Inclusion

LOGARTA

The ABS-CBN program S. R. O. hosts took the trouble of inviting history professor Ciao Chua to discuss the significance of the wedding of Harry and Meghan, not only for the couple or the British but to the world, us included. “Inclusion!” The professor took the trouble of bringing back the past with Princess Margaret whose loved one was not accepted. He even reminded us of how Edward gave up his throne to marry a divorcee.

True enough many reasons existed to refuse acceptance for Meghan if this had been another time. Some cited her African-American decent. Others pointed to her having been a divorcee. People could also look down on her profession — from the entertainment world. Or some could object because she was older than the prince! But the British Royal Family accepted Prince Harry’s chosen one and it has been declared that Meghan as Duchess of Sussex could continue with her causes including feminism.

Of course, the first who gave total, all-out acceptance was Prince Harry. This sense of openness can be understood when we look at his upbringing with his mother Princess Diana. It was shown that she exerted effort to make her children belong with ordinary people, letting them have early education, not in their home but bringing them to an early childhood with other children. Diana infected them with the common touch and warmth for people. The biography showed that at a time when most people were ignorant about AIDS-HIV and so in their ignorance distanced themselves from the infection unnecessarily. Princess Diana visited their clinic. They were all watching if she would wear surgical gloves; she did not and shook the hands of both patients and staff calmly.

As a young man when he visited the places which used to be colonies of the United Kingdom, he integrated very well with the youth so he enjoyed the experiences as much as they did. When he joined the air force he became one with the group; he exercised brotherly concern especially when there were casualties. He was such a part of his generation that his grandmother, the Queen of England consulted him about them and their gadgets.

This is actually a time when Jesus’ conversations with a tax collector and a Samaritan woman, or silent defense of the woman caught in adultery would not be questioned. After the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the Magna Carta of Women the exclusion of women for government positions may even be considered illegal.

This is the time when researches have shown how much the inclusion of women would enhance the economy. The current ombudsman or should we say ombudsperson Conchita Carpio-Morales, a female, had been given the Magsaysay award as: “fearless and indefatigable ombudsman of the Philippines whose integrity and dignity restored the people’s faith in the rule of law”. Should there be any position in the Philippine government closed for women?