Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda on Wednesday, March 8 became emotional as she recalled the hardships she faced as a solo parent and the unpaid care and work women provide at home. 

This was after Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva commended women for their contributions in nation-building and in social, cultural, economic, and political development of the country in celebration of International Women's Day.

“As you know, the true commander-in-chief in the house is actually our wives. Without our wives, and our mothers, and our sisters to guide us every day in our life, I don’t think we, men, will be what we are today,” Zubiri said.

This prompted Legarda to talk about the unpaid care and work that women commit to in the household. 

“Hindi namin binibigyan ng presyo yung paghanda ng pagkain na mainit pag-uwi ninyo, di ba? Nagtatrabaho din kaming mga babae, pero pag-uwi, aalagaan pa ang mga anak, tapos aasikasuhin ang budget ng bahay, pag may sira sa plumbing, pag may problema sa kuryente, pag may problema ang mga emosyon ng mga bata, pag may away ang mga kasambahay, pag may problema sa opisina, sinong sasabihan ng asawa, o ng kapatid, o ng anak (We don't put a price on preparing food that will be hot when you get home, right? We women also work, but when we come home, we will take care of the children, then take care of the household budget, if there is a problem with the plumbing, if there is a problem with the electricity, if there is a problem with the children's emotions, if there is a fight among the household helpers, when there is a problem at the office, who will tell the husband, or the brother, or the child)?”

“We handle and bear everything,” Legarda pointed out.

She then turned emotional when she recalled how she had to balance her work as a legislator back in 1998 and still had to take care of her two children, then aged eight and five years old.

“Napakahirap and I say this kasi ako po ay nandito sa bulwagang ito, ang mga anak ko ay eight years old at five years old na ako’y nagbabalangkas na ng batas, 1998 (It is difficult and I say this because I was already here when my children were eight and five years old and I was crafting laws, back in 1998),” she said.

“There’s some pain and regret but it’s also the work that we do and I sometimes shed a tear when I think about it,” Legarda pointed out.

To this, Legarda turned to her colleagues and everyone in the chamber and called on them to appreciate the women in their lives.

“So, you appreciate your wives, and we appreciate all the women of the Senate who are working with us up to late and still when we come home, we can’t just lie down even if you have a helper or a yaya,” she said.

“..So the unpaid care and undervalued work, di kayang bilangin or tumbasan ang trabaho ng babae (a woman’s sacrifice or work can never be counted nor compensated),” Legarda emphasized.