This is the speech delivered in International Women’s Forum 2023 in the Philippines by Dr. Nona Ricafort. Among her central leadership roles, Dr. Ricafort is President of GPW Philippines.
HOW EMPOWERED WOMEN CAN ENHANCE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
Distinguished Women from:
-The International Council of Women
-The ASEAN Confederation of Women's Organizations
-The National Council of Women of the Philippines
-The Young Women's Christian Association Founders' Federation Philippines
-Global Peace Women Philippines and International
-The Inner Wheel Clubs of the Philippines Inc
-The Rotary Clubs of the Various Districts in the Philippines
-The Soroptimists International
-Zonta International
A pleasant afternoon to you all!
In a warm embrace, I greet you all today -- as we celebrate INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY -- and with a most timely worldwide theme: EMBRACING EQUITY. Here in the Philippines, as we honor all of you women from all over the world, including our friends from the International Council of Women and all the organizations under the ASEAN CONFEDERATION OF WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS, we zeroed in on a more specific theme, which is: EMBRACING EQUITY THROUGH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, because in developing countries like ours and our neighbors in ASEAN and the ASIA PACIFIC corridor, EQUITY is somehow enhanced by economic freedom and empowerment. It is quite disheartening that in some countries of a supposedly digital and humane world, there are still cultures that consider women as second and of a subservient class:
1. Where women can only eat after the men have partaken of their supper;
2. Where women are thought of to be only pro creators and not co-equals in the basic family unit;
3. Where women are relegated to domesticity while the men supposedly go around for survival.
It is quite fortunate that in the developed economies, and in our ASEAN developing economies, women have been given an important role in society -- not just as pro creators but as partners in nation-building and community development.
HOW, THEN, CAN WE EMBRACE EQUITY THROUGH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT?
In today's contemporary world, there is equality -- or equity -- when women are given equal rights and opportunities to develop economically viable undertakings -- for the good of family, community, and society.
FOREMOST OF THESE TOOLS ARE:
1. GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS AND MECHANISMS, such as definite laws or policy pronouncements that guide the functioning of women in an egalitarian society. In the Philippines, our legislators have crafted our NATIONAL MAGNA CARTA FOR WOMEN, which provides equal rights for women: be it in suffrage, ownership of property, equal opportunities in the workplace, equal benefits and privileges in acquiring and running businesses, etc. It is in this context that women in the Philippines -- who they say sometimes outnumber the men - have emerged as successful pioneers and incubators -- be it in multinational businesses such as banking and finance; real estate and township development; construction; telecommunications all the way to medium-scale industries such as garment manufacturing, food preservation, and small and micro industries such as food stall operations, pop up stores, fashion boutiques and the like. Through these entrepreneurial initiatives, employment and other livelihood opportunities have generated an economic multiplier effect, for which some women are employed in mega businesses, formal industries, and even the informal and so-called underground economies.
2. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL WORKPLACE:
As a result of these government statutes, women have been given equal opportunities In the workplace: as employees, heads of businesses or institutions, or as entrepreneurs in businesses that used to be solely for men: banking and finance, the real estate development industry; the car manufacturing and retail companies; digital and telecommunications technology, and more. True enough, even the support administrative, operating, or line workers, even in export-oriented industries, consist of diligent women who want to earn a living and provide food for the table for their families. After their children are nurtured to a few school years, married women have decided to work to augment the overall family income, which erstwhile was generated by the man of the house.
3. AVAILABLE FINANCIAL WINDOWS AND FINANCING/CREDIT MECHANISMS:
We are indeed fortunate that our Philippine banks have been required to provide a certain component of their loan portfolios to small and medium-scale industries, or even those in the agricultural and fisheries sectors, such as our very own Landbank of the Philippines, the Development Bank of the Philippines, and even the bigger uni banks, who have been encouraged by the national government to do their share of corporate social responsibility -- and a number of the businesses benefited by these lending mechanisms, are owned, organized, and operated by women.
We would like to see the day that the Grameen banking model of India can somehow be adapted to the lower echelons of women entrepreneurs, such as those operating stalls in public markets, vegetable and fruit growers and the like. With group support in paying back loan dues, women can help one another move forward and be encouraged to pursue their tenacity to nurture and expand their respective micro businesses.
4. A CULTURE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC STRUCTURES:
The strong sense of family bonding and support has extended to the economic workplace, particularly among our Chinese Filipino businessmen and women. While the supposed more traditional Chinese families still prioritize the eldest children or men of the house, the more progressive Asian families have considered competence, creativity, and capability for assigning next-generation leaders to be at the helm of their mega organizations in banking.
