National Women’s Month: Celebrating achievements, advancing gender equality

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Mar 1, 2025 00:04 AM 

 

March is a significant month in the Philippines as it marks National Women’s Month, (NWM), a time dedicated to honoring women’s contributions and addressing pressing issues related to empowerment and gender equality. 

Globally, March 8 is officially recognized by the United Nations as International Women’s Day (IWD) to honor women’s contributions and advocate for gender equality and women’s rights. 

The 2025 celebration is particularly noteworthy because it commemorates several milestones in advancing women’s rights and promoting inclusive development. These are: The 50th anniversary of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW); 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA); 45th year since the Philippines signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); three decades since the introduction of the Gender and Development (GAD) budget policy under the 1995 General Appropriations Act (RA 7845); and the culmination of the 30-year Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development (PPGD).

The NWM is a special time to celebrate women’s achievements across various sectors while confronting critical issues hindering women’s empowerment and gender equality. It emphasizes the importance of inclusive progress, ensuring that all women, especially those from marginalized communities, benefit from gender equality initiatives. The celebration also addresses issues such as violence against women, economic disparities, and the need for greater political representation.

The PCW, established in 1975, leads the celebration of NWM. As the primary policy-making and coordinating body on women’s concerns, the PCW spearheads various activities and programs throughout March. Collaborating with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and civil society organizations, the PCW works on a comprehensive approach to addressing women’s issues.  

The 2025 theme is “WE for Gender Equality and an Inclusive Society,” a recurring theme from 2023 to 2028. “WE” stands for “women and everyone,” an affirmation of the commitment to advocacy.

A notable initiative in the NCW celebration is “Threads of Empowerment: Weaving Women’s Stories,” a year-long project celebrating the artistry and resilience of women across the country. Government agencies and women’s groups from various regions will contribute unique designs reflecting specific advocacies or issues, culminating in a collective tapestry symbolizing women’s experiences and aspirations. 

The month also commemorates other significant observances: Girl Child Week during the fourth week of March, under Proclamation No. 759, which emphasizes the importance of providing every girl under 18 with equal opportunities, adequate protection, and preparation for their role in community development, and Women with Disabilities Day on the last Monday of March, Proclamation No. 744, which advocates for the protection and integration of women with disabilities into society, ensuring they receive equal rights in legal matters and all aspects of human activity.

In the Philippines, the celebration of women’s contributions has been institutionalized through several legal mandates: Proclamation No. 224 which declares the first week of March each year as Women’s Week and March 8 as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day. Proclamation No. 227 which designates March as Women’s Role in History Month, emphasizing the vital part women have played in nation-building, and Republic Act No. 6949 which declares March 8 of every year as National Women’s Day, a special working holiday to celebrate women’s achievements.

The month is a time to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that remain. By honoring women’s achievements and confronting the barriers to equality, the Philippines moves closer to realizing a society where every woman can thrive, free from discrimination and bias.

BINI drops most exciting EP yet 'BINIverse'

Featuring six tracks including a collab with Korean-American artist eaJ

BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT

Mar 1, 2025 08:10 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• The highly anticipated EP has six tracks–”Blink Twice,” “Zero Pressure,” Secrets,” “Out Of My Head,” and “Cherry On Top” and “Cherry On Top BINIMO Remix.” 

BINI

The nation’s girl group BINI brings fresh bubblegum pop tunes with the release of their new EP titled “BINIverse,” now available on music streaming platforms.  

The highly anticipated EP has six tracks–”Blink Twice,” “Zero Pressure,” Secrets,” “Out Of My Head,” and “Cherry On Top” and “Cherry On Top BINIMO Remix.”   

“Zero Pressure” celebrates ambition and tenacity with its empowering lyrics and catchy synthesizer reminiscent of 80s pop. 

BINI’s collaboration with Korean-American singer-songwriter and former Day6 member eaJ called "Secrets" explores the delicate balance between vulnerability and trust in relationships. 

“Out of My Head” meanwhile captures the dizzying feeling of falling in love, blending vivid imagery with a playful sense of urgency.

The group’s recently dropped bop, “Blink Twice,” is a playful take on the push-and-pull of romantic curiosity. 

The EP’s first music release, Cherry on Top,” has already amassed over 100 million combined streams with its blend of sugary sweetness with spicy flair. Its remix version features popular Indonesian act Agnez Mo. 

The “BINIverse” EP follows the pop sensation’s 2024 EP “Talaarawan” which includes chart-topping hits “Karera,” “Pantropiko,” and “Salamin, Salamin.”  

Named Top Local Artist of 2024 by The Official Philippines Chart, BINI was the first Filipino group who had a sold-out concert at the Philippine Arena last Feb. 15 for the kickoff of their “BINIverse World Tour.” This milestone came on the heels of their sold-out three-day concert at New Frontier Theater and another sold-out three-day concert at the Araneta Coliseum. 

