March is National Women’s Month in the Philippines. Under Proclamation No, 227, s. 1988, it is in March that the country celebrates Women’s Role in Philippine History. Under Republic Act No. 6949, March 8 of every year is National Women’s Day and under Proclamation No. 224 s. 1988, March 8 is Women’s Rights and International Peace Day.Instead of celebrating women and highlighting their significant contributions to nation-building and development, we started this month-long celebration with women defending themselves
against “everyday” misogyny, explaining what that is, why it is not acceptable and under the Safe Spaces Act, inappropriate, wrong, and potentially, illegal. Instead of women’s
achievements being front and center of this month-long celebration, undue attention and precious time are given insulting and degrading comments that were supposedly meant to be funny and flattering. They were neither.
As a woman, one cannot help but feel frustrated and exhausted. Frustrated because the situation we find ourselves in is not new. There have been earlier similar comments and statements made and acts committed with the people responsible publicly rebuked and chastised and yet, the offensive language and/or action are repeated with no shame or even fear of reprisal. Exhausted because despite efforts to educate and inform others of women’s rights, gender equality, decency and basic good manners and right conduct, our public officials, public
figures/personalities, (who unfortunately, include lawyers) have ignored and set aside these lessons.
If there is anything these past few days has shown is that while there has been progress (as reported by the Philippine Commission on Women,1 the 2024 Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) Report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), shows that the Philippines remains the most gender-equal country in Asia), there is much more to be done. We can start with holding accountable lawyers who have failed to comply with the standards set for the legal profession and join our like-minded colleagues in their call on the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Supreme Court to ensure that lawyers uphold these standards.
Happy Women’s Day and Happy Women’s Month!
Rachelle Aileen S. Santos
President 2026
Philippine Bar Association
Download the official document here