Woman power
Woman power
Updated 02:04am (Mla time) Nov 07, 2004
By Rina Jimenez-David
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A15 of the November 7, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
IT was Gilda Cordero-Fernando, during the first gathering of Gabriela-which began as a "General Assembly" gathering various women's groups for two days of discussions-two decades ago, who first put a finger on the "problem" that bugged the women's movement at the start.
Sitting in on the focus group of media women, the irrepressible Gilda exclaimed: "You're all so angry!"
Well, to be fair, there was -- and still is -- so much to be angry about. But there's so much to celebrate, too! The problem, of course, is that so much of our energy is being depleted by doing battle against a multitude of evils such that when we do win a few -- as we do from time to time -- we no longer have the time nor the will to acknowledge our victory.
Perhaps, the next time we plan a skills-building workshop, women should also include a session on taking it easy and building on our natural strengths as creators and nurturers, and our gifts for friendship and sentiment.
The recent dinner hosted by Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and Ayala Corp.'s Vicky Garchitorena for the outgoing Cabinet members is a case in point. Originally, the dinner was meant as an informal get-together among the women in the Arroyo Cabinet, who had bonded through three difficult years by meeting for frequent late-night sessions (usually at Vicky's home), where they un-wound by sharing stories and heartaches, knowing their confidences would be kept safe. It would have been an all-woman affair if the Cabinet men who were leaving had not gotten wind of the dinner. And with President Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro attending, a simple low-key affair inevitably turned into a major production.
* * *
HELD at the Filipinas Heritage Library, the dinner was attended not just by the President, Vice President and the honorees, but also by most of the present Cabinet members and other senior officials and media women.
Despite the mixed crowd, though, Vicky took pains to point out that the evening was still a celebration of woman-power. At one point, GMA had as many as 12 women in her Cabinet of 40. And it wasn't just the number that counted, Vicky pointed out; some of the women headed "heavyweight" departments, such as finance, foreign affairs, and justice.
Honored that evening were the departing Cabinet members: Delia Albert of foreign affairs (she had flown in from London the day before), Bebet Gozun of environment and natural resources, Ve Villavicencio of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Mai Jimenez of the Cabinet-level office for foreign-funded projects, DJ de Jesus of education and Joey Lina of interior and local governments. With them were two former Cabinet members who had just been elected senators: Dick Gordon and Mar Roxas.
Despite the presence of bigwigs, the evening turned out to be quite an intimate affair, with Cabinet members paying tribute to their former colleagues and sharing known and little-known stories about them. But the responses of the "graduates" were most notable. Ve Villavicencio, who had served as undersecretary at the NAPC before taking its helm for a few months (after the appointment of Ging Deles as presidential adviser on the peace process), noted that "three years in government is like 30 years." Bebet Gozun thanked the President for giving her the chance "to make a difference" in her field of advocacy, the environment.
Mai Jimenez, who now sits on the board of the Asian Development Bank, was interrupted several times by the President who kept teasing her that from "coordinating" the foreign-funded projects, she was now "the source of foreign funds." De Jesus, who said he had hoped to "fade away quietly and quickly," remarked that those who really needed a testimonial were his colleagues "who have the stamina and fortitude to stay behind."
Lina, who is now president of the Manila Hotel, was quick to point out that, with three years in the DILG, he had "stayed longest" in the department, noting that there had been 12 DILG secretaries in the 14 years of its existence. He added that even if he and the other two "tenors" are booked for a series of concerts, it was not true that he was headed toward a career in show biz.
Delia Albert, who is staying on in the diplomatic service, paid tribute to the country's diplomatic corps, pointing out that the current "stars" at the DFA are women. She expressed the hope that it won't be too long before a second woman is named to head the department. Obviously, women are quite accomplished at lobbying for other women!
* * *
THE NEXT day, another intimate affair underscored the value of woman power. This time, it was a gathering to mark the 25th anniversary of the Maryknoll/Miriam College Alumni Association (MMCAA), and to honor the Maryknollers among the awardees of The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS), both past and present.
This year, among the 12 outstanding women are Maryknoll alumni Ces Ore¤a Drilon (represented at the dinner by her mother), Cathy Babao Guballa, Dita Sandico Ong, Chin-chin Gutierrez, and Aleli Arroyo Morales (represented by a niece), bringing to 20 the number of TOWNS awardees with links to Maryknoll. But it was also quite thoughtful of the MMCAA to remember past awardees, a few of whom were present, including TOWNS Foundation president Nina Lim Yuson, Maryknoll nun Sr. Teresa Dagdag, Nieves Confesor, Bing Carreon Buck and this columnist.
Quite apart from the honor and the dinner, we were also quite touched by the knowledge that each of us would have a tree planted in our honor at the Miriam College Southern Sierra Madre Wildlife Center in Barangay Laiban, Tanay, Rizal. Proof, perhaps, that woman power is for the ages!
