Villar joins celebration marking 70th anniversary of women suffrage

Senate President Manny Villar today joined hundreds of women leaders who converged at the Philippine International Convention Center for the anniversary celebration of the grant of suffrage to Filipino women 70 years ago.

Villar paid tribute to women organizations such as the Associacion de Damas dela Cruz Roja (Women's Red Cross Association) and the Associacion Feminista Ilonga (Association of Ilonga Feminists), led by Pura Villanueva Kalaw, that staunchly pushed for suffrage for Filipino women.

"They held conferences, rallied and lobbied hard. Their efforts resulted in the passage of the suffrage bill in the Philippine Legislature in 1933, which paved the way for the implementation of the Administrative Code that gave the women the right to vote in 1935 and the ratification of women's suffrage rights in a national plebiscite in 1937," Villar said.

Villar also congratulated present-day organizations like the National Federation of Women's Clubs (NFWC) and women who actively participate in politics not only in the formal arena but also in other public activities.

"The passage of pro-women laws have been largely attributed to women activists. During elections, teachers, most of which are women, man the polls and some even die for the noble cause of preventing electoral fraud," the Nacionalista Party president said.

Villar also said he has the highest respect for working mothers, and feel privileged to have worked with many women politicians. "Indeed, juggling work and family is a tall order for women everywhere in the world," he said.

"In my own life, I am blessed with two strong and independent women who have wonderfully combined family and work�my mother who braved the odds of World War II and was the one who first taught me the values of Sipag at Tiyaga, and my wife who is very competent in her job as a legislator," he added, referring to his mother, Curita Bamba and wife, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar.

NFWC spearheaded the two-day celebration marking the grant of suffrage to women in 1937. The celebration was also highlighted by the formal opening of the Women's National Electoral Assembly 2007, which will push a nationwide campaign on voter's education for women.