Vice President Leni Robredo dreams of a day when women are recognized for their strengths and treated as equals rather than needing to prove that they, too, can be leaders and trailblazers.
On the eve of the International Women’s Day, Robredo signed a covenant with women groups of the Robredo People’s Council at the Leni-Kiko Volunteer Center in Quezon City, promising to address issues faced by women, protect women’s rights, and empower them to break barriers.
“Sana dumating ‘yung oras na hindi na natin kailangan ipaalala sa mundo na mahusay ang mga kababaihan (I hope that the time will come we don’t need to remind the world that women are excellent, too),” Robredo, the lone female presidential candidate in this year’s elections, said on Monday, March 7.
She lamented that there are times women only have a month and a day to remind the world what they can do.
The presidential aspirant added that she looks forward to the day when women no longer need to prove anything just so they are seen and treated as equals.
“Ang ating pinagtatrabahuhan ngayon, papunta doon sa panahon na hindi na natin kailangang ipagtanggol ‘yung sarili natin, hindi na natin kailangang magbigay ng ebidensiya na malakas din tayo, hindi na kailangan na dadating ‘yung eleksyon na may magsasabi pa, ‘Hindi ako sa kanya boboto kasi babae siya’ (What we are working for right now is to get to the day when we don’t need to fight for ourselves, we don’t need to provide evidence that we are strong, too, that during elections no one will say, ‘I will not vote her because she’s a woman’),” she shared.
The Vice President added her dream is to see the day when women are treated as equals of men, and are celebrated because of their gender.
The covenant Robredo signed with various organizations advocates for women and women’s rights.
It also aims to protect women from abuses, discrimination, and harassment. The covenant, likewise, details her plans, programs, and commitments for women if she is elected president this May 9 elections.
Meanwhile, Robredo’s running mate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan asked to be treated as an “honorary woman,” adding that he was surrounded by empowered women all his life—from his older sisters who are all leaders in their own rights and wife, Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, who he married at the height of her stardom.
“Sa susunod na anim na taon ng kasaysayan ng ating bansa, hayaan nyo pong pamumuan tayo ng isang babae, si Leni Robredo bilang ating susunod na pangulo, at syempre, ang inyong lingkod, Kiko Pangilinan, bilang bise presidente, na sana ay ituring nyong isang honorary woman (In the next six years of the history of our country, let a woman, Leni Robredo, lead us as the next president, and of course, at your service, Kiko Pangilinan, as vice president, that I hope you will treat as honorary woman),” he said.
After signing the covenant via video, the senator described it as a “sacred vow” that needs to be fulfilled.
Pangilinan said their tandem’s political platform is not only a list of empty promises, which raise false hopes. They will work hard to implement their platform, he said.
The signing at the Leni-Kiko Volunteer Center was hosted by Saab Magalona-Bacarro and Candy Gamos, members of the Filipino band, Cheats. They described themselves as “big fans” of Robredo.