MANILA, Philippines – Among those who have been working on cultural issues and women’s concerns over the last 30 or so years, there is a select group whose contributions simply stand out that people know exactly who they are when you mention their first names or nicknames.

Like Gilda or Virgie or Eggie or Chitang or Anita or Armida.

When you add Senator, Doctor, Secretary or Ambassador to the names Del Mundo, Shahani, Rasul, Benitez, Aldaba-Lim, or Manalo, people immediately know who you are talking about.

Could it be because when today’s 40-something activists were growing up, there were no others like these women?

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, a few others caught the attention of the public for extraordinary acts of courage, kindness, creativity, generosity and wisdom.

Haydee, Maribel and Tessie, for instance, earned their reputations as leaders and citizens and have been recognized.

Cory may be the first modern head of state referred to by the press and the public by her nickname. Is it because she was a housewife before she became President?

Circle of influence

And then there are the mothers, teachers, service providers, public servants who do not get much notice beyond their circle of influence. Their first names or titles will not ring a bell for most people.

Yet many of them joined the ranks of 30 Filipino women chosen by photographer Isa Lorenzo and curator Deanna Ongpin-Recto in an exhibit launched Monday at the Mall of Asia as exemplars of greatness for the present and coming generations.

It is SM’s initial venture in women’s advocacy.

The exhibit is a joint project of the Women’s Media Circle Foundation Inc., SM Mall Women’s Committee and Silverlens Gallery.

Among the personages photographed for the exhibit who made it to the opening were Gilda Cordero-Fernando, Isabel Ongpin, Virginia Moreno, Alicia Lorenzo, Santanina Rasul, Eugenia Apostol and Teresita Ang-See.

Travelling show

Perhaps, after SM Supermalls, through its Women’s Committee, has done its good deed of touring in Luzon this exhibit of giant black and white portraits of 30 Filipino women achievers who made a difference, Sen. Manny Villar’s office could put in just a bit more for women to help bring the show all over the country.

The senator has lately taken the cause of abused women workers overseas as a personal crusade.

Promoting women

It could also do the Department of Tourism or the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration some good to show these portraits in countries that host our millions of migrant workers.

Maybe it is about time people in other lands learn how much we have traveled and accomplished on the way to promoting women as equal beings in the human race.