MANILA, Philippines?Gender roles have a significant impact on how men and women relate to one another.

Inequalities in the power dynamics between them can lead to economic injustice and disparity in decision-making, dependence, lack of communication and, sometimes, violence.

Prevailing gender roles in movies and in life, in which men are traditionally dominant, still leave many women disadvantaged in terms of access to female-positive information and self-fulfillment.

Necessary push

It is interesting to note that in the Philippines, while girls outwardly have equal access to education opportunities as boys, social attitudes and cultural-religious values still promote women?s emotional dependence on men.

Despite statistics that show gender gaps in the Philippines as being better than in many developed countries, women?s emotional vulnerability continues to make girls look at increased sexual activity as a means to self-fulfillment.

Mass media continues to reinforce the message that a woman?s true role in life is to be a girlfriend, wife and mother. Single women are pressured to partner with men? even married men? and are led to believe that financial independence is not all that great without a man beside her to love.

Media has the power to change prevailing social attitudes that discriminate against women?s emotional independence. But enlightenment on gender equality comes slowly to those who run television, radio, newspaper and movie firms.

This is a why a ?push? is necessary. In the two-week period when only local films are shown nationwide, such a push could bring about a positive impact on the roles and images that girls and boys, women and men give themselves in real life. Thus, the annual selection of the MMFF?s Most Gender-Sensitive Film Awardee by the Quezon City Gender and Development Office, led by Mayor Belmonte, is significant, if only producers would pay more attention to it.

This year?s top two contenders for the award could not be more different from one another. One is a major docu-drama focused on a love story set in a time of war in Philippine history. The other is a full-length animation that combines Disney and "Star Wars" with pop versions of Filipino folklore and environmental awareness.

A true man

What would make a film gender-sensitive? Take "Baler," for instance. It?s overrun with male characters? Spanish soldiers, Filipino soldiers, Filipino rebels; the father, the priest and the military officials. There are but a handful of women in traditional roles.

And yet certain scenes stand out where the female hero helps crystallize the external conflict between the military officials and the internal bond between the star-crossed lovers. The lovers make individual decisions, take equal risks to map out their destiny in the face of an impossible situation. It is a love that is nurtured by both female and male.

A minor conflict between father and son, where parental expectations and gender roles are challenged by a boy?s understanding of his vocation, brings out a question that boys in our society constantly ask: How does one become a true man? It is another humble example in the film of the human spirit that soars beyond the harsh social reality imposed on their supposedly ordinary lives.

In "Dayo," a boy?s wish to escape by flying, rather than face problems imposed by his daily oppressors, is fulfilled in a twisted sort of way by a young female manananggal who eventually shows him how to be strong. The presence of a metrosexual tikbalang who becomes a loyal friend and a blind Yoda-like magician shows the audience that pure intentions, courage and persistence are what make a person?s life worthwhile.

Perhaps this animation is a much more credible medium than the fantasy films of the past MMFFs, where macho wannabes take on attempts at super-hero-hood, just because FPJ?s "Panday" appealed to the masa long ago.

The age of video games and anime is upon us, and film productions that go historical and romantic like "Baler" should have a better long-term investment than any sexy comedy or formula escapist fantasy. Society needs films that make audiences better people.

So in the end, the Most Gender-sensitive Film trophy is just an award that underscores our own dignity? and goes to the film that treats its male and female audience with equal respect.