Cover Maica Salud-Tady (Photo: Red Sheep Photo Cinema / Courtesy of Maica Salud)
Maica Salud-Tady (Photo: Red Sheep Photo Cinema / Courtesy of Maica Salud)
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From celebrating one’s womanhood to being a catalyst of change, see how women representing different walks of life define empowerment
Women have always been fighting for a place in society, not just because we want to, but because it is our right. Now, there have been significant feats by our community—or sisterhood, if we can call it that—such as being lauded for our impact on society or working in male-dominated industries. But oftentimes than not we pause and ponder if that is enough. If this is what empowerment entails—being recognised once or twice then ultimately being overshadowed again for being a woman. We can’t help but think, are we back to square one? But despite everything, we take a quote from author Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Princess and say, even if we shouldn’t, that “women endure.”
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Women are oftentimes asked with loaded questions like “what is the essence of being a woman?” or “can you define the word ‘woman’?” This time, we take a page from this progressing generation’s book and ask ladies from different walks of life a more interesting question: what does women empowerment mean to you?
Above Irene Martel Francisco (Photo: Tatler Philippines)
Irene Martel Francisco (Photo: Tatler Philippines)
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For Irene Martel Francisco, managing director of Tatler Philippines, empowerment means “being able to be you and not compromise your values and dignity. It means being heard and making sure you listen, so that others may be as free in celebrating womanhood without guilt or doubts.”
When we speak of womanhood we think of different things, but Francisco defines being a woman as being multi-faceted and oftentimes trying to do it all.
“She is a daughter, a wife, a mother, a boss or leader to her team, a good friend to her inner circle, and an advocate of causes she holds dear. These many roles are demanding but she fills them as best she knows how. This woman must never forget her most vital role: to be her own person and to grow into the individual she can be proud of,” she says.
Above Retired General Bandarlipe (Photo: Facebook / AFP Leadership Development Center)
Retired General Bandarlipe (Photo: Facebook / AFP Leadership Development Center)
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The first-ever female brigade commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, retired general Joselyn Regis-Bandarlipe, also shares her thoughts on the matter. “At this time and age where women are still a minority in the [military] service, we need to level up the bar and exert double effort for our worth to be fully recognised and our goal achieved, personally and professionally.”
Being empowered as a woman in her field means keeping one’s integrity intact and aiming for excellence. “You have to decide on what kind of a leader you want to be and it takes full understanding to take on a subservient role as well. Being efficient in both defines your traits and this will prepare you for a higher position and responsibility.”
Above Maica Salud-Tady. (Photo: Red Sheep Photo Cinema / Courtesy of Maica Salud)
Maica Salud-Tady. (Photo: Red Sheep Photo Cinema / Courtesy of Maica Salud)
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Maica Salud-Tady, the current owner of retail service Vestido, can relate. Achieving a high position and responsibility allowed her to be empowered and open doors for others.
She says it is a delight to be a woman who is both empowered and empowering. “What started as a small idea (Vestido) turned into something that’s helped a lot of girls find a sustainable solution to getting dressed and becoming more mindful. It’s now more than just finding a look or fixing a fashion emergency,” says Tady.
“Some magical moments we’ve shared in the studio have been watching these girls see themselves in a new light and build their confidence to try things they never would’ve imagined themselves in,” she adds.
Above Cecilia Oebanda (Photo: Gemith Gemparo)
Cecilia Oebanda (Photo: Gemith Gemparo)
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For Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, founder of Voices of the Free Foundation, all women have the power to empower themselves and other people. “We are agents of change. We need to equip ourselves with knowledge of how to help ourselves and others.” She concludes by saying that we must always take action.
Above Mary Grace Paneda (Photo: Facebook / Mary Grace Paneda)
Mary Grace Paneda (Photo: Facebook / Mary Grace Paneda)
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Capping off the list is Mary Grace Paneda, a member of the youth and working force. She says that a woman “goes beyond her vagina and breast cup size (or lack thereof). She's more than her domestic duties and emotional capacity to ‘heal’ another. She’s a human being—with strengths, weaknesses, and more strengths than any man in the world. She fights, speaks out, and stands up for her rightful space and individuality. . .because no one else is entitled to her mind and body other than herself.”
And for her, to be empowered is “to acknowledge that there is a threat or rooted problem against my safety, to plan my way through it alongside other women, and to fight it by law and by actuality. Prevailing over rape culture, patriarchy, and toxic masculinity is just a part of it because the whole process of fighting against it is already empowering.”
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
