CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Pampanga Mayors League President and Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab yesterday urged her fellow women to take their part in effecting positive changes in the society.
Speaking during the flag-raising ceremony at the Pampanga Police Provincial Office here, Cayabyab said it is one daunting challenge for both for men and women to contribute to their communities in a productive way.
“Sa ating kasalukuyang panahon, malaking hamon para sa ating lahat, kalalakihan man o kababaihan, na baguhin ang kinabukasan ng ating bayan ayon sa ating sariling partisipasyon tungo sa kaayusan,” she said during the ceremonies which is also in line with the celebration of Women’s Month.
This year’s theme for the celebration is “We make change work for women,” which the mayor stressed as a commitment of the government and every Filipino to give women the equal chance to show their worth in nation-building.
“Sa buwang ito natin isinisigaw na tayong mga kababaihan ay may karapatan, may interes na ipinaglalaban; Na ang kababaihan ay may kakayahan na umambag sa kabutihan at ikauunlad ng pamilya at ng komunidad,” Cayabyab said.
The mayor allayed the long-time stigma that women are considered as belonging to the “weaker sex”.
“Tayong mga nilalang (women), ay hindi na maitututing na marurupok, mahihina at walang kakayahan na miembro ng ating pamilya at komunidad. Sa nakalipas na panahon ay napatunayan na natin sa ating sarili at sa ating mahal na bayan na, bukod sa pagtataguyod ng pamilya, ay katuwang ang kababaihan sa pag-unlad at pagsulong ng pamayanan,” she added.
Cayabyab explained that even in the government’s male-dominated effort to foster peace and order, women can also be a force to be reckoned with in keeping the streets safe.
“Oo nga’t masasabi natin na dominado pa rin ng kalalakihan ang pagpapatupad ng mga bagay para panatilihin ang kaayusan at katahimikan ng bayan. [Pero] ito na ang panahon, ito na ang oras na ang ating hanay, ang mga kababaihan, ang siyang magsisilbing malaking bahagi ng ating kampanya laban sa anumang kaaway ng katahimikan at kaayusan,’ Cayabyab pointed out.
Cayabyab’s mother, Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, has recently convened 10,000 housewives and mothers in the province to become force multipliers in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
The governor believes that women can make a huge impact in the fight against the drug menace if only they could safeguard their own families and become government assets in monitoring their communities.
“Sa mga naninindigan at di pa rin buo ang inyong kalooban, hinahamon ko kayo na makialam, pumagitna at ilatag ang ating direksyon para sa tunay na pagbabago at kaayusan!” Cayabyab said. –Albert B. Lacanlale