On International Women’s Day, March 8 of last week, some 6,000 women, with male relatives and friends in tow, trooped to Plaza Dilao in Intramuros to show their support for GMA. Their rallying cry was: "Ipagdiwang, GLORIA ng Kababaihan!" Leading them were officers and members of Kagabay ni Glo (with Mely Nicolas and Evelyn Kilayco and Conchitina Bernardo as convenors); Let’s Glow, Pro-Gloria Women, Kalipi Women, Abanse! Pinay, Quezon City Chapter; Aba-Ako, Akbayan-Southern Tagalog, and Elderly Association of National Government Center Women.
Cocoy Laurel sang well-applauded numbers, and after many words of welcome and praise from her supporters garbed in pro-Gloria yellow and white shirts, their candidate, wearing grey pants suit, her voice hoarse from speaking (and the campaign has not started formally yet), was on stage, and received the 12-point Agenda for the Filipino Women for 2004-2010 presented by KAGABAY ni Glo.
The 12-point agenda urged the Chief Executive to support the strict implementation of the Anti-Rape Law, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Anti-Domestic Violence Act. It asked her to enforce the strict implementation of the gender and development (GAD) budget, and appoint women to 50 per cent of government positions.
The agenda asked her to promote the rights of women OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers); promote responsible parenthood; protect indigenous and Muslim women by upholding their rights to their ancestral domain and to self-determination; establish programs that foster a culture of peace; protect women in armed conflict situations; promote economic self-sufficiency through micro-finance or lending to poor women; adopt a pro-people land use and sea use maritime policy; support bills that protect the environment, and intensify the campaign against illegal drugs.
The President expressed her support for the agenda, and said that the women’s welfare and participation in policy-making bodies have been her concern. Proof of this was her appointment of women to 11 Cabinet positions – something that her predecessors had not done.
These Cabinet members are Delia Domingo Albert (Foreign Affairs), Emilia Boncodin (Budget Management), Dinky Soliman (Social Welfare), Juanita Amatong (Finance), Merciditas Gutierrez (Justice), Estrella Alabastro (Science and Technology), Patricia Sto. Tomas (Labor), Bebeth Gozun (Environment), Teresita Deles (Peace); Veronica Villaviciencio, and Marita Jimenez (Presidential Adviser on Overseas Development Assistance).
As the afternoon progressed, the President went around with her Cabinet members shaking hands and the people watching what looked like a rally already.
The convenors’ job was far from over. From the March 8 gathering, they would hie off to private meetings, analyzing, and promoting GMA’s candidacy.
It’s far from over for Mely and Evelyn, who are organizing a Rockin’ with RJ and Rollin’ for GMA on March 19, starting at 6:30 in the evening, at the NBC Tent, The Fort, Taguig. Their letter of invitation says the project-raising night of sounds, dancing and bonding, is intended "to support the crusade of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in building a strong Republic."