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By Cyrus A. Natividad

The Gurrea couple Louella and Ricardo.

In observance of the International Women’s Month this March 2022, we reflect upon its significance and importance in the life of the Filipino Woman. Without a doubt, the Filipina contributes to the well-being of the Filipino Family – the basic unit of society. This celebration is about the empowerment of women, particularly in their demand for equality. We cannot deny their important role in the family, their discipline and their contribution to the family resources.

The celebration aims to track the development in Women Empowerment and use it as a platform to know the progress of the Magna Carta of Women and development of other laws. Among them, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

It was worth a pleasant day listening to this former CPU working student who worked as telephone operator from 1981 up to 1983 at the CPU administration building, now the Dr. Rex D. Drilon Hall. She is a successful wife and business woman; Centralian Louella ‘Lou’ Nuñez is now married to an equally successful ‘warehousing’ businessman in Iloilo City, Ricardo ‘Ric’ Gurrea.
The Centralian Link had an engaging talk with Lou on “Why do we celebrate Women’s Month?” First she said that, “it is about the neglect on women as part of society or that they are often neglected by society.” Asked how are they neglected? (We think that a lot of them are leaders in society). She answered, “Yes, they are seen there, but not heard.” On the other hand however, she said that, “they are the strongest point in a household. Do you observe once the mother gets sick, the household doesn’t seem to work?” Who is a mother? “She is a woman.” She clarified that “a woman has a very complicated compartmentalized brain but they seem to make it work.

Things go smoothly even in tough times. They seem to remember many things of the past-related to the present.” She added that “I believe though how heavy the toll is on women; they still do many things, not only personally, household, and business – but also a part of what we call ‘Marites society’ that the new normal has generated. I take these strengths from a woman who has given birth.” She pointed out that the birth pains is no comparison to what other human beings have encountered. “Don’t take me wrong,” she said. In our society, we have an extended family that our unmarried aunts also take care of their nephews and nieces- especially when their parents are OFW’s. In our present society, there is a growth of single parents; mostly women who are left to take care of the children, with no father in sight. These are the strongest women that we have now. It is tough enough to raise children with both parents, how much more if one handles it singlehandedly?

She admires women who raise their children by themselves and abused women who stay in relationships to raise their children. Mostly the reason why they stay is that they are financially weak. “These women forget about themselves and just focus on their children in order to give them good living environment and for these children to grow up successfully.” she said.

About being a wife, she was asked, “What’s your best asset as the woman of the house? What do you think your husband sees in you as very important in homemaking? That best asset she said is her ‘organizational skill’. A former disc jockey (DJ) in an FM station, Lou also worked as a newscaster. The skill in organizing is inherent in her talent and training. As active as her husband, Lou involves herself as a board secretary in many different civic organizations. For more than five years she has been a Virtual Assistant to several corporations in North America.

Lou shares the idea that in making up or sustaining a successful family, “Me, my husband and our two kids, Lourica Rastelli and Ric Jr. have lunch out after church every Sunday.”
In relation to Women’s Month, Lou encourages to build a better society by giving a better support and treatment to women for our next generation. She added that, “After all, a woman’s job is 24/7. No day off.”

Happy Women’s Month to all the great women in the world!