A walk to remember
My friends can attest that one of the things I truly dread is waking up too early in the morning. Perhaps I have been genetically built to be a night owl.
There’s nothing I find dreadful about the morning, mind you. In fact, on those rare days that I find myself lucid at the crack of dawn, I look out of the window and like an exquisite cliché I watch the sun rise. However for some reason I usually find myself awake in the wee hours of the night staring at my laptop (like I am right now) while my melatonin hormones are on strike.
Last March 1, I forcibly dragged myself out of bed at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. to head to The Fort, Taguig and “Walk For Women’s Rights” with Dove and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) to celebrate Women’s Month. And as you may have already guessed, the event was joined with no less that 5,000 ladies that highlighted the recent enactment of the Magna Carta of Women’s Rights into the Philippine law.
The 30-minute march on a designated route around Fort Bonifacio was led by Dove ambassadors — Philippine Sports Commissioner Akiko Thomson, stage performer Pinky Marquez, educator Nicole Fonacier, fashion photographer Sara Black, DJ and radio host Pia Magalona, retail heiress Marielle Santos-Po, peace advocate Timmy Cruz, socialite Susan Campos, and events and image consultant Chiqui Hollmann-Yulo, and myself. Also trooping to the scene were contingents from the various government agencies, NGOs, colleges and universities, LGUs, and private organizations that enthusiastically cheered and strode their way to this historic event.
My favorite part of this whole-day event was the program hosted by dynamic diva Tessa Prieto-Valdes with the equally bubbly Pinky Marquez as co-host. It was in this program where women of different ages, backgrounds and groups showcased and shared their talents and passions starting with a heartfelt and emotional prayer by PCW Commissioner Apolonia Tolentino, and as a finale an elegant interpretative dance number by the UP Dance Company. There to share their message was the ever first lady of Taguig Kaye Tinga and Unilever Philippines managing director for health and beauty Gilbert Simpao, who spoke about Dove’s continuing advocacy to help women see real beauty in themselves, no matter what shape, size, or color they may be.
Also present to show their support and share their messages regarding the Magna Carta of Women’s Rights were DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral, DSWD Acting Secretary Celia Yangco, and PCW’s executive director Emmeline Versoza, and commissioners Evelyn Dunuan.
On my drive back home, I thought to myself that the ladies I trudged alongside with and saw onstage were the true heroines of a woman’s work. Having seen different faces and discovering their individual stories, it made me feel inspired and proud to be a Filipina in this day and age. And this time, through the car windows, I looked up at the clear sky and treasured my truly beautiful morning.
