Magna Carta of Filipina Women Signed into Law

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on August signed into law the measure prohibiting discrimination against women, and recognizing and promoting their rights.

 

Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, signed at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang Palace, ensures women’s equitable participation and representation in government, political parties, international bodies, civil service and the private sector.

RA 9710 recognizes and protects women’s rights at home, at work and in all spheres of society toward developing all aspects of their well-being. Its most salient features include increasing the number of women personnel until they fill half of third-level positions in the government, setting up in every barangay (village) a “violence against women’s desk,” providing incentives to parties with women’s agenda and barring the derogatory portrayal of women in media and film.

The new law’s most “empowering provision” is its recognition that “women’s rights are human rights,” Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chair Leila de Lima told reporters after the 10 a.m. signing.

Section 8 of RA 9710 reads: “All rights in the Constitution and those rights recognized under international instruments duly signed and ratified by the Philippines, in consonance with Philippine law, shall be rights of women under this Act to be enjoyed without discrimination.”

According to the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW), legislative debates on two bills—Magna Carta for Women and Magna Carta of Women in Rural Development—began in 2002 during the 12th Congress.

The two bills were merged in the 13th Congress, and came to be called Magna Carta of Women.

Said NCRFW Chair Myrna Yao in a statement: “The Magna Carta of Women seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting all human rights and fundamental freedoms of Filipino women, particularly those in the marginalized sector.”

According to Rep. Liza Maza, who was a member of the bicameral conference committee on the law and a co-author of the House version of the measure, the new law:

• Designates the Commission on Human Rights as the Gender and Development Ombud to ensure the promotion and protection of women’s human rights; 

• Ensures mandatory training on human rights and gender sensitivity to all government personnel involved in the protection and defense of women against gender-based violence; • Institutes affirmative action mechanisms so that “women can participate meaningfully in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies, plans, and programs for national, regional, and local development.” The number of women in third level positions in government shall be increased to achieve a fifty-fifty (50-50) gender balance within the next five years while the composition of women in all levels of development planning and program implementation will be at least 40 percent; • Ensures the equal treatment before the law by ensuring that the State shall take steps to review and when necessary, amend and/or repeal existing laws that are discriminatory to women within three years from the effectivity of the Magna Carta; • Provides equal access and elimination of discrimination in education, scholarships, and training. Thus, “expulsion, non-readmission, prohibiting enrollment, and other related discrimination of women students and faculty due to pregnancy out of marriage shall be outlawed.” • Promotes the equal status given to men and women on the titling of the land and issuance of stewardship contracts and patents; and • Encourages Local Government Units (LGUs) to develop and pass a Gender and Development (GAD) code based on the gender issues and concerns in their respective localities based on consultation with their women constituents.

Source: Inquirer and GMA news

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Filipinos were spellbound by Cory Magic

Today, millions of Filipinos and people around the world will pay their last respect to former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. Tita Cory, as she is fondly and respectfully called, could not help but enthrall the heart and minds of so many people in her lifetime, in her death, and in her funeral today. The color yellow doesn’t stand anymore for cowardice, but strength, unity, democracy, integrity, sacrifice and spirituality. What is in this Filipina, who was a housewife and a widow, which captured the Pinoy consciousness?

She was a woman of simplicity, honesty, and integrity. This was how most of her family and close friends remembered the late President Cory. She was a woman who was never extravagant, yet full of love and always ready to share whatever she had. Simplicity characterized her in her lifetime. She is the most credible and outstanding embodiment of integrity. She nicely treats people around her, no matter how big or small. She is a loving sister and most of all, a great mother, having been able to raise “refined, responsible and beautiful offsprings,” despite the absence of her husband, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino who was killed at the tarmac upon his return to the Philippines in 1983. It was his death that sparked People Power revolution, which catapulted his widow to power in 1986.

Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., who flew straight from New York to pay his last respects to the former president, said "Gratitude for the services she had rendered our country. She had a purity of heart, the sincerity of purpose... made perfect by her humility and deep spirituality. In life she was with us. In death she should be more with us." Malacanang has declared today as an official non-working holiday as the current President pays also her respect to Tita Cory.

Even the Marcoses who were thrown out of power by the peaceful Edsa Revolution led by Cory and who were believed to be responsible for Cory’s husband’s death have offered their prayers and condolences to the Aquino family. The Aquinos and the Marcoses—at least the children---appeared to have finally have buried the political hatchet following their visit at the wake of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino at the Manila Cathedral on Tuesday. The paying of tributes and respects continued as hundreds of thousands of Filipinos from all walks of life and foreigners queued a one-kilometer line just to visit the wake of the Tita Cory. Just like the phenomenal Edsa revolution, yellow confettis showered from the buildings of Makati and yellow clothes continue to be worn by multitudes who throng the streets.

