Editorial

More Demands For Women 

For Unorthodox Jobs

by Ernesto T. Solidum

The recently Kapihan held at NVC Carmen Hotel tackled the topic, “Women Month Celebration.”  Guests are: Vice Gov. Billie Calizo-Quimpo; Dr. Julius Sol Jamero-TESDA Prov’l Director Jesebel M. Vidal-PPDO, GAD Focal Person; Vivian R. Solano of PESO; Hapi Lynn Abao-Pov’l Social Welfare Officer I; Dr. Glenmar Martinez-Medical Officer, DRSTMH; and Atty. Allen S. Quimpo-President, Northwestern Visayan Colleges.

Vice Gov. Quimpo expounded on this yearts theme that women should take an active role outside of the traditional confines of the home into the political and social limelight being embued with talents and expertise. We must strive to narrow the gender gap since it is observed that countries where women equitably represented, they tend to be more prosperous, peaceful and stable. 

Aklan province is fortunate to have equal ratio of men and women executives in both national and provincial offices, 14:3 ratio of municipal mayors and 244:87 ratio for Brgy. Captains, disclosed Ms. Vidal. This is one of the reasons why Aklan got that  coveted award for best performance in Women Empowerment.

ATTY. Quimpo said that in his travel recently to India with his wife Marianne, women there are badly discriminated or viewed as second class citizens because of culture and feudalistic nature of society. In contrast, women in the Philippines are equal partners in nation building. Kudos to our women who are the best in the world.

Educating and integrating poor families into mainstream society take innovative approach and ingenuity. The program though simple is delicately fitted in a sari-sari store business concept that gradually transforms into a vibrant entrepreneurship, said Dr. Jamero. He announced that four municipalities initially involved are: Kalibo, Balete, Madalag, and Malay which will undergo the rigorous training under the Coca-Cola-TESDA partnership. Each town will have 250 slots of sari-sari and carenderia store owners to be trained by TESDA using an educational module. The role of Coca-Cola is to provide micro financing, price monitoring and merchandising. The guideline on recruitment will be posted in all participating towns. This has been pilot tested in Palawan four years ago, the Provincial Director revealed.

Observance of women’s month is based on PD 224 and PD 227 that specify first week of March to conduct education/information drive. This year’s theme is “Juana, Desisyon mo ay Mahalaga, Ang Desisyon sa Kinabukasan ng bawat isa, Ikaw na.”

Home Decision Is Not Shared

It is pathetic that based on the theme, decision-making in the home is no longer shared by both parents. The reality is that 51 percent of Filipino homes have no mothers having gone abroad to work as domestic helpers, caregivers and entertainers. Of the 12 million OFW’s 97 percent are domestic helpers. The majority of them are in Hongkong, Japan, Singapore, Israel, Italy and other countries.

A related study by Vicente K. Fabellar, President of Jose Rizal University shows that there is high incidence of OFW seafarers’ family separation. One in four seafarers separated, two in five OFW children drop out of college because of lack of parental guidance. It is noted that one (1) in every four seafarers worldwide are Pinoys. They remitted four (4) billion U.S. dollar in 2013.

Long years or months of separation is counter-productive to healthy family relationship. Arch. Emeritus Oscar Cruz confided that 100 Filipino couples want to nullify their marriages each year. However, the process is long and tedious. The case must be approved by the Church Tribunal of First Instance and Tribunal of Appeals. Apparently, only the rich and famous get the most favored status.

The Philippines is top performer in Asia Pacific region in terms of gender equity even as the country fell 4 notches to rank 9th out of 142 economies assessed by the Global Gender gap 2014 report. Presently, women are in big demand in unorthodox jobs like welders, plumbers, masons, carpenters, architects and engineers. Underlying reason is that women’s touch is different and pays attention to details.

However, women generally are lagging behind men in leadership, business and politics despite being educated according to Mastercard Worldwide Index of Women Advocates. It ranked New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines and Singapore as best countries for women. Countries should understand that integrating talented women into leadership structures is imperative for sustainable economic growth and innovative in both developed and developing economies, said its Spoke-person Georgette Tan.

The total remittance of OFW’s to the Philippine economy is $25 billion in 2014. Hongkong has 300,000 domestic helpers majority of them Pinays while Japan has 114,000 entertainers (musician, dancers, singers). There is a slave auction market in Singapore where Filipino and Indonesian maids are advertised as “Budget Maids”. Once an English dictionary defined domestic helper as Filipino maid. Convicted drug mules in China include Pinays who are summarily executed. One refreshing news is Rosa (Osang) Fontanes, a caregiver in Israel won “X Factor” challenge in January 20, 2014.

Phase-out Indignities

Must we bear above indignities and disrespect? Common sense dictates that we must adopt a gradual phase-out, say 20 percent per year, of domestic helpers, caregivers and entertainers. Let us give justice to our children and family. It is incredible that we endanger our mothers and daughters to work abroad getting pauper’s pay and then sexually abused or killed.

Here is a food for thought from the late Indira Gandhi. “My grandfather told me that there are two kinds of people: those who do work and those who take the credit. He told me to be in the first group – there is much less competition.” How true!

Women empowerment needs thorough evaluation as we advance our cause in governance, professions, literature and arts. Conservative opinion is that for every one empowered woman, there is one un-empowered woman. Nevertheless, a decisive step is to recall our domestic helpers, caregivers and entertainers to become full pledged mothers to their children and families. Basically, women empowerment is exercising our God-given rights as decision maker and role model in the home. /MP