Int'l Women's Day: Celebrating the little things
Published Mar 8, 2019 10:55 pm
By Jan Carlo Anolin
March 8 marks the International Women’s Day (IWD) and it has always been there for over a century now. It is an annual milestone for women, a special day to celebrate their greatness and empowerment.
POWER TO WOMEN– Mass actions dominated by women are no longer uncommon these days as shown in this recent protest march marking International Women’s Day. (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to IWD’s website, the first gathering happened way back in early 1900’s. It is a global day to celebrate “social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.”
It was only in 1975 when the United Nations (UN) first celebrated it. There is so much to learn about the rich history of IWD and it just keeps on growing.
That was the bigger picture. But there are also the little things that count on what makes a woman, a woman.
Manila Bulletin interviewed several women and asked the simplest question: “What is that one thing you want to celebrate today as a woman?”
Motherhood
Motherhood is something that Maria Luda Olim, 37, street vendor, and Hannah de Jesus, 29, street food cook, want to value today.
De Jesus likened IWD to Mother’s day because it is both an appreciation day for women as women, and women as a parent.
“ celebration ng pagiging mommy namin, tapos pagiging masipag namin as women. Merong kaming mga inaalagaan, iniintindi, tsaka meron pa kaming mga responsibilities,” De Jesus said.
(It is a celebration of our motherhood, on how we are as industrious women. We still have someone to take care of and we still have responsibilities.)
For Olim, however, she simply treated IWD as a normal day of sacrificing everything just to provide and give the life they want for her children.
“Parang hindi nga women’s day kasi busy mga tao mga babae sa hanapbuhay. Kaya kahit ‘yung sa sarili nga namin ‘di na maasikaso para lang sa mga anak,” she said.
(Actually, it doesn’t feel like a special day for women because we, the women, are all too busy with our work. We cannot even look after ourselves just so we can provide for our children.)
Equality and recognition
For Mary Grace Espiel, 35, a high school teacher, she wanted to celebrate the fact that women are now very much recognized as capaable beings.
Jann Kayla Mendoza, 22, a writer, echoed Espiel and cited that women have their own representation in different fields such the arts, media, politics, and sports.
For them, it is a good development that women today are being regarded as equals to men and being acknowledged for their skills and talents more than ever.
“I particularly celebrate the fact that women now have a voice in society. Happy to note that in the 365 days of the year, there's one given to honor women,” Espiel said.
Strength
21-year-old Mia Arra Camacho, a news story supervisor, wanted to celebrate the accomplishments of women over the years.
“If it weren’t for the strong ladies in the past who showed courage to fight the constraints of a purely patriarchal society then we won’t be able to practice our right to vote, right against discrimination, right to work and have a say on our own body,” Camacho said.
The same goes for 19-year-old nursing student Christine Jireh Fernandez.
Fernandez said she wanted to honor her strength as a woman, realizing that she is much capable than she thought.
However, she admitted that there is a daily struggle as she faces different forms of abuse in public.
“I don't feel safe in public transportation and the idea of walking home alone sends chills down my spine. But despite these realities, I am still able to draw courage to fight and spread my wings out with pride in this men-driven society,” the graduating student said.
Individuality and independence
Manila Bulletin’s senior content producer Noreen Jazul, 23, said individuality is that one thing she wants to acknowledge as a woman.
“I think that (individuality) is what women should celebrate. Na parang, ‘Let’s not compare ourselves with each other kasi we are unique,’ she said, noting how women interact in social media.
(“I think that (individuality) is what women should celebrate. Like, ‘Let’s not compare ourselves with each other because we are unique,’ she said, noting how women interact in social media.)
For Pam Rances, independence marks International Women’s Day.
She said she learned how to be an independent woman from her mother, a single parent.
Rances said she sees her mother as the “portrait” of a woman who can stand on her own feet, alone and by herself.
“Nasa phase ka na parang you can soar on your own so parang eto na ‘yung stage kung saan hindi mo na worry yung foundation. Ang worry mo na is yung be consistent kung ano man yung ginagawa mo now,” the 26-year-old social media manager said.
you should be at that phase wherein you can soar on your own and this is the stage wherein you do not have to worry about the foundation. Your worry is how you stay consistent with whatever you are doing now, the 26-year-old social media manager said.)
