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Also, the matters contained in the following were written in accordance with the law, rules, and jurisprudence prevailing at the time of writing and posting, and do not include any future developments on the subject matter under discussion.
AT A GLANCE:
The first week of March of every year is declared as Women’s Week, and March 8 as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day, as provided for under Proclamation No. 224, series of 1988.
The Month of March is declared as Women’s Role in History Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 227, series of 1988.
The International Women’s Day was approved by the General Assembly by a resolution during the 105th Plenary Meeting on December 16, 1977. Under the said resolution, in accordance with the historical and national traditions of Member States, the General Assembly invited all Member States to proclaim any day as its Women’s Rights and International Peace Day.
Recognizing the active role of women in the struggle for national independence, civil liberties, equality of the sexes, and human rights, then-President Corazon C. Aquino issue Proclamation No. 224, series of 1988 declaring the first week of March of every year as Women’s Week, and March 8 of every year as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day.
The law says:
“WHEREAS, it is but just and proper to declare a week and a particular day of the year as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day, in solidarity with the United Nations, and in commemoration of the struggle of Filipino women for national freedom, civil liberty, equality and human rights;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the first week of March, of every year as Women’s Week and March 8, 1988 and every year thereafter as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day.” (Proclamation No. 224, series of 1988)
Subsequently, Proclamation No. 227 series of 1988 was likewise issued to declare the observance of “Women’s Role in History Month” for the month of March of every year. This Proclamation was issued to heed on the call to recognize the contribution of Filipino women.
The law says:
“WHEREAS, Filipino women have played and continued to play a critical economic, cultural, political, and social role in every sphere of our nation’s life by constituting a significant portion of the labor force working in and outside of the home;
WHEREAS, Filipino women have played a unique and meaningful role throughout our history by providing the majority of the nation’s volunteer force and have been particularly important in the establishment to early charitable, philanthropic, cultural, and political institutions in the country;
WHEREAS, Filipino women of every class, ethnic, and religious background served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement, not only to secure their own right of suffrage and equal opportunity but also to create a more fair and just society for all;
WHEREAS, it would be fair and fitting that those contributions of the Filipino women be given due recognition.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby call upon the people of the Philippines to observe the month with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Towards this end, the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women is hereby designated as the Secretariat to coordinate its nationwide observance.” (Proclamation No. 227, series of 1988)
Non-discrimination against women is an emerging customary norm. Thus, the State has the duty to actively modify what is in its power to modify, to ensure that women are not discriminated against. To ensure the State’s commitment to gender equality, enshrined in our Constitution is a provision declaring such policy of the State.
The law says:
“The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.” (Section 14, Article II, 1987 Constitution)
In the case of Anacleto Ballaho Alanis Hi v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 216425, November 11, 2020) citing the case of Racho v. Tanaka, the Supreme Court has ruled that:
“This constitutional provision provides a more active application than the passive orientation of Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution does, which simply states that no person shall “be denied the equal protection of the laws.” Equal protection, within the context of Article III, Section 1 only provides that any legal burden or benefit that is given to men must also be given to women. It does not require the State to actively pursue “affirmative ways and means to battle the patriarchy — that complex of political, cultural, and economic factors that ensure women’s disempowerment.” (Anacleto Ballaho Alanis Hi v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 216425, November 11, 2020)
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