Corazon Aquino anchored her entire private and public life on her faith in God. She truly has fought a good fight. She has finished the course. At the Manila Cathedral where her remains lied in state, tributes poured for the late president. They honored her as a mother, friend, confidant, boss, and tower of strength and fortitude in trying and worst of times. In their tributes, 20 individuals closest to Mrs. Aquino shared how they personally witnessed her faith—in God, the goodness of people, and in the Filipino people. They said these are her legacies.

Again, it seems that Filipinos are one with the aspirations of Cory. The Cory phenomenon reiterates once and for all that our struggle for real democracy, public service.and a good life for Filipinos should be lived in the simple requirements of harmony, righteousness, honesty, integrity and sincerity. This is where her magic lies. Her fight against corruption and ills of governance ran parallel to her struggle against cancer. Should we let her magic bird fly and disappear and replaced with a hanky that wipes the hands of the corrupt, the indifferent, and the selfish? Will the color yellow finally turn into green? Should this online sensation affect the borderlines of Pinoy politics for 2010? The magic seen is sometimes different with the lesson learned. We cross our fingers then we hold our hands for prayers. May she rest in peace!

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Sharing a Bed with Someone is Good for Pinays

Filipinas can now take some lull on their gripes regarding sleep disturbance when they’re with their partners. Had they known that men’s situation has been even worse, they would be grateful for the advantage. For the typical Pinay, who needs to feel in safe hands when things go bump in the night, having him close by helps with that. That does not mean that she does not appreciate the distance that a king size bed offers, but still, she wants him within arm’s reach. But what is really the score?

Conjectures about male folly go as far back to Adam and Eve. Now “brain drain” due to bed-sharing has been identified as a cause of diminished cognitive function in men. “We weren’t meant to share beds. Sex and sleeping together is a modern phenomenon, ” said researchers who developed the study. The syndrome appears to affect men far more than women, as women appear to be programmed to cope with sleep disruption better than men.

The study did show that sex appeared to perk up male listening skills. “At least the men appeared to be listening after sex, but maybe they were finally able to get some sleep,” said the researchers. When men spend the night with a bed mate, their sleep is disturbed. Whether they make love or not, and the sleep disturbance impairs their mental ability the next day because their lack of sleep increases their stress hormone levels.

According to the New Scientist study, women who share a bed fare better because they sleep more deeply. Both sexes had a more disturbed night's sleep when they shared their bed. But women apparently managed to sleep more deeply when they did eventually drop off, since they claimed to be more refreshed than their sleep time suggested. Their stress hormone levels and mental scores did not suffer to the same extent as the men.

Dr Neil Stanley, a sleep expert at the University of Surrey, said: “It's not surprising that people are disturbed by sleeping together. Historically, we have never been meant to sleep in the same bed as each other. It is a bizarre thing to do. Sleep is the most selfish thing you can do and it's vital for good physical and mental health. Sharing the bed space with someone who is making noises and who you have to fight with for the duvet is not sensible. If you are happy sleeping together that's great, but if not, there is no shame in separate beds.” And then he said there was a suggestion that women are pre-programmed to cope better with broken sleep. Women experience a lot of life events that disturb their sleep - bringing up children, the menopause and even the menstrual cycle.

But people did get used to sharing a bed. If they have shared their bed with their partner for a long time they miss them and that will disturb sleep. There is somebody for everybody. But, lots of couples have separate sleeping arrangements and it works just fine for them. I don’t think you should let a little quirk like that spell the end of your hopes for a lifelong relationship. We all have quirks, Pinays have too. It so happened that generally, women get the upperhand.

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Filipinas pay tribute to Farrah Fawcett

Most Filipinas knew about the tough tussle that their favorite Charlie's Angel went through. A very sad sigh of relief came though when Farrah Fawcett quietly passed away last Thursday, June 25, 2009. She left behind a especially informative documentary of her illness and the struggles she went through which was aired on NBC in May.

Farrah’s scuffle against cancer is told in the thoroughly candid and often touching film, called Farrah’s Story. The documentary film shows the truth about cancer as we rarely see it. In Farrah’s personal words, “This is what cancer is”.

Farrah’s optimism in making the documentary is to broaden understanding about the disease, what it does, how it destroys and what can be done to stop it. It is about the hope that cancer will be eradicated someday, not just for the affluent, but even for those without the means. The message is that, even in the direst circumstance, courage and goodwill can be found.

Farrah’s story truly inspires and encourage Filipinas as it did to many people around the world. The video below shows the premiere of the documentary.

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