For the eight women, these were the little things that count. For them, being a woman means sacrifice, being powerful, radiant, resilient, special, and passionate on their own special ways.
POWER TO WOMEN– Mass actions dominated by women are no longer uncommon these days as shown in this recent protest march marking International Women’s Day. (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to IWD’s website, the first gathering happened way back in early 1900’s. It is a global day to celebrate “social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.”
It was only in 1975 when the United Nations (UN) first celebrated it. There is so much to learn about the rich history of IWD and it just keeps on growing.
That was the bigger picture. But there are also the little things that count on what makes a woman, a woman.
Manila Bulletin interviewed several women and asked the simplest question: “What is that one thing you want to celebrate today as a woman?”
Motherhood
Motherhood is something that Maria Luda Olim, 37, street vendor, and Hannah de Jesus, 29, street food cook, want to value today.
De Jesus likened IWD to Mother’s day because it is both an appreciation day for women as women, and women as a parent.
“ celebration ng pagiging mommy namin, tapos pagiging masipag namin as women. Merong kaming mga inaalagaan, iniintindi, tsaka meron pa kaming mga responsibilities,” De Jesus said.
(It is a celebration of our motherhood, on how we are as industrious women. We still have someone to take care of and we still have responsibilities.)
For Olim, however, she simply treated IWD as a normal day of sacrificing everything just to provide and give the life they want for her children.
“Parang hindi nga women’s day kasi busy mga tao mga babae sa hanapbuhay. Kaya kahit ‘yung sa sarili nga namin ‘di na maasikaso para lang sa mga anak,” she said.
(Actually, it doesn’t feel like a special day for women because we, the women, are all too busy with our work. We cannot even look after ourselves just so we can provide for our children.)
Equality and recognition
For Mary Grace Espiel, 35, a high school teacher, she wanted to celebrate the fact that women are now very much recognized as capaable beings.
Jann Kayla Mendoza, 22, a writer, echoed Espiel and cited that women have their own representation in different fields such the arts, media, politics, and sports.
For them, it is a good development that women today are being regarded as equals to men and being acknowledged for their skills and talents more than ever.
“I particularly celebrate the fact that women now have a voice in society. Happy to note that in the 365 days of the year, there's one given to honor women,” Espiel said.
Strength
21-year-old Mia Arra Camacho, a news story supervisor, wanted to celebrate the accomplishments of women over the years.
“If it weren’t for the strong ladies in the past who showed courage to fight the constraints of a purely patriarchal society then we won’t be able to practice our right to vote, right against discrimination, right to work and have a say on our own body,” Camacho said.
The same goes for 19-year-old nursing student Christine Jireh Fernandez.
Fernandez said she wanted to honor her strength as a woman, realizing that she is much capable than she thought.
However, she admitted that there is a daily struggle as she faces different forms of abuse in public.
“I don't feel safe in public transportation and the idea of walking home alone sends chills down my spine. But despite these realities, I am still able to draw courage to fight and spread my wings out with pride in this men-driven society,” the graduating student said.
Individuality and independence
Manila Bulletin’s senior content producer Noreen Jazul, 23, said individuality is that one thing she wants to acknowledge as a woman.
“I think that (individuality) is what women should celebrate. Na parang, ‘Let’s not compare ourselves with each other kasi we are unique,’ she said, noting how women interact in social media.
(“I think that (individuality) is what women should celebrate. Like, ‘Let’s not compare ourselves with each other because we are unique,’ she said, noting how women interact in social media.)
For Pam Rances, independence marks International Women’s Day.
She said she learned how to be an independent woman from her mother, a single parent.
Rances said she sees her mother as the “portrait” of a woman who can stand on her own feet, alone and by herself.
“Nasa phase ka na parang you can soar on your own so parang eto na ‘yung stage kung saan hindi mo na worry yung foundation. Ang worry mo na is yung be consistent kung ano man yung ginagawa mo now,” the 26-year-old social media manager said.
you should be at that phase wherein you can soar on your own and this is the stage wherein you do not have to worry about the foundation. Your worry is how you stay consistent with whatever you are doing now, the 26-year-old social media manager said.)
For the eight women, these were the little things that count. For them, being a woman means sacrifice, being powerful, radiant, resilient, special, and passionate on their own special ways.