POE: SC VICTORY A TRIUMPH FOR WOMEN AND FOUNDLINGS

On the day celebrating women, Sen. Grace Poe scored a major victory when the Supreme Court allowed her to pursue her presidential bid after months of legal battle.

Speaking at the Gabriela-led International Women's Day celebration in Liwasang Bonifacio, Poe said the High Court's decision reversing the decision of the Commission on Elections on her candidacy came at just the right time.

"Mga kababayan, siguro talagang ginusto ng Diyos na ang balitang ito ay makarating sa atin ngayong araw na ito," Poe said to a cheering crowd.

"Ito po ay hindi lamang tagumpay ko, kundi tagumpay ng ating mga kababayan; at higit sa lahat tagumpay ng mga inaapi; tagumpay ng mga nahihirapan sa sistema at tagumpay ng mga kababaihan," she said.

Poe, who was abandoned at the Jaro Church in Iloilo as an infant, is the first foundling to run for president. As a senatorial bet in 2013, she garnered over 20 million votes, the highest ever cast for a candidate in Philippine electoral history. "Sabi nang iba ako raw ay minamaliit dahil ako raw ay isang babae at teacher pa man din. Ano daw ang karapatan ko tumakbo bilang pangulo? Mga kababayan, ang mga babae ay hindi mayayabang pero makikita naman natin na hindi kayo sumusuko sa laban, lalong-lalo na kapag ang pinaglalaban ninyo ay ang mga mahal ninyo," she said.

She paid tribute to her adoptive parents, movie icons Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces. She said they raised her to always fight for what is right.

"Pinalaki ako ni FPJ na magmahal sa kapwa at huwag sumuko. Pinalaki rin ako ni Susan Roces na maging matapang na babae, magtrabaho at tulungan ang pamilya," she said.

Poe, who is running under the "Gobyernong may Puso" banner, said it takes compassion to address the many challenges that confront women today, including poverty and the impacts of migration on their families.

According to Poe, 26 percent of Filipino women are poor. In other areas, the poverty incidence among women is even higher: 45 percent in Eastern Visayas and 55 percent in the Autonmous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

"Alam naman natin na sa bansa natin bagama't maganda at maraming oportunidad at mayaman ang Pilipinas, hindi kumakalat ang yaman sa lahat at marami pa ring napapag-iwanan," she said.

Should she win the presidency, Poe said she will ensure that women will have income and livelihood opportunities. She said she will push for the strict enforcement of the Magna Carta for Women and the passage of the Anti-Discrimination bill.

"Kailangan natin palakasin at tulungan ang mga programang pambabae. At ito ang mga nais naming gawin: Unang-una, ang mga babae ay hindi binubugbog. Ang mga babae ay minamahal," Poe said.

"Ang ating mga barangay ay dapat turuan kung paano reresponde sa mga problemang karahasan sa mga babae," she said.

The senator stressed that women should not be limited because they have the ability to lead and change society.

"Gawin po natin ang 2016 bilang taon kung saan nagwagi ang mga kababaihan sa gobyerno," she said.