San Simon town celebrates Women’s Month
SAN SIMON - In its constant bid to promote women empowerment in the community, the local government here yesterday held a Women’s Summit to mark its celebration of the International Women’s Month.
Hundreds of Simonian women joined the parade dubbed “Martsa para kay Juana” which kicked-off at the Barangay Sto. Niño Elementary School going to the Municipal Hall to showcase unity among women.
Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office Head Arminda Abenoja, in her speech, urged women to know and understand their rights to be able to fight for them and never allow oppression and discrimination get to them.
“Do not let yourself be a victim of oppression, discrimination and violence. We have laws and local ordinances which were crafted to protect and empower you so do not be afraid to use them for your benefit,” Abenoja urged.
Meanwhile,
the Kambilan party led by outgoing Mayor and vicemayoralty bet Leonor Wong and comebacking Mayor Rodrigo “Digos” Canlas opted to grace the event instead of holding their opening salvo for the first day of the campaign period.
Wong, being the mayor who initiated the annual Women’s Month celebration in this town, said that she cannot afford to miss the activity that celebrates the contributions of Simonian women to nation-building.
“We cannot deny the contribution of women
“Candidates must join public debates to help voters make the right choices, especially those initiated by non-partisan sectors, especially the academe. Unless a matter of life-anddeath, personal reasons (not to appear) must bow down to public interest,” Cauguiran said.
Cauguiran cited the non-appearance of ViceMayor Bryan Nepomuceno and his running mate, Edu Pamintuan, during the mayoralty debate sponsored by the Angeles University Foundation on March 22.
Only Cauguiran and his party’s vice-mayoralty bet Maricel “Marang” Morales, a former three-term city councilor, and Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin and running mate Vicky Vega-Cabigting joined that debate.
Another public debate initiated by the Holy Angel University (HAU) Criminal Justice Organization for Public Service (CJOPS) scheduled on March 26 had to be cancelled because both Nepomuceno and Lazatin refused to attend.
Last March 5, the Rotary Angeles Kuliat held a public debate for mayoralty aspirants candidates where all candidates participated. Most reactions from veteran politicians and analysts who watched the debate live and from online feeds, along with social media engagements, point to Cauguiran’s competence and expertise in a public discourse.