Cayetano, another Pinay cited at 3rd Women Deliver forum

KUALA  LUMPUR – Among the thousands of delegates to the 3rd Women Deliver 2013 conference, two Filipinos were recognized for their works in advancing the rights and health of girls and women.

Sen. Pia Cayetano was given the “Rising Star Award” by Women Deliver president Jill Sheffield and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation co-chair Melinda Gates at the conclusion of the three-day conference last Thursday.

(In a story on the front page yesterday, The STAR inadvertently referred to Melinda Gates as Melissa. Our apologies.)

Gates described Cayetano as “the youngest woman elected to the Philippine Senate.”

“She’s living out what it means to be both a mother and a woman and a leader of woman’s issues in her country... The three things that she had done – she pushed for the immunization act, breastfeeding promotion act and reproductive health act,” Gates said.

Cayetano said that she was honored to receive the award, which would further move her to fight for the welfare of Filipino women and girls.

“I didn’t expect it at all. People have been congratulating me since I arrived and I said you know this is my job. I have to protect the rights of the Filipinos. I was just doing my job and if I’ll be honored for it, then I just have to say that it’s my job and the Filipinos are my inspiration,” Cayetano told The STAR.

In one of the plenary sessions here, the senator also made a presentation about the struggle of those supporting the reproductive health law to get the measure passed at the Philippine Congress.

Other Rising Star awardees are Imane Khachani, an obstetric and gynecology doctor at the Maternity Hospital Les Oranges in Rabat, Morocco; and Remmy Shawa, who works at Sonke Gender Justice in Cape Town, South Africa.

The other Filipino recognized during the conference is 29-year-old Mario Balibago, chosen as one of the “2013 Women Deliver 100 Young Leaders.”

Balibago founded the Youth Peer Education Network International in the Philippines. He has advocated meaningful youth participation and freedom to exercise and enjoy one’s sexual health and reproductive rights.

Like Cayetano, Balibago was elated over the recognition. He said: “I actually applied with the Women Deliver. When I found out that I was chosen, I was so happy because not everyone is given this kind of opportunity.”

He also said he was doubly excited because he was among the seven to nine youth leaders chosen to meet Gates personally last Thursday.

Gates, he said, showed interest on how he mobilized the youth sector in the Philippines to make sure that young girls have access to information and services on reproductive health.

The conference ended with a united call for continued investments in girls and women. Delegates have also acknowledged that family planning is a right.

More than 4,500 leaders and advocates representing 2,200 organizations and 149 countries attended the conference, Sheffield said.

“This week at Women Deliver 2013, we have changed history for girls and women everywhere. We renewed our commitment, shared lessons learned and listened to those leading the way on women’s health and rights, including young people who will carry this important work forward for years to come,” she said.

“We have joined together to raise our voices in a single action – girls’ and women’s health and rights must be prioritized today, tomorrow and every single day until our work is done,” she added.