamana ng kanilang lahi. May ilan na magpahanggang ngayon ay nananatiling patriyarkal ang kalakaran kaya’t ang mga kababaihan ay patuloy na pinagkakaitan ng mga pangunahing karapatang pantao tulad ng edukasyon at iba pang oportunidad sa buhay,” the lady mayor added.
The concept of equality among genders, she said, needs to be coupled with equal recognition of the capabilities, capacities and greatness specially of men and women, as she noted that in some places, the women continue to be set aside or looked upon as the inferior gender.
“Sa parehong biyolohikal at moral na konteksto, ang mga kababaihan ay nagtataglay ng higit na kakayahan upang hubugin ang kinabukasan at pag-unlad ng isang pamilya pati na rin ng lipunan sa kabuuan. Kaya, ang pantay na pagkakataon ay dapat ibigay sa bawat babae upang tulungan silang ganap na umunlad bilang isang indibidwal at gumawa ng kanilang sariling mga pagpipilian,” Lacuna stressed.
The mayor said women of today are very fortunate to experience the free and vast chance to participate, speak and push for anything that will benefit the women sector.
She cited the many women leaders who have etched their names in the country’s history, both in their private capacity and in the public sector.
