Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña shares the joy of being a grandmother as she addressed participants of the International Women’s Day Celebration. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
They walked Cebu City streets for their annual march. They danced and sang to celebrate International Women’s Day.
About 5,000 women and a number of men gathered at Plaza Sugbu yesterday morning to campaign for equality and the protection of women from all forms of abuse.
Councilor Mary Ann Delos Santos encouraged women to speak out so their voices could be heard.
“We are empowered. This is our day. We are only four women in the council, although there’s been an increase. Politics is dominated by males, true. But very significantly, there are also women. But I’ll guarantee you, we will be the voice of women in the City Council,” Delos Santos said in her message.
Delos Santos said the idea of having the first lady mayor of Cebu City may even happen soon.
Members of different women’s organizations and women coming from the city’s 80 barangays gathered at the Fuente Osmeña Circle for the 6 a.m. march to Plaza Sugbu located in front of city hall’s legislative building for the 8 a.m. Mass organized by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).
After the Mass, women stood up and danced to the tune of “Juana, Ikaw Na!” a song that is in line with this year’s theme “Juana, desisyon mo, bililhon sa kaugmaon sa tanan. Ikaw Na!”
In her message, Councilor Leah Japson announced the construction of a P10-million women’s center to accommodate women victims of violence and provide them with livelihood training.
A P10-million allocation has been set aside for the center that is targeted for completion before the May 2016 election.
Later in the afternoon, about 5,000 women gathered for the 19th anniversary of the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) held at the Plaza Independencia grounds.
The activity was also attended by councilor Margot Osmeña and her husband Tomas Osmeña, Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa (south district), Rep. Raul del Mar (north district) and Vice mayor Edgar Labella.
With her grandchild, Anita, in her arms, Councilor Osmeña spoke of the joys of being a grandmother.
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