For those who don’t know who or what Iglot is, it is a television drama series which follows 24-Oras at GMA-7 network. My sons Arvid and PeeBee like the show because of Iglot, a certain endangered specie which turns into a ball when it is in danger of being seen by other individuals apart from NingNing, its owner and friend.
Looking like a bigger Tweetie Bird, Iglot must have caught my children’s attention because of its bouncy characteristic and its ability to do some magic when the need arises. In the eyes of little children like Arvid and PeeBee, these are amazing enough. But not everything in the show must be seen by children, thus the PG warning, and so I watch it with them.
In tonight’s episode, Iglot caught not my kids’ attention, but mine. Mariella lost her baby because her husband bit her, but still he blames her for what happened. Mariella on the other hand still thinks from time to time that his husband might be right so she gives in to all this wants and allows him to control her life. She even has to ask permission if she wants to go out of the house, but the man wouldn’t allow her.
That this scenario is depicted in the show tells me that the ugly and unwanted oppression of men over women, specifically husbands over their wives, is still happening among today’s Filipino families. And that is despite the fact that Republic Act 9710 or Magna Carta of Women, which was signed on August 14, 2009, already took effect on September 15, 2009!
Is it because many Filipino women are still unaware of their rights? If so, then the government must not forget to disseminate the information among its female constituents even in the farthest and smallest communities of our country. To do my share in promoting women empowerment, let me quote here Republic Act 9710 or Magna Carta of Women, Chapter 1, Sec. 2, Declaration of Policy:
Recognizing that the economic, political, and sociocultural realities affect women’s current condition, the State affirms the role of women in nation building and ensures the substantive equality of women and men. It shall promote the empowerment of women and pursue equal opportunities for women and men and ensure equal access to resources and to development results and outcome. Further, the State realizes that the equality of women and men entails the abolition of unequal structures and practices that perpetuate discrimination and inequality. To realize this, the State shall endeavor to develop plans, policies, programs, measures and mechanisms to address discrimination and inequality in the economic, political, social and cultural life of women and men.
Focusing on what happened between Juancho and Mariella in Iglot, it is also but wise for Filipina wives to know that one of their rights as guaranteed under the Magna Carta of Women includes the rights to decide on the number and spacing of their children and enjoy personal rights including the choice of a profession, among others.
Aside from these, the law also supports and protects the rights of women in the marginalized sector as well as the senior citizens.
Going back to Iglot, it is good to know that the media never stop in waking up the people’s awareness on things and issues that beset our society, especially the Filipino family.
Kudos, Iglot! You woke up the sleeping Filipina in me, not that I am oppressed, but because you reminded me of my responsibility to my country and my fellow women, in particular.
