A tale of two women

As we celebrate International Women's Rights, allow me to share with you a tale of two women.

"Jara" (not her real name) was an executive secretary in a big firm who received a big salary. She worked hard, was prompt, and super efficient. However, behind her was a dark secret.

Three years ago, her boss began to notice discrepancies in the petty cash, inefficiency and absent mindedness in her.

Some employees noticed bruises on her person. When management decided to make an official audit to find out if there were indeed deficits, she opened up. She said she was a battered wife.

If she can't give what her husband "Boy" wanted, she got beaten, she said.

"Boy" comes from a good family, well to do, university educated, but is abusive and lazy. Since the beginning of their marriage, he never applied for work, always was the easy-go-lucky guy, and totally dependent on her salary.

"Jara's" mother had advised her to leave him for good, since she can support herself anyway. But she refused because she loved him. "Mom, I can't live without him"

"Love?" mom asked and yelled at her, "di ka mabuhi nga way lalaki?  Bogo ka! Sa gugmang giahak!"  A week later, she was dishonorably discharged from work for missing funds and falsification of documents. She wrote an apology, a resignation letter, and got nothing from the company.  Two weeks after, "Boy" ditched her, leaving her with two black eyes.

Lady "Em" is a waitress, happily married for eight years, and a mother. She stands out as a team leader. She has been working for eight years. Her husband earns a decent income, and most importantly, respects her.

"I made the right choice. I chose a man who has a steady income and not "hambugero" like Pinoy action stars. We set simple conditions. We respect each other. Marriage is an enterprise. We pool our incomes to raise a family."

Em's mother is quite proud but never brags about it.   "Gigamit man nila una ang ulo. Sunod ang kasingkasing. Ug, most importantly, wa sila mamahala." She nailed it.

How many times have we heard action stars and broadcasters yelling "bahala na!"

Mamahala na lang diay ta?

Shouldn't women, if only for this month alone, reflect on the meaning of love before accepting commitments?