At PH Book Festival, Filipino authors are the star

BY PAM PASTOR

MARCH 1, 2025

National Artist Ricky Lee —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

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Sa buong Pilipinas, halos lahat ng bookstores, ‘pag pumunta ka, ‘yung mga librong sinulat ng mga Pilipino, nasa isang maliit at halos tagong section, samantalang ‘yung mga foreign authors, ‘yung mga libro nila halos sakop na ang buong bookstore, naka-display pa sa unahan at nasa mga window pa (Throughout the Philippines, at almost all the bookstores, books written by Filipinos can be found in a tiny, almost hidden section, while foreign authors take over almost the entire bookstore, with their books displayed at the front and even in the windows),” said Ricky Lee.

The National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts told the publishers, authors, illustrators, journalists, and content creators that had gathered at Pardon My French about how, when he was looking for his bestselling scriptwriting manual, “Trip to Quiapo” (considered a bible by many screenwriters), he found it lumped together with maps of the Philippines. “That happened more than once,” he said.

Lee continued, “Medyo nakakadismaya. Ganun na ‘yung scene nung panahon ko pa, nung bata pa ako, laging ganun na (It’s kinda disappointing. It’s been this way during my time, even when I was younger, it’s always been like this) … Kumbaga sa pelikula, para kaming mga extra lang. Kaya maraming salamat sa National Book Development Board (NBDB) dahil dito sa Philippine Book Festival, mga bida kami (In movie speak, it’s like we’re the extras. So thank you to the NBDB because at the Philippine Book Festival, we’re the stars).”

Be poor to be truly rich

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THIS is what Christ proposed to his disciples, and now to us. We need to be poor, to be detached from earthly things, so we can be filled with what truly enriches us. (cfr. Mk 10,28-31)

“Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come,” he said.

We have to understand these words well which at first sight can plunge us to disbelief, since we all know that we need brothers, sisters, parents, children, friends and everyone else in our life. We need houses and money and other material resources. God himself said that we have to love everyone, including our enemies.

He also wants us to “subdue the earth.” (cfr. Gen 1,28) We certainly need to be immersed in the things of the world if we want to subdue the earth. This can only mean that we have to deal with the things of the world, not to stay away from them.

What Christ’s words mean is that nothing and no one in the world, even those who are close to us, should replace our exclusive love for God that would actually give us the proper and inclusive love for everyone and everything in the world.

It’s when we fail to begin and end with God and to be with him in the whole course of life that we would put ourselves in danger, and of failing to gain God himself and everyone and everything in our life.

For us to live by this indication of Christ, we certainly need to continually rectify our intentions as we go through all our temporal and earthly affairs. We know how easily we can be trapped in the things of the world and forget the real way of dealing with them. 

We easily think that by forgetting God or putting him aside in our earthly affairs, and then giving our full attention to the technical aspects of our affairs, we would be achieving our true fulfillment, when in fact, it would be a real loss. Such an attitude toward our earthly affairs can only show that we are attached to the things of this world and that God is actually not important to us, he who is our “all in all,” as he should be.

How then should our attitude be toward the things of the world? It is to love them the way God loves them.

We have to embody that attitude articulated in the gospel of St. John: “For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believes in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.” (Jn 3,16)

It’s a love that carries out what God, its creator, commanded our first parents to do: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it…” (Gen 1,28) “To subdue the earth” does not only mean to master and dominate it, or merely to make use and take advantage of it, although all these go into that divine command. In fact, we have to develop as much as possible the good potentials of the world.

Our worldly affairs should be motivated only by love for God, and with that love, we can love everybody and everything else properly! It’s that love which can gain us a hundredfold of what Christ promised us and of eternal life itself. This is how we can be poor to be truly rich.

A German Expat in the Philippines (I): How it all started

 

LOSING FAITH?

 

A friend of mine started talking with me and mentioned the good old days. Yes, those were the days my friend! Well, we all know: times have changed. More natural disasters, more wars, more people all over the world who are losing their faith. 

To be or not to be. Sein oder nicht sein. Shakespeare. To say it clearly: without faith, we're really nothing.

Faith is belief; believe in us, in our works, talents and our personalities. We should also believe in our parents - or much better, in our whole family including the black sheep, which can be found everywhere.

We should believe in our friends, even though it seems to become very difficult many times.

Please remember, my dear readers: without faith will we reach the rock bottom. Don't say, it's a likely story.

The German poet Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1815) has mentioned in his drama "Maria Stuart": "Even the word might be dead, but faith keeps it alive!" Chapter I of Second Thessalonians gives encouragement to all Christians, who were undergoing persecution for or because of their faith. Yes, faith is really not everybody's thing, or "not everyone has faith".

