14 September 2010 - Seven prominent Filipino women, all achievers all in their respective fields of endeavor, were featured in a forum on women in power and decision-making roles entitled "The Empowered Filipina".
The forum was held last August 20 at the Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) Bulwagang Blas Ople. Panelists for the forum included former Senator and Ambassador Leticia R. Shahani, Philippine Ambassador to Germany and former Foreign Affairs.
Secretary Delia D. Albert, former Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo, Philippine Council on Islam and Democracy (PCID) Director Aminah Rasul-Bernardo, Belo Medical Group Director Dr.Victoria G. Belo, Miriam College Women and Gender Institute Executive Director Aurora De Dios, and Center for Asia-Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP) Director Remedios Ignacio-Rikken.
Television host and University of the Philippines professor Solita C. Monsod, herself an accomplished woman, acted as the forum facilitator.
The featured women were selected for their having "broken the glass ceilings" that have long kept women from achieving their goals.
"I agree with Senator Shahani that diplomacy as a profession is biased. When I decided to get married, I was not allowed to marry the man I wanted to marry because he happens to be a non-Filipino. [I asked them to] give me one reason why I cannot be considered to get married? They said, well, because he will be a security risk. It was such a lame argument so I decided to do my legal brief, and I said, well if you allow 21 male officers to marry whoever they wish to, I think this is plain and simple discrimination," Ambassador Albert shared.
The Ambassador fought for her case and instead of settling for an exception, she ensured that it should apply to everyone.
Ambassador Albert shared an advice, saying that, "If you want something, you have to fight for it".
The other guests also offered their advice to less empowered Filipinas.
"Women should not put other women down," Ambassador Manalo said.
"We have to accept reality. We have to struggle now so we can look forward to a better future for us," she added.
"Women should grow a thick skin. Don't ever feel guilty as all the guilt makes you lose the will to fight", shared Ms. Rasul-Bernardo.
"If you want equal opportunities, you should work harder," Senator Shahani added.
Television host and University of the Philippines professor Solita C. Monsod, herself an accomplished woman, acted as the forum facilitator.
The featured women were selected for their having "broken the glass ceilings" that have long kept women from achieving their goals.
"I agree with Senator Shahani that diplomacy as a profession is biased. When I decided to get married, I was not allowed to marry the man I wanted to marry because he happens to be a non-Filipino. [I asked them to] give me one reason why I cannot be considered to get married? They said, well, because he will be a security risk. It was such a lame argument so I decided to do my legal brief, and I said, well if you allow 21 male officers to marry whoever they wish to, I think this is plain and simple discrimination," Ambassador Albert shared.
The Ambassador fought for her case and instead of settling for an exception, she ensured that it should apply to everyone.
Ambassador Albert shared an advice, saying that, "If you want something, you have to fight for it".
The other guests also offered their advice to less empowered Filipinas.
"Women should not put other women down," Ambassador Manalo said.
"We have to accept reality. We have to struggle now so we can look forward to a better future for us," she added.
"Women should grow a thick skin. Don't ever feel guilty as all the guilt makes you lose the will to fight", shared Ms. Rasul-Bernardo.
"If you want equal opportunities, you should work harder," Senator Shahani added.
To cap the exchange of views, Professor Monsod summed up the discussion and closed the forum by enumerating the advice given by the women panelists.
The forum was organized by the Gender and Development (GAD) Unit of the DFA's Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations.
The forum aimed to assess the implementation of the provisions of the Beijing Platform For Action on women in power and decision-making.
It capped the week-long GAD celebration, which started with the opening of a photo exhibit entitled, "Her Excellency: Philippine Lady Ambassadors at the Frontlines of Diplomacy," featuring all the DFA's lady ambassadors. END
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