As the Women’s Month is being celebrated this March.
During a Palace Press Briefing at the Malacañan Palace in Manila on Wednesday, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized that women should be guided, uplifted, and honored and not treated as mere objects of public display or crude imagination that some even expect them to be grateful for.
“Hindi kami babae lang — babae kami…This is empowering women to empower all women,” emphasized Castro.
Her comments came a day after the contrversial remarks made by lawmaker Rep. Bong Suntay on actress-TV host Anne Curtis during a Congressional hearing, which sparked massive backlash from many personalities, including his fellow politicians, celebrities, and civic groups.
In response to that incident, Castro also underscored the administration’s position on upholding respect and dignity for women, particularly in public discourse.
“Kababaihan, hindi dapat ginagawang paksa ng bastos na pananalita,” the Palace official said. “Let us end the culture of objectifying women. Ang kababaihan ay ginagabayan, inaangat, ginagalang at hindi ginagawang paksa ng malaswang pagpapantasya na ipagmamalaki pa sa publiko.”
Usec. Castro, who is also lawyer by profession, decried the persistent mindset that normalizes verbal harassment and sexual objectification. She warned that such attitudes continue to undermine efforts to build a culture of respect and equality.
“Na dapat pa raw na ituring na compliment kapag ginawan ng kalaswaan sa isip ng isang lalaki… at dapat pang ipagpasalamat ito ng isang babae,” she pointed out. “Nabubuhay tayo sa lipunang kumikilala, gumagalang, nag-aangat at nagbibigay ng lakas sa kababaihan.”