(In celebration of Women’s Month, Manila Bulletin is publishing stories featuring women who have made outstanding contributions to the country or to their communities.)
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera isn't your typical congresswoman. In fact, she doesn't even look like a congresswoman, or someone whose position in government can affect countless people.
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera
Instead of a politician, Herrera's aura is that of a fashionable aunt, sunshine-filled friend who always smiles, or chic former classmate. It's for this reason that it's common for her to be mistaken as a staff rather than the actual congresswoman.
"Akala nila advance party ako. They don't expect na (that) I look that young," said Herrera, who last month turned 46. But she actually looks more like 36.
"For example may ka-meeting ako, kapag dumating ako, magha-'hi' ako doon sa alam kong ka-meeting ko. Sasabihin sa akin, 'Kayo po ba yung representative ni Congresswoman Bernadette Herrera? Sasabihin ko, 'Hi, ako si BH!'
(If I'm supposed to meet with someone and I arrive early, I'd say 'hi' to that person. He would ask, 'Are you the representative of Congresswoman Bernadette Herrera? Then I would say, 'Hi, I'm BH!)" she said.
But Herrera is a House leader in the truest sense. In her two terms as a House member, she has achieved the designation of a deputy speaker in the current 18th Congress, and is only one of the handful of party-list solons to achieve that position.
"Alam mo napakahalaga siya Kasi (It's very important to be deputy speaker because) essentially, you represent the Speaker. So you get things done a lot better. Ibig sabihin may imprimatur ng Speaker. So mas madali makipag-usap sa mga government agencies. Tapos kung may problema sa implementation ng project (It means that whatever you say has the imprimatur of the Speaker. This makes it easier for you to talk to government agencies. If there's a problem about their implementation of a project) you can call their attention," she explained.
Being a woman who for most of her political career has been told "You can't do it," Herrera is very impassioned when it comes talking about her achievements. At the age of 25, she won a seat as Quezon City Councilor.
"Pinakita ko na hindi ako takot hindi sumunod sa uso, hindi ako gumaya sa traditional politician na pumupunta sa patay, kasal, birthday. Ginawa kong iba? Nagbaba ako ng napakaraming (I showed that I wasn't afraid to be non-conformist, I didn't emulate traditional politicians who go to wakes, weddings, and birthdays. What did I do differently? I launched) livelihood and educational projects and I ended up being no. 1 kahit na sinasabi nila na hindi nako mananalo kasi (even if I was told I can't win since) I don't conform to the traditional politics. I proved them wrong," Herrera said.
She would then win a seat in the House of Representatives in 2016. By 2019, she was a deputy majority leader. The following year, Herrera would be named a deputy speaker by House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
As a deputy speaker, Herrera has earned an especially strong voice--one that bears weight in a range of legislative processes. These include committee hearings in a room of about 50 people, or a House plenary session that involves all 300.
During the course of the current 18th Congress, Herrera had been joined by 85 other female House members out of chamber strength of 308. While that may seem like a lopsided ratio, lady legislators in the House are as relevant and influential as ever, with the likes of the Bagong Henerasyon solon — a reelectionist in the upcoming May polls — showing just how big of a positive upheaval they could bring.
"I always make it a point to pursue pro-women laws," said Herrera. "We’re still marginalized. We're very few in number. We still make up 30 percent of the House. But slowly we're gaining ground, we've been able to pass the pieces of legislation that are needed,” she said in Filipino.
What are the pieces of legislation that Herrera is most proud of? She says she has two "babies" — Republic Act (RA) No. 11210 or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law (which increased the maternity leave period to 105 days for female workers with pay) and RA No. 11596 or the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law.
"I felt that I focused on this measure from the very beginning until we were able to pass it," she said.
On RA No. 11210 in particular, Herrera remembered making representations to President Duterte just to ensure that the pro-female workers law wouldn't get vetoed. "I'm very proud of that kasi talagang very instrumental ako sa pagpasa nito (because I was really instrumental in the passage of this)."
Herrera also had a significant role in the passage of RA No. 11223, also known as the Universal Health Care Act; and RA No. 10931, also known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. The latter is better known as the free tuition law.
If there's one more law that Herrera wants to pursue —perhaps in the 19th Congress should her party-list earn a seating in the polls — its a Philippine divorce bill. "The divorce bill is really for women, but it is being blocked by male lawmakers," she said.
Looking back on her journey in the male-dominated world of Congress and Philippine politics in general, Herrera said it's important for women like her to tell themselves that there's no limitation on what they can achieve.
"Wag mo agad sabihin na kasi babae ka, may limitation. Wag mong isipin na ganun (Don't tell yourself from the onset that just because you're a woman, there's a limitation). Ang isipin mo (What you should think is), it doesn't matter that you're a woman. You can still swim your way and speak your mind as to what has to be done."
The deputy speaker said that, to be successful, a woman should have confidence that's based on knowledge.
"You should know what you want to fight for. Gender should not be an issue, it doesn't matter if you're female or male. You should be knowledgeable about what you want to fight for."