GUAGUA, Pampanga – Closing the International Women’s Month, the local government in this Pampanga town honored on March 31 at least nine women for their contributions through their respective careers and vocations.
Mayor Dante Torres led simple rites that handed certificates of recognition to Fatima B. Santos for service to persons with disabilities, Myrna B. Santos for success in doing the anti-poverty program 4Ps, Dr. Miguela T. Santiago for medical services, and Leonila B. Pineda for advocacy in preventing abuse.
The honorees included Florentina L. Isip for Christian service, Marissa C. Simpao for agriculture, Emilou C. Calma for entrepreneurship, Bernadette L. Lejarde for education and Ednalyn E. Fajardo for non-formal education.
“Through their outstanding works, these women have been helping improve the lives of Guagua residents. I am proud of them,” Torres said in the event organized by Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Marybeth M. Ortiz.
The yearly National Women’s Month Celebration is led by the Philippine Commission on Women that coincides with the worldwide observance of the International Women’s Day every March 8.
In the country, Proclamation No. 224 in 1988, declared the first week of March each year as Women’s Week and March 8 as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day. Proclamation No. 227 in 1988 provided for the observance of March as Women’s Role in History Month while Republic Act No. 6949 in 1990 declared March 8 of every year as National Women’s Day.
In March, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Vice Gov. Lilia Pineda led two Zumba events to promote women’s health.
Gov. Dennis Pineda gave free tickets to a livestreamed BTS concert in Seoul in South Korea to encourage young women to “love themselves and speak up their minds.”
