01/03/2026
Girl to girl, many of us have heard words like, “Ang mga lalaki lang ang moalsa ana kay bug-at man na,” or have been offered a seat just because we are wearing heels. These actions often come from kindness and respect, and they show how people care. We appreciate these gestures, because they remind us that we are loved and valued.
However, they also remind us of the stories society has long carried, which are stories that associate femininity with fragility, and softness with limitation. Over time, these assumptions have shaped expectations, quietly influencing how women are seen, what they are encouraged to do, and sometimes, what they are discouraged from becoming, even when they are capable.
What people sometimes fail to see is that being a woman has never meant being incapable. The heels we wear do not make us weak, they show the paths we continue to walk with courage. The lipstick we carry is not for others, but a form of self-expression and confidence. It represents the voice that fought for our rights many years ago and continues to do so even today. Our softness does not remove our strength. Instead, our softness represents the strength to remain kind, patient, and determined in a challenging world.
This International Women’s Month, we celebrate women for who they are and what they can do. Empowerment means giving women the space to grow, lead, and choose their own path, not because they have something to prove, but because they have always been capable.
Sa tanang kababayen-an, kini ang atong bulan. Padayon kita sa pagbarug, dili tungod kay kinahanglan nato pamatud-an ang atong kusog, kundi tungod kay kahibalo ta sa atong kaugalingong abilidad. Malipayong bulan para kanato! 🫂
Babae ka, hindi babae lang. Malakas at patuloy na nagbibigay liwanag sa mundo.
Abante, babae! 💜🩷
Words | Niña Mae Boris
Layout | Chelsea Mahilum