March is National Women’s Month in the Philippines, with March 8 being National Women’s Day. Growing up in a society which I still deem as quite patriarchal, the role of women was never diminished or compromised. In fact, I would like to think that in Philippine society, the role of women, and the importance of the nanay and/or any type of mother figure is not only emphasized, but given utmost respect.

I grew up in a family of strong women. Having been raised by one, and surrounded by them all my life, I thought it was the norm. As the years went by, I came to realize that it sadly was not, and a lot of the times, women raised in the “old-fashioned sense” so to speak still think twice about speaking their mind. There are still more women than we think who choose to be docile, even if it means going against their own wishes. I have also learned through the years that coining the term “strong woman” encompasses such a broad spectrum, and while there is a universal standard of sorts, the definition differs from person to person. Whatever the case may be, I believe women ought to be celebrated for their underrated role and contribution to this world.

Since I became a mother two years ago, my respect to and for mothers has just increased exponentially. From carrying a child, to birthing one, nursing one and raising one – it is a full-time job. The most demanding, but also the most fulfilling. Once you become one, there is no turning back. And though I have a son, not a daughter, I tell myself everyday that it is important to raise him and ingrain in him the respect he must give, and show, not only the women in his village who raise, and do so much for him, but all those around him.

Women are nurturers by instinct, and there is a reason why the vast majority of caregivers, nurses, nannies, baby sitters, domestic helpers and even early childhood teachers are women. Women have the ability to multi-task, and juggle different roles all at once. A lot of the times they are the soul of the home – they run the household, and make sure things are in order, and running like a well-oiled machine. Women do not only command respect because of the many hats they wear, they also merit a snappy salute because I am confident that if I ask just about anyone if they can name one influential or instrumental woman in their life, they would definitely be able to. Very succinctly put, we would not survive in this world without women.

A month is not enough truly to let the very important women in our lives know how much they mean to us – from those who raised us, to those who are with our children in our absence, to those who take care of us when we are sick, to those who make sure our households run seamlessly everyday, the list goes on. Let us make it a habit to thank these unsung heroes on a daily basis – for every small thing they do for us, for every gesture, big or small. Let us be the models that the next generation grow up to emulate.

Let me end this with one of my all-time favorite women empowerment quotes by the great Michelle Obama: “Here's to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”