EDITOR’S CHOICEFeature

Spouses of diplomats speak about women’s empowerment

This, in a nutshell, is the message from Mesdames Yoko Ramos-Vingno and Yasmin Balajadia-Cortes, respectively, spouses of Ambassador Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. and Consul General Paul Raymund, on the occasion of the 2018 International Women’s Day, held March 8 and highlighted by mounting calls for gender parity.

“Being empowered means you are able to make decisions on matters that involve you. And, making the best decision necessitates that you are well-informed. I believe that empowerment starts from the decision to never stop learning; from the eagerness and curiosity to learn something new and significant, every day,” said Ramos-Vingno.

For her part, Balajadia-Cortes takes feminism to the next level, saying “women must continue to be vigilant of others who trample on other people’s rights.

Madame Yoko Ramos Vingno
Madame Yoko Ramos-Vingno

“To be a feminist is not simply to fight for women’s right but to fight for all humanity. We must not tolerate any instance of disrespect especially in the cyberworld where people hide in the blanket of the internet,” she said.

Ramos-Vingno, head of the Philippine Ladies Circle and founding chair of the ASEAN Ladies Circle, has, since arriving in 2015, made it a part of her mission to raise the profile and improve the image of Filipinos in the UAE.

Her laments? “I believe that most Filipino women, because of our cultural orientation, are not used to taking the limelight – that is, allowing their most beautiful selves to shine and make a difference in their respective spheres, because they feel that doing so may make them less feminine or may threaten their relationships with people around them.”

This, she said, “deprives” them the opportunity to attain their best, and the world of the contributions they can contribute. “I urge my fellow Filipinas to allow the world to see the best and most beautiful version of themselves, as well as to continuously engage in activities that will make them better,” she said.

Madame Yasmin Balajadia Cortes e1520415500176
Madame Yasmin Balajadia-Cortes

Balajadia-Cortes, head of the Filipino Ladies of Dubai and vice president of the Diplomatic Ladies Group in Dubai, said men should keep in mind that the difference between them and women is simply biological. She noted that more women now play more productive roles in society. “In the Philippines, we have had two women presidents. Our representation in the Cabinet and in the Legislature are increasingly composed of women. The world has likewise seen the rise of influential women and there are promising signs from other cultures that foresee greater roles for women in their society,” she said.

Balajadia-Cortes also hinted that more women will be breaking the glass ceiling in the Philippines and elsewhere “because our society is more accepting of women playing starring roles in governance and in our social milieu.

“Our history has seen women rise to the highest positions of our community.” (Jojo Dass)

Related Articles

Back to top button