Search for women achievers on too

The Cebu City Women's and Family Affairs Commission now accepts nominations for its "Search for Women Trailblazers," those that had or have made extraordinary achievements in various fields and sectors from 1905 to 2005.

The commission, headed by councilor Rodrigo "Bebot" Abellanosa, who is also the chairman of the city council's committee on women and family affairs, made this announcement during its launching program Wednesday last week.

The organizers of said award-giving body, which comes from the academe and women non-government organizations, is in search of women be they prominent or ordinary women, poor or rich, young or old, deceased or alive, who have had set the way for their predecessors or initiated and sustained a project or program or activity that have benefited women and the community.

They do not necessarily have to be a Cebuana and or even a resident of Cebu City, as long as their programs have touched the lives of the people here, according to Madrileña dela Cerna.

Even those who have already been recognized by other organizations can still be nominated.

The deadline for the submission of nominations is on November 21 while the top 10 honorees shall be recognized in a ceremony to be held at the city's Fort San Pedro.

Historians and academicians of Cebu will document the profiles and the corresponding contributions of the top 10 women achievers.

The organizers emphasized though that the event is in recognition of significant women in the society and not a competition so that the award may not necessarily come with cash prizes although they will try to scour funds for this purpose.

Tessie Fernandez of Lihok Filipina said the search for women trailblazers in Cebu City is in the light of the 100 years celebration of first feminist movement in the country, the Feminist Movement in the Philippines, the Asociacion de Feminista Filipina founded by Conception Felix on June 30, 1905.

On April 29, President Gloria Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 622, declaring the year 2005 as the Centennial Year of the Feminist Movement in the Philippines. - Cristina C. Birondo