MANILA, Philippines ? They're public figures from various spheres?politics, media, the arts or else a combination of all three?who speak out and speak up, champion gender issues in their work and advocacies, and who wear their feminism with pride and panache.
Some may not even call themselves feminists, but all of them live lives of integrity, great role models for all young women seeking ways to combine work and family, heart and commitment, courage and accommodation amid an ever-changing, evolving world.
Let?s hear it from these women, who share with us their thoughts and insights and hopes for all women?as well as their favorite men and why they deserve a place in their hearts.
WINNIE MONSOD, former NEDA director-general; professor, UP College of Economics, TV host and commentator
What do you consider your greatest contributions so far?
Our children. We have five, and all of them are an improvement of the species (improvements over Christian and me) in their respective fields: theater, economics, medicine, business and law. They bring competence, intelligence, and integrity to their endeavors (plus, they are better looking). Two of them are abroad, but only temporarily. We are especially proud of their civic work. They prove that there are many in government service and in the media who are developmental rather than envelopmental.
Your favorite men and why:
Christian Monsod, for obvious reasons. Well, I married him, didn?t I? And after 47 years of marriage, if I could live my life over again, I?d still choose him. Specifics? Intelligence, fantastic sense of humor, unswerving principles, faith in the Philippines and the Filipino, willingness to work for the Philippines and the Filipino.
Bill Clinton, former President of the United States (as distinguished from Bill Clinton, the husband). I think history will judge him as one of the best presidents of the US particularly with respect to the economy. He had the right priorities for his country. Charismatic, sex appeal (too much, apparently), and a very intelligent consumer of economic information.
Maximilian Kolbe, Franciscan. He didn?t even think twice about taking the place of a man who was among those selected to be starved to death in a German prison camp. Amazing strength of character and courage. Definitely not a holier-than-thou type.
The best times of your life:
Definitely not our wedding day, because it was too stressful (Christian was late, because he discovered when he awoke that his car had been stolen); not our honeymoon, because I got my period, and our good friends almost drowned when they came to fetch us from the beach resort we were staying in. But:
Our first anniversary?when we had all of $5 of savings to spend, and found out that it was not enough to pay for more than one sandwich and a soda in the restaurant we went to. We pretended we were not hungry, laughed like fools about it, and were deliriously happy in our poverty.
The birth of our first child, Tami. I still remember the wonder and joy with which Christian and I looked at each other?as if we had discovered the secret of the universe in producing someone who was flesh of our flesh and bone of our bones.
Everytime I read Christian Monsod?s notes to me on special occasions.
Three things you?d like to give women today:
A greater sense of self-worth. Make them realize that they have nothing to feel inferior or insecure about. I want both men and women to internalize the following: a) that women contribute as much if not more than their male counterparts, whether at home or at work; b) national and international research show that investments in women yield the highest social rates of return of any investment; c) women work longer hours than men; and d) their expenditure patterns are more human development oriented (women-headed households spend more on education, health and charity investments than male-headed households). Proof of the pudding: The death of the mother has a greater negative effect on the children?s education and health than the death of the father.
LEAH NAVARRO, singer, spokesperson Black & White Movement
What do you consider your greatest contribution so far?
I think my voice is my best contribution so far, through giving life to the songs I have been so fortunate to interpret, and as spokesperson of the Black & White Movement, I am grateful for being able to contribute as an aware and concerned Filipino.
Your favorite men and why:
Wow, I have been blessed by the men I have met and encountered, but my favorites, the guys that really make me laugh and cry these days are my fellow convenors in the Black & White Movement. They are all good men, great husbands and fathers, and their insights and guidance have helped me grow. Another great threesome are my ?kuyas? (elder brothers)?Jim, Danny, and Buboy, the Apo Hiking Society. They are primarily responsible for keeping me true to myself.
The best times of your life:
These are certainly the best times of my life so far, more so because I am now 50 and happy to say to all younger women that they should see how great it is to be at the top of the hill, and I ain?t goin? downhill from here!
Three things you?d like to give women today:
Empowerment: a cliche now, true, but all good things do lie inside us; we need to harness the power to bring these out and use them. If we do, wonders will never cease!
Laughter: Am working on doing this more often; there is little to laugh about these days in our country, but if we find the time to stop taking things too seriously, we can take all the bother. Besides, laughter is infectious?spread the contagion!
Music: Even if you sing off-key, can?t dance to the beat, do it! Listening, singing and dancing to music you love is the best stress reliever, and you can laugh while at it, too!
LISA MACUJA ELIZALDE, prima ballerina, founder and artistic director, Ballet Manila
What do you consider your greatest contribution so far?
The legacy that is Ballet Manila. I hope that long after I?m gone, Ballet Manila will continue to fulfill its mission of bringing world-class classical ballet performances, steeped in the Russian Vaganova method of training, in both traditional and non-traditional venues both here and abroad.
