Editorial

Women in political mids

The country’s political field is still dominated by the male gender despite the high statistical number of women voters. Does this mean that many women shy away from politics? Factors associated with this phenomenon remain researchable. By large, more men file their candidacies for government positions compared to women who surely have the potentials as competent and thrustworthy public managers given the historical accounts.

In Cotabato City, voters chose between two women for the mayoralty post --- incumbent Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi and Rep. Bai Sandra Sema of Maguindanao (1st District) with Cotabato City. Guiani-Sayadi was elected as the city’s first lady mayor in the recent concluded May 13 midterm elections. She was an elected vice mayor when becoming a local chief executive by succession following the death of her brother-mayor, Japal Guiani, Jr., in 2016. It was during the administration of the Guianis that high economic investments infused into the city, generating more business opportunities and employment. City residents though have yet to feel what awaits their economic lives after affiliation with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Cotabato City also awaits the infusement of big investments from the Chinese business group --- the construction of an airport and seaport --- under the mayoralty leadership of a lady mayor, who is a lawyer. 

Maguindanao province has also its first elected lady governor in the person of Mariam  Mangudadatu, defeating another male-relative Mangudadatu. Voters in North Cotabato continue to prefer another woman to be their governor --- outgoing Rep. Nancy Catamco. Outgoing three-termer Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza remains in politics as the proclaimed vice governor. Well, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, is still popular in Davao City and so with the other sibs.

        For national figures, we have Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Pia Cayetano, and Nancy Binay who are back to the Senate. Outgoing Senator Loren Legarda  also won a congressional seat in her hometown. But these women have earned their respective popularity following public exposure and career-work performance.

Performance and trust could be the gauge for the ascendancy of women in politics other than the dynastic factor. Should the name first earn an edge in popularity for such ascendancy? One could be a good performer but can hardly ascend because she is an unknown figure. Or is politics a least preference among many women as a vocation to public service? Other women-winners, accordingly, ascended to politics because of sympathy votes but then later earned the support of the populace in due time, hence, making a spot in their names, which also contaminates the other family members.

For sure, we have dear women in our midst as political leaders. We give them our respect and support. What men can do, women can likewise do. Let us recognize women empowerment. We have moms or mothers as managers in the home; they, too, can be political managers whom we can rely and trust.