Phl joins celebration of International Women's Day

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Saturday recognized the contribution of Filipino women to nation-building as the Philippines joins the global celebration of the International Women's Day.

"Ngayon taon, kinikilala natin ang kababaihang Pilipina na naging katalista ng pagbabago at nagpapakita ng kakaibang tapang, katatagan, kalinga at pagmamahal sa kani-kanilang pamilya at pamayanan sa gitna ng unos at trahedya na puminsala sa ating bansa noong nakaraang taon," said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a report by the state news agency.

"Sa pagbangon at pagbabagong-tatag ng mga lugar na sinalanta ng mga bagyo at lindol, muli silang mangunguna upang manumbalik ang sigla at liwanag sa mga komunidad at kanayunan. Patuloy ang pagtataguyod ng pamahalaan sa isang patas na lipunan at sa pag-angat sa antas ng mga kababaihan," Coloma added.

Meanwhile, militant Filipino women said President Benigno Aquino III is the bane to poor Filipinos.

“His presidency has made lives harder and more dangerous for women, especially those who speak out against rights violations and his anti-poor policies,” Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretary general and Tanggol Bayi convenor, said in a statement on the commemoration of International Women’s Day.

Meanwhile, Kiri Dalena, co-convenor of Tanggol Bayi, said 18 women activists "have been killed under the Aquino administration."

Among those reportedly slain by believed to be “state security forces” were Cristina Jose, a village councilor and leader of typhoon survivors in Davao Oriental, on March 4, 2013; and Juvy Capion, an anti-mining activist who was massacred in October 2013 together with her two children.

Both militant women group leaders also scored the Aquino administration for its recent appointment of police general Lina Sarmiento as the chairperson of the Martial law victims claims board.

“The appointment of Sarmiento to a top government post is not an achievement for Filipino women. It is a grave insult that is tantamount to a slap on the faces of thousands of Filipino women who suffered during the Marcos dictatorship. Aquino successfully proves how he overwhelmingly underestimates our capacity to see through this cheap and superficial shot at women empowerment,” they said.

In the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index , the Philippines placed fifth in recognizing women's rights and their contribution to society. - with Artemio Dumlao