Ifugao women urged: Be apolitical

By Marcelo B. Lihgawon

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Women were urged here to be apolitical even as the May election is nearing.

“An empowered woman knows what is evil and good and should choose the good one. The foundation of wisdom is not beauty, intelligence, wealth and status in life but wisdom is following the right path”, Irene Prudenciano, chief executive officer of the Alfonso Lista Multi-purpose Cooperative,  told Ifugao women’s organizations during Womens Day.

Prudenciano said a wise woman knows the purpose of her existence, has focus, always prepared and can wait. “Don’t waste your time; be dedicated and involve yourselves in attaining the vision of your organization,” she said.

Prudenciano, who was guest speaker during the recent provincial Women’s Day celebration, also urged women to be apolitical. “Let us not be dependent on people we are correcting, have your own fund and partner with local officials for the success of the organization.”

This, as Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. said. “Serving or helping husbands in rearing the family doesn’t mean that women are being abused because there’s big difference in serving the family with being enslaved.”

Baguilat said Congress passed laws for rights of  women. “We have passed laws that include the Magna Carta for women, Violence Against Women and Children and Reproductive Health.” But he noted that in spite of the presence of these laws protecting women and children, there are still cases of violence against women and children.

He said he is happy that in Ifugao, they have reproductive health, the children and gender codes that will protect the general welfare of children and women in the province. -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon

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