Your favorite men and why:
My husband Fred Elizalde?for his unconditional love, creative genius, generous spirit and the gift of three wonderful children!
My father Cesar Macuja?for his unconditional love, management genius, all-encompassing spirit and the gift of life.
My co-artistic director and dance partner for 16 years Osias Barroso?for his ability to always make me laugh especially when things aren?t going as they have been planned.
The best times of your life:
My wedding day?obviously the most significant day of my life as it changed so many aspects of my life and gave me an instant family to take care of. I was with my old and new families, friends and colleagues.
The birthdays of my two children?not the labor part, but afterwards? I was with Fred, my parents, and my children. When I saw my babies for the first time, it was a bond that I knew will never be broken, no matter what.
Performance days. When I?m onstage dancing with my company?who are also my friends?I become a completely different person and character, and nothing beats that feeling of soaring with the music, the adrenaline rush after making an entrance, and the warmth of success after a job well done. And the best is yet to come, right?
Three things you?d like to give Filipino women today:
Good health, happiness and the fulfillment of their dreams?what more can you wish for?
CHECHE LAZARO, TV producer (?Probe?), Awardee, Gawad Plaridel for Broadcasting
What do you consider your greatest contribution so far?
Having set up a small media organization that has, in my thinking, contributed positively to the industry. We have produced some of the best production people (managers, producers, editors, camerapersons and on-cam talents) who are working for the industry here and abroad. In the last 20 years, we have churned out quality programs that have made a difference in the TV landscape pioneering the investigative format, (doing rebel stories, the OFW phenomenon, battered women and children, prostitution) and producing shows for children, sports, agriculture, and travel.
?The Probe standard? has been associated with integrity, quality, and uncompromising adherence to truth and fairness. Beyond production for the local market, we have extended our expertise to training journalists in the SEA region for the last 10 years.
I am particularly proud of having worked with the many people who have been a part of ?Probe.?
Your favorite men and why:
I like men who don?t take themselves too seriously. Men who have a sense of humor, laugh heartily and have a healthy respect for women. Not too traditional, out-of-the-box thinkers, creative, generous, yet warm and loving in an old fashioned kind of way.
I guess I am describing the man that fits the bill, my husband, Del Lazaro.
The best times of your life:
Thirty-some years ago, when life as a couple was just beginning. When everything was new, everything was ahead of you....
Twenty years ago when we were just starting ?Probe.? When everything was uncertain and every step of the way, a challenge.
Now?when I have time on my hands to do what I want to do. When I can look back at 20 years? work with a certain amount of satisfaction that what we set out to do bore fruit.
Now?as I look forward to doing some more in other ways.
Three things you?d like to give women today:
For young women: The ability to pursue whatever they want to do without having to think of what society thinks.
For career women: A glassless ceiling in the field of their choice so they can rise to the top of their field.
For disadvantaged women: A good education and more options to choose from.
GILDA CORDERO FERNANDO, writer, book publisher, stage producer; cultural icon
What do you consider your greatest contribution?
Learning how to be Pinoy. Knowing how to relate to young people.
Your favorite men and why:
Dami (Lots)! Ben Chan (entrepreneur) who remains simple even if great, or simply great!
Bencab (National Artist). Because he?s a good hugger!
Jose H. Zaide (Ambassador to France). How I?d like the Pinoy to be represented.
John Gokongwei (tycoon). One rich man who actually gave money away.
Joven Cuanang, MD (medical director, St. Luke?s Hospital). Creativity oozing out of every pore!
Rock Drilon (gallery owner, Mag:Net) who will always entertain a new idea.
Conrad de Quiros (Inquirer columnist). Macho Pinoy.
Rodolfo ?Jun? Lozada (ZTE whistleblower). Kasi iyakin! Hard to live with men or women who can?t cry.
Pi Villaraza (young Inner Dance healer) who has found for the youth a substitute to drugs.
Tonyboy Cojuangco (tycoon), patron of culture and his iconoclastic relationship with the improper Gretchen B.
The best times of your life:
?Eureka!? moments when I thought I had created/discovered/learned something new. That to be able to get something, you must let it go. That if you give 100 percent, you?ll get 100 percent back (does not apply to material things, etc.)
Three things you?d like to give Filipino women:
A road map to old age.
An undying belief in the Filipino.
A connect to a higher consciousness.
RISA HONTIVEROS BARAQUEL, feminist-socialist; Party-list Representative, Akbayan
What do you consider your greatest contribution so far?
Together with my late husband, Frank, my four children: Kiko, Issa, Ianna and Sinta. They?re self-assured and personable young people, level-headed about material things, proud of being members of our Inang-bayan and spiritual in their own individual ways about Mother Nature and God/ the Goddess. They?re affirmations of life and hope!