"If I have faith, that can move mountains" (First Corinthians 13,2).

Faith is a tantamount to convincing and conviction. Richard Wagner (German classical composer and poet, 1813-1883) found the following lyric: "Blessed are those people, who know how to live their life in humility and faith."

So, let's even continue believing in our governments or the institution church. Faith means also a belief specially in a revealed religion. Faith is trust or reliance. Faith is indeed a pledged word. Yes, I know.

Faithful love is loyal, reliable, exact and honorable love. Faithful love means even to love your enemy.

Allow me to close this column with a Chinese proverb: "People without faith in themselves cannot or will never survive!" - Worth to think about it!

Mabuhay ug Madayaw!

 Mabuhay ug Madayaw!

The Davao Region Pageantry stands as the premier platform for pageant-related content in the Davao Region.

What began as a small content creator, dedicated to supporting candidates and pageant events in Davao Region, has now expanded its reach across the entire Philippines.

The Davao Region Pageantry remains steadfast in its mission to highlight and champion local pageant events within the Davao region, offering exclusive scoops and the most captivating pageant content. This remarkable milestone serves as a testament to our unwavering dedication, passion, and the invaluable support of our loyal followers.

To every pageant fans, supporters, followers, and kings and queens who has been part of this incredible journey—thank you! This milestone marks just the beginning of something even greater. We are committed to continuing to elevate the Davao Region Pageantry, setting new standards, and pushing the boundaries even further.

Thank you so much to all of you!

Love,

Shane, Angel and Rolly

Davao Region Pageantry Admins

Global generosity wanes, but Filipinos remain among most dedicated volunteers

 

Dominique Nicole Flores - Philstar.com

February 27, 2025 | 4:23pm

MANILA, Philippines — Despite a global decline in generosity in 2024, a recent study found that the Philippines remains among the top countries where people dedicate their time to helping others.

Global analytics and advisory firm Gallup released their study’s initial findings on Wednesday, February 26, revealing fewer adults worldwide who reported helping a stranger, donating to charity or volunteering with an organization.

The survey, conducted in 144 countries with at least 1,000 respondents per country, found that volunteering was the least common of the three activities. 

Only one in four adults reported volunteering in the past month they were surveyed, though participation varied widely — ranging from as low as 4% in some countries to as high as 65% in others, primarily in Africa and Southeast Asia.

However, the Philippines ranked fourth, with 44% of respondents saying they had volunteered in 2024. Indonesia led with 65%, followed by Liberia and Kenya.

Meanwhile, countries with the lowest volunteerism rates included Egypt (4%), Bulgaria (5%), Albania (5%) and Cambodia (6%) — all with fewer than one in 10 adults engaging in such activities.

Compared to the World Giving Index 2024, which draws on Gallup’s data from 2023 and previous years, the Philippines' volunteerism decreased by four percentage points from 48%. 

It placed 30th out of 142 countries in terms of overall generosity, with nearly seven in 10 Filipino adults reporting they helped a stranger in 2023 and 24% saying they donated. 

Yet, the Philippines saw one of the biggest rebounds in generosity in 2023, bouncing back after a dip in 2022, the report found.

Gallup’s latest study also emphasized the stark global disparity in volunteerism. 

Some countries in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East saw their rates drop by at least 10 points, while nations like Myanmar, Senegal and Uganda saw the complete reverse or an increase of at least 10 points.

Are people tired of giving? 

Even though volunteerism dropped by four percentage points, from 30% to 26%, Gallup noted that the rate remains higher than global levels recorded from 2006 to 2020.

It suggested that “philanthropic fatigue” likely caused the decline, especially after the world reeled from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

People may have also “shifted priorities” due to economic concerns, the study cited how fewer people felt financially secure in 2024 than in 2023. 

Another recent study found that 80% of Filipinos are embracing the "you only live once" (YOLO) mindset, prioritizing immediate gratification over long-term, meaningful pursuits due to fears of the uncertain future.

“However, the trend raises concerns about the future of philanthropy and community involvement, especially as a number of donor countries cut back on development aid,” the report read.  

Gallup’s full study will be released in March, in line with its 2025 World Happiness Report. 

MUSIC AND RELIGION

For centuries,  music has been associated and has been an important part of religious culture to promote and influence religion among the people. Music helps to enhance human consciousness in a pleasant way that makes humans praise through a medium of worship, which is more enjoyable.

There is a significant emotional dimension to churchgoing music as it often facilitates an outpouring of emotions by worshipers. Religious music can also be seen as a form of proselytization where potential worshippers are attracted via music to join existing wor shippers.

Music and religion belong together like fish and the ocean, light and life, the voice and the ear. In the entire universe, we humans are probably the only beings capable of creating and hearing music. 

