Abante Babae: Babae ka, hindi Babae lang
As the year nears the month of March, women foresees that it will be their most anticipated time. It is instilled in their minds that during these days, they have to become more active, extra, and vocal about what they have been fighting for over decades. For them, each day in March will and always be an Abante Babae Day.
Interestingly, we are about to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023. It is the most ideal day to raise an awareness that women are more than just a nobody. Aside from that, the celebration can also be used to highlight every woman’s life achievement. May it be their success in overcoming daily problems of gender inequality, harassment, violence, and many more. This kind of thing has become an annual tradition of every woman’s group out there and it can be seen that it benefits them at some point. To be honest, disseminating the true meaning of the phrase “Abante Babae: Babae ka, hindi Babae lang” is one of their top priorities before up until now.
Abante Babae: Babae ka, hindi Babae lang simply means to encourage every single woman to dream of progress anytime and anywhere they go. It is a reminder that we, women should learn how to stand up at our own feet whenever we feel belittled. Consequently, as International Women’s Day is fast approaching, here are three (3) important things to look up once you encounter the stated phrase.
1. You are not alone.
In this world where everyone of us faces different kinds of problem, knowing that you are not alone is such a great relief. Here, starting now, it is a must to make sure that there is no single woman who’ll think that she is alone battling all of her problems in life from time to time.
2. You are valid.
Despite every harsh word and treatment you receive from others, always bear in mind that you are valid. Go easy on yourself, babe. Do what you want, get what you need because you can do all things as long as you’re not causing mess or trouble to anyone around you.
3. It’s us, above anything else — #GirlPower & #BabaeAko
In connection to what the first reminder entails, we, as girls should know that we need to raise the flag of our sisterhood from time to time. In short, this just basically means that every day of us shall look like a day of “I got your back, and you got mine”.
Above all, remember to inculcate in mind that we are women, and we are humans. We don’t need no man to survive as we are born bold and strong, ready to conquer every challenge, fear and problems we might face.
Abante Babae: Babae ka, hindi Babae lang; keep that phrase in mind especially during the worst times of your life. You are awesome and you deserve a world where women can feel what equality and fairness means after all.
Now, it’s always “Ang babae ay hindi lámang, kundi lamáng”. Happy International Women’s Month, my fellow lady. Abante at huwag nang aatras muli, tara na.
Nathalie Shien is a 4th year BUeño taking a degree in Journalism under the Department of Print and Broadcast Media at the College of Arts and Letters. She is a well motivated individual who finds writing as one of her favorite things to do. It is her past time hobby to write literary works such as poems, short stories and many more. Aside from this, she loves to talk with people, socialize with them as she saw that it is a great help to understand someone's story. Besides, her desire to become a great writer improved as she joined their school-based organization namely as Bicol Organization of Neo-Journalists (BONJour).