MANILA, Philippines?The militant women?s party-list group Gabriela formally announced the senatorial bid of its three-term representative, Liza Maza, as it unveiled its ?women's platform for action? for 2010 during its national convention which opened on Thursday.

?It is high time that we send to the Senate a woman honed by the women's movement who continuously serves the interest of marginalized women and children,? said Gabriela chair and party-list representative Luz Ilagan in a statement.

Gabriela, which marked its 25th anniversary on October 28, began promoting Maza's Senate bid several months ago on social networking sites like Facebook.

Maza is one of several left-leaning activists who entered mainstream politics through the party-list system and make up the so-called "progressive bloc" in the House of Representatives.

Two others in this group, Bayan Muna members Satur Ocamp and Teddy Casiño, are also reportedly running for the Senate.

Food security, regular employment and equal opportunity for women and sufficient social services are the cornerstones of Gabriela's program of action in 2010.

Also on the party agenda are good governance, protection of women and children against all forms of violence, as well as consumers' protection.

?These issues are faced by women everyday and the urgency to address them remains,? Ilagan said.

She said the party would support the presidential candidate ?who will live up to the criteria based on the women's agenda.?

Gabriela said it expected about 1,000 delegates from all over the country to attend the convention.

Some 400 delegates, mostly women and children from the urban poor sector, began arriving at the convention venue, a park and covered court near Edsa-Kamuning, shortly after noon Thursday.

At the group?s 25th anniversary celebration at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City the other day, Gabriela secretary general Emmi de Jesus said Filipino women have come a long way in "breaking their silence against violence".

"We have made a dent in the general public in terms of women breaking their silence," she said.

De Jesus said the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency, which has been accused of corruption, "proved that gender is not a decisive factor to be a good leader."

"For women to have a better life, it doesn't follow that the President should be a woman," she said.