FTW!

Gregorio Miguel Pallugna

WONDER WOMAN has recently been a recurring figure in superhero movies,  consistently defeating the men in most of the fight scenes she plays. And people–men and women alike–love it! This transformation of how women are being portrayed on screen is a glimpse of how women are now more widely considered by our society to be empowered compared to the fragile household figures and princesses which we usually see before. Women, in fact, are now considered to be stronger and more independent in our society.

Perhaps unknown to many however, as recently as 1935 our Philippine Constitution limited the right to vote to “male citizens” only. It went to state further that the National Assembly will only extend the right of suffrage to women “if in a plebiscite which shall be held for that purpose within two years after the adoption of this Constitution, not less than three hundred thousand women possessing the necessary qualifications shall vote affirmatively on the question.” In a country having a population at that time of around 16 million only and without the technologically advanced means of communication we have now, reaching this number of votes in a plebiscite was not supposed to be an easy task.

Fortunately for all women now, especially for Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Cory Aquino, the plebiscite was passed which resulted in a law enacted by the National Assembly in 1937 allowing women to vote in the Philippines for the first time.

This year, the month of April will mark the 80th anniversary of Filipino women’s right to suffrage. That is not so bad considering that this year, American women are celebrating only their 97th anniversary of being allowed to vote while women from New Zealand, who were the first to be allowed to vote anywhere in the world, are only celebrating their 114th anniversary.

The month of March is celebrated as the International Women’s Month. It is also considered in the Philippines as the “Women’s Role in History Month” through Proclamation 227 issued by President Cory Aquino in 1988. Our country has come a long way in terms of advancing women’s rights since Filipinas were given the right to vote 80 years ago. The Magna Carta for women was passed in 2008 institutionalizing the policy of the state to ensure protection, non-discrimination and providing better opportunities for women. Under this law, women’s rights to equal work opportunities, labor standards and benefits, and support for women in sports, the military, government service and other sectors were guaranteed.

Another law passed for the advancement of women’s rights is the Violence Against Women and their Children Act (RA 9262) which provides stricter penalties for physical, psychological and economic abuse against women. This law also provides a remedy for immediate protection for women who are suffering from abuse from their partners. In fact, this law is considered by some to be somewhat anti-men more than it is pro-women, but that is not the point.

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act (RA 10354) is also another example of a law providing women with better protection and security in health, as well as ensuring their freedom of control over their bodies. This law, which was highly controversial has in so many ways advanced the women’s movement in our country.

Most recently, the Philippine Senate passed on third reading Senate Bill 1305 which grants all female workers a maternity leave of 120-150 days with pay, which is an astounding expansion from the previous 60-78 days granted under the Social Security Act of 1997. In fairness to men, this Bill also extends the previous seven days of paternity leave to 30 days. When passed, this law will promote better family development and hopefully not overpopulation.

A great number of other laws and proclamations have also been passed over the years in view of our consistent endeavor as a people to advance the welfare and rights of our female members of society. With the considerable number of female national heroes that we have–include wonder woman if you will–and the glaring fact that we all have mothers, it is not surprising that many if not most of us consider women as a primary driving force of our nation.

Admittedly though, there is still so much to aspire for in terms of Philippine society’s treatment of women. That does not erase the fact however that there are giant leaps being made by the movement in recent history which are enough to make men start to whine–something many men are actually very good at.

A Happy Women’s Month to all!