“Fighting for women’s rights cannot be just an advocacy. It has to be a way of life.”

This was pointed out by Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh during her meeting with members of the Better World Cubao, a center for mothers and women in Cubao, Quezon City.

During the meeting last March 8 on the celebration of the International Women’s Day, Justice Singh was with her younger sister, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh Vergeire.

Justice Singh said: “Ito po ay bahagi ng ating pagkatao. So, hindi lang sya advocacy. Nananalaytay yan sa dugo ninyo dapat yung pagtayo at paglaban para sa mga karapatan natin (This is part of our life. Thus, it is not mere advocacy.  It runs in our blood to stand and fight for our rights). That should be part of who you are. Kaparte ng buhay ninyo (Part of your life).”

“Kasangkap na po lahat dyan. Hindi lang po sa health issues, tungkol sa legal rights din, kasama na din po yung sa environment, lalo na yung sa gender (Everything is included. Not only on health issues, but also on legal rights. Also, on environment and especially on gender issues),” Justice Singh said.

When asked how women can empower themselves, Justice Singh said: “Women should give their best and put their heart into whatever they do.”

“I always say this, you don’t wake up in the morning and tell yourself, I’m going to go out and be a superhero today and show everyone. Hindi po ganoon (not like that). You just go and do your daily routine. Kung ano po ang na-aatas sa atin, gawin natin sa abot ng ating makakaya. Ibigay po natin ang puso natin doon sa ginagawa natin. Doon manggagaling yung lakas ninyo (What should be done you must do to be best of your ability. You should give your heart in everything you do.  It is there where you get your strength),” she said.

A former trial court judge and an appellate court justice before her promotion to the SC, Justice Singh is co-chairperson of the Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary and Asia Pacific regional director of the Association of Women Judges.

Together with Undersecretary Vergeire, Justice Singh said they take pride in their work as they stressed that they are putting in honest and hard work in their respective fields to bring back the public’s trust and confidence in the government.

Justice Sing said she wants to change the perception against public servants who are looked down upon by some as being corrupt and unproductive.

Thus, she cautioned all women to “know their rights and fight for them and help raise consciousness and responsibility especially that the election season is next year.”

She pointed out that “who the people elect will be in-charge in the making of policies and decisions for the country.”

“Yan po sana ang isa sa maging advocacy natin lalo na next year is election season again. (I hope that would be one of our advocacies especially since next year is election season again). Sana (I hope) let us be a force to raise consciousness, to raise responsibility kasi talaga po namang we can only do so much kasi yung decision making, policy making hindi natin hawak kundi hawak ng mga tao na niluluklok natin doon (we can do so much because the decision and policy making are controlled by people who are elected to public office),” she said.

“Kaya sana kung mayroon tayong magagawa doon, mag-umpisa sana sa atin kasi kahit hindi natin isipin ito, pero (Thus, if we can do something about it, let us start now) this is a fact of life -- every woman is a leader in her family and in her community,” she also said.

She added: “Tanggapin po ninyo ang role na yan. Dahil yan po ay natural yan. That is by force of birth. Gampanan po natin yung leadership role na yun (Accept that role. Fulfill that tole).”

“If we are concerned about our future, not just for our children but us as well, maging active po tayo dyan (let us be active). Let’s make that one thing on our agenda na sana ay mapagtulungtulungan po natin (hopefully we can help each other),” she urged all women.