Updated 02:04am (Mla time) Nov 07, 2004
By Rina Jimenez-David
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A15 of the November 7, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
IT was Gilda Cordero-Fernando, during the first gathering of Gabriela-which began as a "General Assembly" gathering various women's groups for two days of discussions-two decades ago, who first put a finger on the "problem" that bugged the women's movement at the start.
Sitting in on the focus group of media women, the irrepressible Gilda exclaimed: "You're all so angry!"
Well, to be fair, there was -- and still is -- so much to be angry about. But there's so much to celebrate, too! The problem, of course, is that so much of our energy is being depleted by doing battle against a multitude of evils such that when we do win a few -- as we do from time to time -- we no longer have the time nor the will to acknowledge our victory.
Perhaps, the next time we plan a skills-building workshop, women should also include a session on taking it easy and building on our natural strengths as creators and nurturers, and our gifts for friendship and sentiment.
The recent dinner hosted by Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and Ayala Corp.'s Vicky Garchitorena for the outgoing Cabinet members is a case in point. Originally, the dinner was meant as an informal get-together among the women in the Arroyo Cabinet, who had bonded through three difficult years by meeting for frequent late-night sessions (usually at Vicky's home), where they un-wound by sharing stories and heartaches, knowing their confidences would be kept safe. It would have been an all-woman affair if the Cabinet men who were leaving had not gotten wind of the dinner. And with President Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro attending, a simple low-key affair inevitably turned into a major production.
* * *
HELD at the Filipinas Heritage Library, the dinner was attended not just by the President, Vice President and the honorees, but also by most of the present Cabinet members and other senior officials and media women.
Despite the mixed crowd, though, Vicky took pains to point out that the evening was still a celebration of woman-power. At one point, GMA had as many as 12 women in her Cabinet of 40. And it wasn't just the number that counted, Vicky pointed out; some of the women headed "heavyweight" departments, such as finance, foreign affairs, and justice.
Honored that evening were the departing Cabinet members: Delia Albert of foreign affairs (she had flown in from London the day before), Bebet Gozun of environment and natural resources, Ve Villavicencio of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Mai Jimenez of the Cabinet-level office for foreign-funded projects, DJ de Jesus of education and Joey Lina of interior and local governments. With them were two former Cabinet members who had just been elected senators: Dick Gordon and Mar Roxas.
Despite the presence of bigwigs, the evening turned out to be quite an intimate affair, with Cabinet members paying tribute to their former colleagues and sharing known and little-known stories about them. But the responses of the "graduates" were most notable. Ve Villavicencio, who had served as undersecretary at the NAPC before taking its helm for a few months (after the appointment of Ging Deles as presidential adviser on the peace process), noted that "three years in government is like 30 years." Bebet Gozun thanked the President for giving her the chance "to make a difference" in her field of advocacy, the environment.
Mai Jimenez, who now sits on the board of the Asian Development Bank, was interrupted several times by the President who kept teasing her that from "coordinating" the foreign-funded projects, she was now "the source of foreign funds." De Jesus, who said he had hoped to "fade away quietly and quickly," remarked that those who really needed a testimonial were his colleagues "who have the stamina and fortitude to stay behind."
Lina, who is now president of the Manila Hotel, was quick to point out that, with three years in the DILG, he had "stayed longest" in the department, noting that there had been 12 DILG secretaries in the 14 years of its existence. He added that even if he and the other two "tenors" are booked for a series of concerts, it was not true that he was headed toward a career in show biz.
Delia Albert, who is staying on in the diplomatic service, paid tribute to the country's diplomatic corps, pointing out that the current "stars" at the DFA are women. She expressed the hope that it won't be too long before a second woman is named to head the department. Obviously, women are quite accomplished at lobbying for other women!
* * *
THE NEXT day, another intimate affair underscored the value of woman power. This time, it was a gathering to mark the 25th anniversary of the Maryknoll/Miriam College Alumni Association (MMCAA), and to honor the Maryknollers among the awardees of The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS), both past and present.
This year, among the 12 outstanding women are Maryknoll alumni Ces Ore¤a Drilon (represented at the dinner by her mother), Cathy Babao Guballa, Dita Sandico Ong, Chin-chin Gutierrez, and Aleli Arroyo Morales (represented by a niece), bringing to 20 the number of TOWNS awardees with links to Maryknoll. But it was also quite thoughtful of the MMCAA to remember past awardees, a few of whom were present, including TOWNS Foundation president Nina Lim Yuson, Maryknoll nun Sr. Teresa Dagdag, Nieves Confesor, Bing Carreon Buck and this columnist.
Quite apart from the honor and the dinner, we were also quite touched by the knowledge that each of us would have a tree planted in our honor at the Miriam College Southern Sierra Madre Wildlife Center in Barangay Laiban, Tanay, Rizal. Proof, perhaps, that woman power is for the ages!
posted by Dante at 2:04 AM
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