Religion and music also provide people to express their innermost thoughts and feelings which also exercise the imagination, inspiration, impression and propagating moral spiritual and cultural development. The common ground of music and religion is most characteristic of stray between rituals of death and rebirth.

The ability to hear is one of the specific gifts that our Creator gave us. Our more and more fragile blue planet is surrounded by a thin layer of gases only a few kilometers high. Only this atmosphere is the reason why sound waves can spread through the air. Everything behind this atmosphere is ruled by the sheer endless vacuum of outer space, where galaxies and stars explode and implode in impenetrable silence. 

I always thought about it while being on air with several radio music programs in the Philippines during the last 20 years.

According to the biblical narrative, the world began when God broke through this deadly quiet: "And God said: Let there be light!" (Genesis 1:1). God spoke - and light and life resulted from His audible voice. Because life was created by the word, it depends on the word. That is why it is in the nature of every person to listen. Like a parabolic mirror, our souls are created to listen to the eternal space of the hereafter, to try and sense whether a word, a sound or a voice is trying to reach us from there, in order to fill us with meaning.

Whether it's background music for prayer or a full-on worship song, Christian music can create an ambiance that fosters spiritual connection. It can help clear our minds of distractions, allowing us to focus solely on communicating with God.

I love music. I can't live without them. Hold on, this is not one of my earlier columns in this paper. But from time to time, I need to express myself if it comes to this topic. And, I know that Filipinos love big tunes with great words and beautiful melodies, especially when it comes to classical music. Classical music as in Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Frederic Chopin, or especially now, during the season Johann Sebastian Bach or Georg Friedrich Händel. And we should never forget such great Filipino composers such as delos Reyes or Buencamino (especially his Mayon Concert Fantasy).

No one is safe from deepfake; gov’t must act with dispatch

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Feb 28, 2025 08:31 AM 

 

The digital age has brought about convenience, innovation, and connectivity. Yet, it has also introduced a new era of deception, with cybercriminals finding increasingly sophisticated ways to exploit technology for their own malicious gain. The recent reports of Filipino billionaires like Manny Villar, Ramon Ang, Enrique Razon, and Lance Gokongwei being targeted through deepfake — manipulated videos designed to impersonate them — is troublesome. If even the wealthiest, most powerful individuals are vulnerable to this kind of fraud, what hope do ordinary citizens have? 

Deepfakes, artificial intelligence-driven tools that manipulate audio and visual data to create hyper-realistic but entirely fabricated content, have rapidly advanced. In the wrong hands, they can be weaponized to tarnish reputations, commit financial fraud, or even incite violence. In this case, the billionaires were made to appear as though they were endorsing products or services they had no involvement with. For someone of their stature, the consequences are obvious — either to damage their image, loss of business opportunities, and potential legal repercussions. But for the common Filipino, the consequences could be far more devastating.

For the average person, the implications of deepfake technology are terrifying. Scammers could easily impersonate loved ones, convincing victims to part with personal information or money. With a device and access to social media, anyone can fall prey to this digital fraud. What makes it even more alarming is the rise of these types of crimes, which often operate below the radar of traditional security measures, making it difficult for law enforcement to respond swiftly or effectively.

While some may argue that billionaires have the resources to fight back, it is crucial to realize that the very existence of such scams shows a systemic vulnerability in our digital infrastructure. Ordinary Filipinos, who lack the wealth and power to shield themselves, are far more exposed to cyber fraud. This is where government intervention and effective regulatory action is necessary.

The National Privacy Commission (NPC) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) are two key agencies that must step up in the fight against this growing digital threat. The NPC, tasked with protecting individuals’ data privacy, has a responsibility to regulate the use of AI and other digital tools that could be exploited to harm citizens. The DICT, as the lead agency on ICT-related matters, must develop more robust cybersecurity strategies and educate the public on how to recognize and respond to digital threats like deepfake. 

Unfortunately, the government’s response has been slow and often reactive. While both the NPC and DICT have made efforts to address cybersecurity issues, these lacked the urgency and comprehensive solutions needed to tackle the rising tide of digital fraud. The recent attacks on billionaires underscore a glaring need for stricter regulations on deepfake technology, improved cybersecurity laws, and a more proactive stance on digital fraud.

The government should start realizing cybercrimes are a systemic threat to the nation’s security. From the richest to the poorest, no one is truly safe from these types of attacks, and as technology advances, the threats will only become more sophisticated.

Our leaders must ensure that cyberspace remains a safe space for all. Until then, we must remain vigilant, informed, and prepared for the inevitable challenges as we navigate cyberspace. The stakes are too high for complacency — our privacy, our money, and our trust are all on the line.

The only way to defend against this growing menace is through collective action. The DICT and the NPC should take the lead and act now.