Big hearts for RH supporters in Senate

Women members of the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) paid the senators a Valentine’s Day visit carrying red pillow hearts to push for the passage of the Reproductive Health bill. Big hearts were presented to senators who are supporting the bill and smaller ones to those who need to be convinced to support the bill.

Around 50 PM members gathered at the gates of the Senate of the Philippines from 10-12 a.m. to push for the passage of the House consolidated version of the RH bill. 

According to PM secretary general Judy Ann Miranda, 11 poor working women are dying every day from pregnancy and birth delivery complications alone. “Don’t we want an end to this continued ‘daily slaughter’ of women? With the passage of the RH bill, we can avoid losing 4,015 precious women’s lives per year.”

Miranda further explained that women workers have been pushing for the RH bill since 1998, almost 12 years have passed. That meant 4,015 times 12 years is 48,180 women’s lives.  

The Rh bill, said Miranda, does not only carry family planning provisions. There are provisions on adding skilled midwives to attend to pregnant women in rural and urban communities, upgrading of health facilities to address emergency obstetric care; PhilHealth coverage expansion to induce family planning and reproductive health conditions such as breast, cervical, ovarian, prostate and testicular cancers for both women and men, respectively, paid half-day leaves per year of pregnancy for women workers’ pre-natal consultations.

The women criticized P-Noy for easily giving in to the Catholic Church’s pressure instead of closely considering the reproductive health needs of whom he referred to in his inaugural address as his “bosses.”

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Supporters of the Reproductive Health bill are asked to join government and non-government organizations at the Risen Garden of the Quezon City Hall compound on Friday, Feb. 18, from 10 to 12 noon, for a massive display of support for the RP, RH and PopDev. Declaration. Call PCW-7354955, NACP, 9279812 or go to www.pcw.gov.ph for details.

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Airline passengers look at stewardesses with admiration. The first flight attendants on Philippine Airlines flights were an envied lot, as they were good-looking mestizas chosen from a wide field of applicants. They were of course glamorized attendants, there to serve passengers meals (meals were served then) and snacks, and ensure their safety.

But associating stewardesses with good looks and as sex symbols, if you may, is something that this group of professionals want to demolish. In a press conference held at the National Commission on Women, a primer on sexism and gender discrimination against flight attendants was read by the Flight Attendants’ and Stewards’ Assocation of the Philippines (FASAP) spokesperson Louise Navarro. It said, ”Ever since the inception of the profession in the 1930s, flight attendants were stereotyped as sexy, exuberant, glamorous and feminine individuals. Sadly, this stereotyping of women is a form of sexism, marketing flight attendants as sex objects and highlighting their supposed allure to traveling businessmen rather than their capability to ensure flight safety and comfort.”

The association questioned the airline’s policy, observed through the years, of retiring female attendants at the age of 55, and male attendants at 60 years old. Last year, on September 9, FASAP filed a Notice of Strike against the company to press for age and gender equality in their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The strike did not materialize, but the association scored a victory — or so it thought — with a Department of Labor (DOLE) ruling in its favor.

 In a “historic” decision, DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz upheld the law and the State’s policy on equal opportunity. It raised the retirement age of all flight attendants to 60 years old.

But the ailine management opposed Secretary Baldoz’s ruling. Last January 13, it retired eight female flight attendants, disregarding the DOLE ruling and violating its Assumption Order to maintain the status quo while the case is still being resolved.

The press conference, put together by NCW staff led by its president Remy Rikken, summoned gender equality experts Ambassador Rosario Manalo, lawyer Dory Avisado of the Transformation Justice Institute, former Rep. Risa Hontiveros, and Akbayan National spokesperson. Also in attendance was Bob Anduza, FASAP president.

Ambassador Manalo said the Covenant on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), as well as a constitutional guarantee of sexual equality was violated. Similarly, Rikken, Hontiveros and Avisado cited the Magna Carta of Women provision mandating equal treatment of men and women in the labor force.

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A touching display of affection was evident during the dinner held in honor of one of the country’s best women - Nelia T. Gonzalez, who turned 87 years old last Friday. Venue was the Unilab social hall in Pasig which was packed with friends and admirers of the multi-awarded agricultural scientist, who is presently chairman of the board and president of Asiaworld Properties Philippine Corporation. Raising a toast in her honor, Dr. Elton John of the Tan Yu Group of Companies said his father, the late Dr. Tan Yu, “would have been very proud in having a very hard-working, dedicated, loyal and honorable friend, who has been a close friend of my father even before she joined us in 1986, and gave valuable advice and contributed a lot to our companies to reach its golden times.”

The evening was one of singing and dancing. Granddaughter Dian Gonzalez performed with versatile artist Bo Cerrudo. UP Diliman Chancellor Sergio Cao sang, Merjohn played the violin, Cadio and his Band performed, grandchildren belting numbers were Dick, Pia, Cathy and Trina. CHED Commissioner Nona Ricafort and her buddies at the Federation of Business and Professional Women rendered dance numbers. Emcee was granddaughter Jenny Gonzalez who flew in from the US to attend Lola’s celebration. Nelia’s children proudly looked after guests and performers; these were Bessie and Tessie, Lulu and Pinky.

Instead of gifts to her, Nelia requested they be given to one of her favorite organizations, the Philippine Tuberculosis Society, of which Nini Quezon Avancena is president.

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