Women’s group Gabriela and other women-led organizations have expressed their readiness for the celebration of the International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8. A day before the global commemoration, members of Gabriela created their placards and other materials that they will use for their series of protests on Wednesday. “Filipino women from several major women’s and sectoral organizations will gather and [in unison will renew their calls] for wage, jobs, services, and rights amid severe economic and political crisis in [the Philippines.],” said Gabriela on Tuesday, March 7. The series of protests will begin at 8 a.m. Women leaders and workers will kickstart the activities at the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) office where they are set to have a dialogue with DOLE officials. “During the dialogue, around 200 women workers gathered outside will hold a protest [of] action to highlight their issues and demands,” said Gabriela. The next protest will be held at 10:30 a.m. at Liwasang Bonifacio where protesters are set to honor working women and their role in shaping the country’s history. This will be followed by the International Working Women Day (IWWD) Program where Filipinas will once again voice out their demands for decent salaries, better job opportunities, and an end to rights violations. To cap off the series of protests, the protesters will march to Mendiola and hold a “symbolic presentation” of Filipino women’s message to the administration. The first IWD was observed in the early 20th century. According to PCW, working women in the United States of America protested against low wages, lack of protective legislation, and poor working conditions. “It is due to such a history of women organizing around the world that IWD was officially recognized by the United Nations to celebrate women’s contributions to all societies. In the Philippines, the Women’s Month Celebration has since served as a venue to highlight women’s achievements and discuss continuing and emerging women’s empowerment and gender equality issues and concerns, challenges, and commitment,” the commission added.