Notable among them are Tessie Sy-Coson of the BDO Unibank and SM Groups of Companies; Alice Eduardo of the Sta. Elena Construction and Development Corp; Vivian Yuchengco of the Yuchengco Group of Companies which includes Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation; Doris Magsaysay Ho of Magsaysay Shipping and Magsaysay Lines among many others.
5. INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC POSSIBILITIES THROUGH ONLINE BUSINESS STRATEGIES AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY:
As you will hear from our distinguished Guest Speakers from Malaysia and the Philippines, the advent of digital technology and online business strategies has enhanced the quality of life of Asians in general and our Filipinos in particular. Particularly with the onslaught of the pandemic, when online platforms became the order of the day, resourceful women proceeded with their baking and cooking prowess, sewing and boutique management talents, and provision of various services from home cleaning to domestic services, among others – via online apps and mechanisms. True enough, the women, who were never overwhelmed by the onslaught of the COVID-19 Pandemic took to the fore to navigate their family ships to safe and economically sustainable levels. It was the women who organized transport strategies and platforms, hospital management and services, food commissaries, and online selling from basic home products to jewelry and antiques even in supposedly the worst of times.
6. EDUCATION AS ENLIGHTENER AND INCUBATOR TO ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT:
It is indeed most fortunate that girls and boys are given equal education opportunities in the Philippines and several ASEAN countries. Particularly in the Philippines, even the once exclusive boys' schools like the Ateneo de Manila, and the De La Salle University, among others, have opened their gates to girls to study in the once all-male-dominated institutions.
True enough, from the medical, engineering, architectural, scientific, and other professions which were once dominated by men, brilliant women have emerged to be owners and directors of hospitals, banking institutions, architectural and engineering firms, and other businesses that likewise hire women in an erstwhile male-dominated world. It may have been the American education culture that was inculcated in us, that made education an equal opportunity for boys and girls in the academe.
VALUES OF WOMEN THAT ENHANCE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
As a result of the above egalitarian mechanisms in place and ingrained in our society and business culture, what are the values particularly espoused by women, that enhance economic empowerment? I would say these are:
1. CREATIVITY AND RESOURCEFULNESS: Asian women have this knack for creativity and resourcefulness -- from the design of their micro businesses to the way these are run. This particular trait has contributed to the empowerment of more women -- business leaders and down line followers, because of this culture of ingenuity -- and thinking outside the box.
2. PERSEVERANCE AND TENACITY: Asian women are perseverance and tenacious: from nurturing their families and children to incubating their business pursuits. They wake up at 3:00 AM to buy ingredients for their restaurant or small kiosk operations, cut them up, cook them, serve them, and inventory the difference for the afternoon customers' consumption. They cut, assemble, sew, and bead the fabulous gowns that they make. They meticulously watch their teams -- whether running banks or digging the soil for new township developments.
3. INTUITION AND EMPATHY: Because of their religious and social-cultural upbringing, Asian women have developed a great sense of intuition and empathy. Be we Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, or Hindi, we have particular connectivity to our Supreme beings, that help us focus and meditate viz the world around us, and empathize likewise with women of our kind. It's this intuitive sixth sense that guides intuitively empowered women on how to run their corporate or entrepreneurial pursuits skillfully.
4. A CULTURE OF SENSITIVITY IN DIVERSITY: Likewise, Asian and Philippine women have a particular heart for others: our family members, our neighbors, our community members, societal linkages, and eventually, a culture of nationalism. It is for this reason that women have emerged as leaders from grassroots political organizations to becoming country leaders. It is also in this milieu that the more privileged and empowered women due to the advantages of education, upbringing, and economic level in society are able to lend their hearts and hands to the more underprivileged and marginalized among their fold. Proof of this is women's keen involvement in various socio-civic organizations, non-government organizations, and civil society, such as all the prominent women's groups present here today -- who have and continue to undertake projects for those on the edges of society: in several areas of focus such as livelihood and employment generation; maternal and child care; water, health, and sanitation; peace and conflict resolution, and preservation of the environment, among many others.
These, dear women of the world, are our traits and values that make EMPOWERED WOMEN ENHANCE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. These are the issues that we will elucidate on, and share with each other today.
A pleasant afternoon to one and all once again, and may we all EMBRACE EQUITY AS WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S MONTH!