The gathering of women at St. Peter’s Cathedral Hall brought some tears to the audience as three women share their stories of hardships and triumphs during this year’s observance of Women’s Month.
With the theme, ‘We Make Change Work for Women,” DSWD Field Office 02 brought together women from different sectors to draw inspiration from fellow women with inspiring stories of change.
“A woman physically incomplete but with full confidence and strong faith,” was how Ma. Teresa Udaundo described herself when she walked past the audience with her cane. She shared how she almost gave up her studies due to the physical challenges that her disability gave her. “Most of my classes in first year in the first college that I enrolled in where at the fourth floor and the school guards would not allow my chaperone who helps me in my needs and mobility, to enter the school premises to assist me as I go up and down hundreds of flights of stairs. Thus, I left that school and looked for another who would consider my situation. I found that school where I graduated that made sure that my classrooms are all accessible to me until I finished my degree in Accountancy.”
Jocelyn T. Danao, President of the KALIPI Women’s Chapter in Tuguegarao City, on the other hand, did not let early marriage and poverty dampen her spirit and advocacy for women empowerment.
Josie had to left her children in Penablanca, Cagayan for ten years to work overseas so that she may be able to send them to school and help augment the income of her tricycle-driver husband. When she returned home, she was hired by LGU Penablanca as a casual employee and as she was a former day-care worker of the same municipality before she left for abroad, her dedication to implement programs for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), earned for her a permanent position in the LGU under the Office of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO).
“With perseverance, my husband and I were able to send our children to college and now they are all professionals, two of them are licensed teachers, a sea farer and one member of the Philippine Army,” Josie proudly shared.
Taking the microphone, this time, to share her own success story and not as a Regional Program Coordinator for Pantawid Pamilya, Ms. Vicenta Pamittan, opened her hearts to the audience, with some of her co-workers hearing her side of the story for the first time.
“While my own Agency strongly advocates for violence against women and implements laws for the protection of women, I suffered in silence in the hands of my abusive husband. This abuse is happening while I work. I would cover my bruises with long sleeved clothes and hide the emotional turmoil I’m going through from my co-workers. Until that day when I had to run for my and my daughter’s life and never looked back,” Ms. Pamittan said.
Josibel Sibal, on the other hand, is a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary and a Parent Leader from Linao, Tuguegarao City. A “pasugalan-kubrador” turned barangay worker turned Provincial Capitol employee. Her story is indeed a success story that inspired other beneficiaries.
Director Ponciana P. Condoy, expressed gratitude to these strong women for sharing their inspirational stories and messages of hope.
“Let us be reminded that while we have all these laws for our protection, it is our will that shall free us from any form of abuse, violence, inequalities, neglect and other forms of discrimination,” Condoy said.
The audience were treated to a relaxing afternoon with free massage, mani and pedi services, hair cut and other beauty care services.