Women in the new world

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor ERIC T. LORETIZO Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Dumaguete City joins the entire nation and the rest of the world in celebrating International Women's Month. A V-Walk and a V-Concert, aimed to solicit support for the move to stop violence against women and children, were held yesterday in the city. Symposia and fora were likewise held to expound on a wide range of topics about women, with emphasis on this year's theme, "CEDAW ng Bayan: Karapatan ng Kababaihan". CEDAW stands for Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

This year also marks the silver anniversary of the Center for Women's Studies and Development of Silliman University, the first academe-based women's studies center in the country, and a pioneering venture in the field of women's studies in the Philippines.

In a convocation to launch the year-long celebration of the CWSD's silver anniversary with the theme, "Strengthening Advocacy through Networking", an official of the Health and Development Initiatives Institute, gave a stimulating, thought-provoking speech on the present status of Filipino women workers, where it was mentioned that 60 percent of our OFWs are women. And, that, although we have a woman head of state, only 17 percent of women get elected to positions in government. These are just some aspects in the existence of the Filipina woman.

March 8 is also a day of remembrance, because it was the date when International Women's Day was first celebrated 95 years ago as a day of mourning for the 175 women who perished in a New York textile factory fire.

In a speech delivered at the Luneta to celebrate Women's Day 17 years ago, a women's advocate said: "Today, we are gathered together in memory and in hope, in joy and in pain, in grief and in celebration. Today, first of all, is a day of mourning. But today, finally, is a day of resolve. So much has been done, but there is a whole new world to build."

Yes, together let us build this new world, with the concerted effort of everyone, women as well as men.*