Way more to go

This number might be promising, but for Philippine House Representative member and Kabataan Party-list representative Sarah Elago, the fight for equal opportunities for the Filipina is far from over, especially as we are now in the middle of COVID19 pandemic.

“The study re-affirms and reiterates what youth representation has been pushing with regards to policy and decision-making— that is acting with urgency on ensuring women’s equal representation in all aspects of the pandemic response,” said Elago at the 2021 Forward Women media press conference on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. “There’s also a need to apply gender lens to the design of the economic stimulus packages and social assistance programs to achieve greater equality, opportunities in social protection. In that sense, there is more clarity that in promoting gender equality, there is an imperative to push and lay down a strong foundation toward economic recovery.”

Queer film director Samantha Lee agrees. “The image or the myth of the Maria Clara was a myth perpetuated by the Spaniards in order to subjugate these strong powerful women who existed before they arrived,” she says. “Women are career oriented. That’s what the need to take on when they get home and all this has only been made worse by the pandemic.”