National Women’s Month 2010 Kick-off a success

Manila – Thousands joined the 2010 Women’s Month Celebration Kick-off Activity held last March 1 at the NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. The event was spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women, formerly National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), in partnership with the local city government of Taguig led by Taguig First Lady Kaye Tinga and Dove Philippines, a major sponsor of the activity.

PCW Commissioner for the Indigenous Peoples Sector Atty. Evelyn S. Dunuan said that this year’s theme “Babae, Tagumpay Ka ng Bayan!” emphasizes the cause for celebration and thanksgiving despite many trials and adversities that women continue to face.  “Filipino women have managed to survive and to prevail as loving, nurturing mothers and self-sacrificing wives, as hard-working OFWs or vendors in the informal labor sector or lowly paid rural or agricultural workers, as dedicated government employees, community development workers, organizers, volunteers, civic leaders, business women, teachers, professionals — in whatever role, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, Filipino women keep the Filipino family strong and intact,” PCW Commissioner Dunuan said.

The start-up activity, Walk for Women’s Rights, was led by PCW Executive Director Emmeline Verzosa, Taguig First Lady Kaye Tinga, and the following Dove ambassadors: Pia Magalona, Pinky Marquez, Chiqui Hollmann Yulo, Timmy Cruz, Raya Mananquil,  Susan Campos, Nicole Fonacier, Sara Black, Mariel Santos Po, and Akiko Thomson. Also in the walk were the PSA Athletes of the Year Awardees Marestella Torres, Rani Ann Ortega, Camille Alarilla, Janice Lagman and Rubilen Amit plus several policewomen. Women and men from national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, women’s groups and other sectors also participated in the walk. Aside from raising greater awareness of women’s role in all spheres of public and private life, the 30- minute walk also signified the acknowledgement of the struggles of women for the recognition, promotion, protection and fulfillment of their human rights, all of which are encapsulated in the comprehensive Magna Carta of Women (MCW) Law.

The day long festivity also included a three-part program including the livelihood skills training and demonstrations and featured booths and exhibits of products mostly for women, and a tiangge. The participants also enjoyed getting free products and/or services from Dove, Reyes Haircutters, Luminare, Flawless, Spa Essentials, Abs Bitter Herbs, Brahma Kumaris, Sysu, Anlene, Department of Health, Generika, Philippine Cancer Society, Pascual Laboratories, and Red Cross, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Public Attorney’s Office and Women’s Crisis Center, NSO and other government agencies.  The 2010 Women’s Month Kick-off was also supported by Century Tuna, RFM, Statement Magazine, MOD Magazine and Absolute Sales Corporation.

PCW Commissioner Dunuan hoped that the continuous recognition of women’s role is not an “impossible dream”. She stressed “And so, as we begin today the celebration of Women’s Month and give honor to our women achievers and heroes, as we show appreciation and gratitude for the contributions of Filipino women in the building of our nation, as we remember our struggles and sufferings and celebrate our gains and victories, we earnestly urge not just Filipino women, but, every Filipino, to continue working together towards the attainment of gender equality, development, justice and peace.  This is not an impossible dream. All we need to do is try.”