March is not only Women’s Month but also Fire Prevention Month in our beautiful archipelago of delicious coconuts and smiling carabaos. So, does this mean that we, especially males of the human species, should not “play with fire?” Hope you got my lame attempt at a corny joke and pretended to smile.
Anyway, here’s some good news: The gap between women and men in our beloved Philippines has improved, ranking 16th in the 2021 Global Gender Gap Index and the highest in Asia, according to a published news article, which stated that the index measures gender equality based on relative gaps between the two sexes across areas of health, education, economy and politics.
However, a University of the Philippines Diliman Department of Social Work professor stressed in the article that: “A lot needs to be done to achieve substantive equality or equality in outcomes … Filipino women have higher educational attainment than men, but have lower labor force participation rates, are in elementary occupations as overseas workers, have less access to resources, are in unpaid productive work and are less represented in public leadership positions.”
While this near-sighted Ibaloy writer is elated that the gender gap in the Philippines is much better than most countries in the world, we also agree that much more have to be done.
As a proud spoiled son to a wonderful mother, naughty husband to a wonderful wife, doting father to a wonderful daughter, and funny older brother to a wonderful sister, we pray for the day that all human beings are treated equally and with the respect and dignity each deserves.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep us all safe.
April 28, 2024
