We had one of the liveliest and best-attended Women’s Kapihan last Saturday, August 9th, aired over Radio Station dyLA at 2:00 – 3:00 PM on the implementation of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women) in Cebu Province and City.
We also discussed what it has done so far to improve the status of women. The program, which I host every second Saturday of the month, is organized by the Legal Alternatives for Women (LAW) Center, Inc. and the Cebu Women’s Network (CWN).
Executive Director Marie Bongato of the Cebu City Women’s Family Affairs Commission and Cebu City Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos were guests of our panel of CWN officers, board and members.
Ms. Bongato explained that her Commission gives continuing trainings in Gender Sensitivity to barangay officials and city employees, and provides livelihood programs and financial assistance to NGO (Non-Government) Partners. The panelists commented that the commission needs to be more strongly committed to continue being effective.
Councilor Delos Santos said the city government has a support program implemented by the Cebu City Women and Family Affairs Commission, conducts sensitivity trainings to empower its 80 barangays (with 16 yet so far to be visited) down to the sitio level. These are held in the barangay areas. An awareness seminar is given at the sitio, barangay, “kapilya” and even city levels, to make participants know that the law empowers people, and that awareness and education should go hand in hand.
Value formation seminars are also held for both men and women, so that “all may be educated, informed and empowered”, and that the barangays must and can adequately handle their respective programs, and not go directly to City Hall for help.
The discussion drew illuminating comments and opinions. Auditor Fe Cabatingan said barangay captains must attend these trainings since they are the first to respond to domestic violence cases. Value formation orientation is important in our changing culture. Lawyer Noemi Abarrientos said barangay personnel should refrain from making unnecessary comments while interviewing or dealing with victims.
Auditor Fe noted that discrimination against women continues despite many laws protecting women. CWN chairperson Thelma Chiong said that nowadays, however, more women are coming out in the open to file complaints, and that there are more women in government service now.
Atty. Noemi also said that while women have culturally, from the start, been discriminated against, laws are useless if women do not assert their rights. “Do not be afraid to refer to officials who should be truly official,” she said.
Board Member Mayette de Egurrola said women should respect themselves and be responsible, particularly in dress, appearance and behavior, so that they are respected by both women and men. Interestingly, Secretary Portia Dacalos disagreed, saying that how a woman dresses is up to her. It is her privilege and choice to dress up however she wants, and that is not a reason for her to be disrespected by men. Portia is truly a modern independent woman who says, “Women should speak up!”
That was one of the most frank exchanges in Women’s Kapihans I have hosted since years back when it started on radio Station DYLA!
Bystander-ing on conflicting “he says, she says, they say” current events will hold for next week. The rest of Bystander-ing this week is for memorabilia, particularly religious, among women’s manifold concerns.
August 1st was the Feast of one of the greatest moral theologians of the Church, St. Alphonsus Liguori, a priest who had a great love for the poor, who founded the Redemptorist Congregation, known for the parish missions, a remnant of their mission to bring the Gospel to the rural areas.
August 2nd was the 50th or golden wedding anniversary of Consul Michel and Mrs. Amparito Lhuillier. Congratulations to the couple! I remember how their company sponsored one of my early live radio programs on dyRC in the ‘50s in Cebu. August 4th was the birthday of Cebu’s premier couturier Viring Romoff, who made my classic dresses and gowns in my early live radio shows on dyRC. Thank you, Viring!
August 4th was also the memorial of St. John Mary Vianney, patron saint of priests. A simple man, he was known to have spent 17 hours a day in the confessional in his desire to be an instrument of conversion to the people. August 5th was the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Sta. Maria Maggiore) in Rome, which I was privileged to have visited, thanks to a Filipino priest who guided me there.
August 6th was the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. It was also on that day that the Closing Mass was celebrated for the Knights of Columbus 132nd Supreme Convention at the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome. The following day, August 7th, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention held a Mass for their deceased members, at the Marriott World Trade Center in Orlando, Florida in the States.
Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
There is more to write about that will have to hold for next week. Until then, as always, may God continue to bless us, one and all.