Senator Risa Hontiveros urged Filipino women to continue fighting for equality as the country observes the National Women’s Month this March.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros
(Senator Risa Hontiveros / Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)

“Ngayong Buwan ng Kababaihan, tuloy ang ating laban para sa karapatan, kaunlaran, at pangarap ng mga Pilipina,” Hintoveros said in a statement Monday.

(This National Women’s Month, the fight for the rights, success, and dreams of every Filipina continues.)

Hontiveros said that while a lot of Filipinas have achieved great heights, many are still not given opportunities to succeed and remain oppressed.

“Malayo na ang narating ng Pilipina: naging CEO ng kumpanya, pangulo, weightlifting champion, doktor, ina, Miss Universe, at iba pa,” she said.

(The Filipina has come a long way: she has become the CEO of a company, a president, a weightlifting champion, a doctor, a mother, a Miss Universe, and more.)

“Ngunit sa bawat tagumpay natin, marami pa rin ang hindi makapag-aral, hindi makapagtrabaho, binabastos, sinasaktan, pinatatahimik — dahil babae sila. Hindi kaila sa atin na sa bawat tagumpay ng Pilipina, sa kabuuan ay may sistemang pilit pa rin tayong ikinukulong at pinagkakaitan,” she added.

(But behind every triumph are a number of women still not given an opportunity to get an education, to get a job; many are still being disrespected, hurt, silenced — just because they are women. We all know that despite the success of many Filipinas, there remains a system that continues to limit and deprive us.)

The senator also encouraged Filipinas to lift and educate each other. “Sa panahong pilit tayong hinahati at pinaghihiwalay, walang makakapagbuklod sa atin kundi tayo-tayo rin. Sa simula’t sa huli, Pilipina ang bubuhat sa kapwa Pilipina.” she said.

(At times when we are being divided, no one can unite us but ourselves. At the end of the day, only a Filipina can lift her fellow Filipina.)

SOURCE:https://mb.com.ph/2020/03/02/women-should-continue-fight-for-equality-hontiveros/