Men march in heels to show ‘girl power’

CEBU, Philippines - In a show of unity with the female gender, at least 50 men in uniform set their combat boots aside yesterday morning, wore high heels of up to five inches, and strutted their way to the Capitol from Fuente Osmeña rotunda in Cebu City.

The men, who are assigned at the Central Command, were among the 150 who joined the “In Her Shoes” campaign of the National Youth Commission, aimed at promoting women’s rights and empowerment in time for the observance of the Women’s Month.

Sheridan Athena, head of NYC Visayas Cluster, said that by walking in heels – a popular footwear among women – they hope men would not use their strength to disadvantage women and instead look at their counterparts as just equal in power. 

Citing a local study, Athena said nine of 10 women are found victims of abuses.

“We have to strengthen our advocacy and campaign against gender inequality and sexual abuse,” she said, adding that wearing the footwear also symbolized “unity and cooperation” among all genders.

Yesterday’s march was held in cooperation with the provincial government, the Cebu City government, and Philippine National Police, among others.

At the Police Regional Office-7, decorated lawyer Virginia Santiago encouraged female officers to aim for higher positions in their respective fields.

Santiago, who used to be the assistant deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas and the current president of Legal Alternative for Women Center Inc., was the guest speaker in yesterday’s awarding ceremony for the office’s in-house sportsfest for policewomen.

 “Actually, looking at all of you now, all girls, the policewomen who are now standing before me, I can say that there is now a start of the compliance of the requirements of gender balance in leadership, in decision making; inclusion of women in development projects or agenda and also in government positions or even private sector,” Santiago addressed the female crowd at least a hundred.

 Recalling her experiences as a lawyer, Santiago said there have been many victims of domestic violence, especially wives, live-in partners and the girlfriends in the hands of their husbands, partners and boyfriends.

However, more and more women are now self-empowered, learning to stand on their own and not subjecting themselves to abuses, said Santiago.

 “I said you can love them but if you are the subject of abuses, please get out of the place,” she said.

Santiago then cited laws that protect the rights of women, including Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children and the Magna Carta for Women.

At the City Hall, Mayor Michael Rama’s way of honoring women was by personally serenading them with the song “Babayeng Sugbuanon.”

“We have a huge population of women in the city government, many of whom are key managers of various departments and offices. My city administrator, city treasurer, budget officer, city assessor, city planning officer, HRDO, civil registrar, city health officer, market administrator,  head of the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement Team, and many others holding critical positions are all women,” said Rama in a post on his Facebook page.

“I have appointed them as such because they have earned my trust and confidence with their strength, determination, dedication and hard work. I am proud of every single one of these amazing women without whom the city will not survive even a day,” the mayor’s post read.  (FREEMAN)