Speaking of women and children

In this week of dizzying news developments, this Bystander takes time out to report on recent activities of women “who hold up half the sky,” as a saying goes. Last Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 13th, we of the Zonta Club of Cebu I, together with the Cebu Chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), held an open forum on RA 9262: Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act. The Republic Act has to do with “Justice for All: Serving and Protecting Those in Need.” It was held at the spacious fourth floor auditorium of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) here in Cebu City.

The forum was attended by representatives from various Cebu colleges and universities. Mostly, of course, from San Jose, the host institution, and led by us officer and members of Zonta Club of Cebu I. Moderator was lawyer Michelle Palmares, director of the IBP Cebu Chapter.

The opening prayer and the Philippine National Anthem were sung by the USJ-R Amparito Llamas Lhuillier Scholars.

In his opening remarks, Fr. Emilio Larlar, OAR, spoke in place of USJ-R president Enrique Silab who was out of town for an earlier appointment. Fr. Larlar clarified that the Church does not discriminate against women. In fact, he said women were close to Christ, accompanying Him most of His life, starting with His mother Mary, until and up to His death on the Cross, as well as one of them first discovering His empty tomb that was a witness of His Resurrection.

His talk was followed by a short message from Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale. She spoke about women and children being the most vulnerable to violence, as far back as olden times. However, a number of Philippine laws have now been passed to emancipate women, equating them with men in nation-building. He acknowledged socio-civic and non-government organizations (NGOs) in Cebu, particularly Cebu’s Provincial Women’s Commission (PWC), responsible of concerns for women, even ahead of Manila. This Bystander is honored to be part of one of these NGOs, the Cebu Women’s Commission.

The heart of the affair was the lecture by lawyer Christian Bacus of the Cebu Young Lawyers Asssociation, on RA 9262: Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act. Efforts of organizations including UHDR CEDAW, CRC and other international human rights groups, with Philippines participating, were instrumental in forming the legal basis for the act in deliberations from January through December of 2004.

Bacus clarified that RA 9262 involves women in romantic dating relationships, as well as romantic relationships including those are not legally married. It also involves women not only in sexual, but also in physical, psycholological, and economic relationships as well. Penalties for the guilty include a fine and/or mandatory psychological counseling.

Protection for victims of Violence Against Women and Children include legal orders, as well as protection orders issued by the barangay, which may eiher be temporary or permanent. Those who may file a petition for protection order may be the offended party, or parents or guardians of minors.

Bacus then proudly mentioned that as of now, the Philippines ranks no. 1 in gender equality in Asia, and no. 8 in the world! He credited this to efforts of women and their organizations, and other Filipinas like former Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani. However, he added, there is still discrimination, inequality and class discrimination which the Pilippine Labor Code continues to work against. Add to these, efforts by the police, Women’s Protection Desks as well as those who attend to other police work. In this connection, he also proudly announced that the Cebu Police have been awarded for their work against the continuing threat of human trafficking.

After Bacus’ highly informative lecture, enlightened by his sense of humor and interspersed with appreciative vocal reactions from the audience, reactions were given by lawyer Pepita Jane Petralba, chief prosecutor of the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor; and Police Senior Supt. Edward Carranza, chief of the Regional Directorial Staff of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas.

A spirited open forum followed, with Vice Gov. Magpale, Atty. Bacus, Petralba and Carranza, two other police force members, a woman and a man, seated at the reactors’ table on stage, responding to questions and the reactions from the audience.

One interesting opening question was regarding “gay husbands”, to which Petralba cited the need now for a law governing same sex unions. Other subjects taken up and discussed with the speakers and reactors was the spirit of RA 9262 regarding recognizing the empowerment of women Overseas Foreign Workers, data being made available at the Women and Children Protection Desk of the police, and the need for additional judges and fiscals to handle cases in currently overloaded courts, problems that it was suggested the IBP Cebu Chapter might help solve.

Our Zonta I President Lucille Colina gave the closing remarks to this most interesting forum, thanking speakers, reactors, audience and USJ-R for a highly informative forum for the benefit of all, for which she was warmly applauded.

One interesting observation by this Bystander was that while the forum started out in English, communication eventually turned to good old Bisaya!

This week’s problems, local, national and international, including a number of important news breaks, should evolve for the better next week.

Until then, as always, may God continue to bless us, one and all!