Celebrating Strength, Resilience, and Achievement: Honoring Women Everywhere

 

Each and every year in March, the Philippines celebrates with the rest of the world the National Women month, a month that is marked with appreciation of the great contributions that Filipino women have provided, both to society, culture, and nation building. Presidential Proclamation No. 224 as the force behind the observance is a reminder of the courage, strength and unrelenting resolve of women who still shatter all boundaries and mold the future of the nation. In the busy Manila streets, as in the countryside of barangays, Filipino women are leaders, nurturers, teachers, businesspeople, and innovators whose influence is experienced in all aspects of society. National Women Month is a challenge to not just rejoice in these accomplishments but also look back at the trail that still needs to be achieved on gender equality and empowerment in the Philippines.

      The Filipino female empowerment has a rich and inspiring history. The Filipino women have led the pack in social and political transformation. Examples of both past and present heroes such as Gabriela Silang, a revolutionary leader against the colonial government and Corazon Aquino, the first woman to be elected as the president of the Philippines stand out as the embodiment of the bravery and leadership of women. However, even in the midst of the set of glorified heroes, there are millions of common women, teachers and farmers, healthcare and activists who have given significant contributions to their communities, often struggling with great difficulty. The National Women Month is a platform to celebrate the known and unknown heroes who have worked to push the country forward in an unwearying manner.

     In the modern Philippines, women are still making impressive development in different fields. Through government and corporate leadership, science and arts as well as social activism, Filipino women break the stereotypes and redefine success. The Philippine government, civil society organizations and the local communities usually arrange programs and campaigns in the month of the National Women and this is usually done through seminars, cultural events and creation of awareness on the rights and welfare of the women. Such programs are not only meant to glorify women and their accomplishments, but also to deal with undue concerns of gender-based violence, unequal access to education and other economic gaps, so that the empowerment is not token but practical.

The Philippine National Women month is also an appeal to the future generation. It makes young girls pursue their dreams, be in leadership and take part in nation-building without their being discriminated or restricted. Prominence of gender equality, endorsing businesses run by women and mentoring the future generation of female leaders are some of the most significant methods of translating celebration into sustainable change. The commemoration and uplifting of the Filipino nation by recognizing and empowering the women of the nation makes the National Women month more than a commemoration, but rather a movement that would make the Filipino nation stronger.