WOMEN’S groups from Cebu City barangays gathered at City Hall to commemorate International Women’s Day yesterday.
Seventy-five out of the 80 barangays in the city sent representatives during the activity which also kicked off the city’s celebration of Women’s Month with the theme “Kaayuhan ni Juana, I-apil sa Adyenda.”
“We know that women comprise a bigger population compared to men and they must be honored. We should give honor and pride to our women. We want to encourage them to know what their rights are and also their responsibilities as constituents of Cebu City,” said Cebu City Women’s and Family Affairs Commission (CCWFAC) head Altea Lim, who is also the barangay captain of Poblacion Pardo.
She said they plan to conduct more activities in the different barangays like holding orientations for women on issues like violence against women and children. The activity was also attended by some city officials including Mayor Michael Rama, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and Councilors Dave Tumulak and Hanz Abella.
In his speech, Rama challenged the participants and the CCWFAC to implement more projects on values formation and programs that also focus on dealing with children.
“And I will guarantee, I will support programs that bring about women empowerment,” he said.
The mayor also assured that he will continue to give support to women’s groups in the city despite recent developments wherein some women’s groups have pledged their support to the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK), Team Rama’s rival party.
“Di ta mag-istorya ug politika (Let’s not talk about politics) because what is important in women’s month is the dignity of women whether you are a part of my party or of the other party. Mao na sagdi na ang ubang grupo (Let the other groups be). I will still serve them,” he said.
The mayor also shared how his mother Natividad Lopez-Rama raised him and his siblings.
He recalled how their mother had time for all of her 13 children and how she instilled the values of religiosity and prayerfulness to them.
“If there was an Ulirang Ina award, she would have won it hands-down. She cooked for us, did the laundry and the dishes, and tutored each one of us everyday. She was a superwoman,” he said.
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