Show of 'Pinay power' abroad on International Women's Month

, GMA News

Filipinas in different parts of the world celebrated women empowerment in March, known as International Women's Month, with various activities that ranged from film showings to calls against violence against women.

In a news release, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippine Consulate General in New York in the United States, celebrated International Women's Month with a movie screening on March 27 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center.

The movie, entitled "A Mother's Story," is about the trials and tribulations an undocumented household service worker in the US endures for the sake of supporting her family.

The film showing was conducted along with the United Nations (UN)-based organization UN Staff Recreational Council - Philippine Cultural Society (UNSCR-PCS).

The DFA said around 70 officers, members and guests of the consulate and UNSCR-PCS were present during the cocktails and movie screening.

March 8 is International Women's Day while March is International Women's Month.

Maori women

In New Zealand, the Philippine Embassy spearheaded an effort for several diplomats, officials, and other guests to learn more about the contributions of Maori women in the country. Maori people are New Zealand natives.

On March 8, Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia Benavidez invited guests to her residence for the first-ever “Presentation on the Role of Maori Women in the Development of New Zealand” by New Zealand Maori Tourism Chief Executive Officer Pania Tyson-Nathan.

The guest list included female Heads of Mission and colleagues in the diplomatic corps, spouses of Ambassadors, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, distinguished women from New Zealand, and leading members of the Filipino community.

In her opening remarks, Benavidez mentioned the "continued commitment and collective resolve" to promote women's empowerment and gender equality.

Nathan, a contemporary Maori woman, highlighted the contributions of women and children to Maori society.

“Every Maori woman has a vital role in the development of her family, her tribe and her community and she is always regarded as special because she is a child bearer and carries the next generation," she said.

"Everything they do is for the future of Maori children and grandchildren.  In Maori society, everyone contributes to and walks together carrying out their respective roles and responsibilities," Nathan continued.

Calls against violence

On March 8, the Philippines along with the international community celebrated International Women's Day, in which the call to stop violence against women was renewed by people from across the globe.

In a statement issued in March, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) said it shares the UN's call for ending violence against women and that the country "is now in a better stance" to respond to VAW cases.

The PCW noted that 30,424 barangays in the country out of 40,027 each have Violence Against Women help desks. It also raised the findings of last year's Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, where the Philippines was cited as one of the better places for women.

In that report, the Philippines was the top country in Asia and the eighth in the world in terms of bridging the gender or inequality gap between men and women.

According to the PCW, government data supports the result of the report. It said women occupy 46 percent of third level government posts, citing information from the Career Executive Service Board in 2012.

POEA data on Filipinas abroad

Based on the latest data of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), a total of 340,279 OFWs who were new hires were deployed all over the world in 2010. Around 185,601 of those were women, higher than the 154,674 men who went abroad.

The majority of Pinays abroad were found in the Middle East, where 123,822 women can be found, and Asia, with 55,167.

Based on the data, 135,168 Filipinas worked under the category of Service Workers, in contrast to only 19,367 men. About 94,880 women worked as domestic helpers and related household workers, while only 1,703 men were hired to do the job.

Furthermore, 8,750 Pinays worked as caregivers and caretakers but only 543 men were hired to do the same. POEA data also show that 4,098 women worked as housekeeping and related service workers, compared to only 701 Pinoys.

Around 23,016 Filipinas were employed under the Production and Related Workers, Transport Equipment Operators, and Laborers category.

There were about 11,866 Pinays hired to perform jobs under the subcategory of production and related workers and 5,021 in the laborer industry, while 1,987 construction workers were Filipina.


POEA data also reported that about 17,365 Pinays abroad worked under the Professional, Technical and Related Workers category.

Around 10,254 were professional nurses, compared to only 1,828 men. Also, 695 worked as choreographers and dancers as opposed to only 47 Pinoys.

About 743 were composers, musicians, and singers, while there were an estimated 666 physiotherapists and occupational therapists, 650 medical-, dental-, or veterinary-related workers, and more than 500 teachers.

An estimated 5,514 Filipinas worked under the Clerical and Related Workers category, slightly more than 5,192 of their male counterparts, where majority worked as bookkeepers and cashiers, clerks and related workers, as well as receptionists and travel agency clerks.

POEA data also showed 3,498 Pinas were hired to under the Sales Workers category, almost reaching the 3,744 Pinoys employed to do the same. The Filipinas hired mostly worked as salesperson shop assistants and demonstrators, where there were around 2,035 compared to 973 men. - VVP, GMA News

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