Your favorite men and why:
Daddy (Ray), because since we were children, he did his best to help us grow up. My late husband, Frank, because he was one of my best friends. My son, Kiko (again!), because he honors his Papa and is growing into a decent, insightful and handsome young man in his own right. An old friend, because, in the face of everything, I?m becoming happy again.
The best times of your life:
Growing up, going to school and being a student activist; being friends, especially with my college barkada, the Badmintonettes and Aggie and Melay; working as a community organizer in the peace movement and in broadcast media, especially with Randy David; being married and having children, being with the women?s movement and the democratic socialist movement, working as Akbayan?s representative, travellng to new geographies of the world and of the heart, my forties right now.
Three things you?d like to give women today:
A fighting chance for the causes we believe in, to be able to raise our children, a personal life and so much more, but you only asked me for three, heh-heh.
SEN. PIA CAYETANO, legislator, fitness and women?s rights advocate
What do you consider your greatest contribution so far?
As a legislator, part of my job is to push for advocacies close to my heart. For example, I have pushed for the passage of the breastfeeding bill in the 13th Congress, but this was not enacted into law due to the lack of a counterpart from the House of Representatives. In the 14th Congress, I?ve prioritized this and in fact, this has been approved by the Senate on third reading. In line with this legislative work, all year round, I sponsor breastfeeding seminars for lactating and pregnant women, barangay health workers, midwives and women leaders in barangays all over the country.
Outside the halls of Congress, I have initiated several events, including ?Pinay in Action,? which aims to empower women and girls in the country by providing venues for a healthier lifestyle and tools and information for a better future; ?Bike for Hope,? which raises community awareness on pressing health and environmental issues, and the ?12-hour event in memory of Gabriel,? named after my late son, which supports differently-abled children.
Your favorite men and why:
Of course, my favorite man would be my father (the late Sen. Rene ?Compańero? Cayetano). My father has always been my inspiration. My siblings and I look up to him and want to emulate him as much as possible. I will forever be my father?s daughter.
The best times of your life:
I consider every moment that I get to spend with family, loved ones and things that I am passionate about, the best times of my life.
I love being a mom. I love being with my kids, including exposing them to different experiences. I share with them my passion for sports and my wisdom by bringing them with me whenever I can. I love seeing the reaction on my daughters? faces in their different experiences, such as when we climbed Mt. Pulag, when they did their first triathlon, and brought home a puppy.
Three things you?d like to give Filipino women today:
First, recognition of their rights and their contribution to society with the end view of empowering women.
Second, opportunities to excel in different fields, whether it be in school, at work, in business or in sports.
Third, opportunities for women to provide a decent living for themselves and their families.
EMILY ABRERA, advertising guru and trailblazer; Chairman Emeritus, McCann-Erickson
What do you consider your greatest contribution so far?
I think it would be my style of leadership, immodest as that sounds. Perhaps I?ve managed to prove that one can blend career and family, courage and femininity, integrity and business success. That a holistic outlook flavors leadership with a humanity that is so needed in the hard-edged competitive field of marketing and advertising. That in fact, it is the duty of all company leaders to contribute something of more lasting value to society beyond securing profit. And that we are capable of doing and giving more than we think we can; we just need to stretch our spirit and imagination.
Your favorite men and why:
Wow. That?s a long list ha-ha.
I will start with my father, Franco, who taught me to think freely for myself and to love fully for others.
My late husband Caloy was a great friend and life partner; from him I learned to temper spontaneity with deliberation, and to respect the role of ritual in daily living.
My son Paolo is one of my favorite men; he is secure in his manhood; like his father he is attractive and stylish but never showy, and he has the soul of an artist.
I've also had a couple of mentors and colleagues in my professional career from whom I learned so much.
And I am grateful to still have special men in my life who love me for who I am and are undistracted by what I do or have done. All my favorite men are liberated males who are able to express thoughts and feelings without reservation?that is what I love most in them.
The best times of your life:
It's hard to beat falling in love yata. But there's also giving birth; even breastfeeding my children. There is a fullness about the experience of motherhood that is so incredibly satisfying.
I even re-lived it during the birth of my grandchildren?and then I rejoiced in seeing how differently and how admirably my daughter embraced her own motherhood.
The best times of my life are marked by deep exhilaration and happiness, a feeling that I have tapped into a force that is powerful, unchanging and all-embracing. It is fleeting, but it sustains me for a long time.
Three things you?d like to give women today:
Hmmm. Three thoughts:
It?s not so much about becoming a great woman, but rather about becoming a great human being.
Men are wonderful creatures; they are not the enemy. Ha-ha. Small minds are.
There is no ?formula? that will guarantee success or happiness. You are free to invent your own.
For those who need encouragement?that comes from the word courage, the root of which is cor, or heart. To do things from the heart is far more intelligent than to operate only from the mind. Thankfully, it is how women are wired to see the world, with heart. Don?t let anyone convince you otherwise.
