Though we still have a long way to go, it’s wonderful to see how far women have come.
In the growth and advancement of society, women are fundamental. A modern, productive world is unimaginable without them. Brig Young famously said that “if you are educating a man, then you are educating only one person, but if you are educating a woman, then you are educating the entire generation.”
Women have always been seen as an extension of men in society. As a result, they have learned to gradually blend into the background, to work behind the scenes, and to remain silent in a world dominated by men. But being oppressed and forced to live on the margins for so long inevitably leads a girl to realize her worth. Thanks to the efforts of those who fought for women’s rights, the role of women has changed dramatically throughout history. Nevertheless, the divide between men and women has not been eliminated. In some parts of the world, people still stereotype women, associating them with lower roles, labeling them as housewives, or denying them opportunities. As society has improved, though, the role of women in the present day has altogether changed. Despite the struggles that women have and continue to endure, nothing stops them from achieving their absolute best.
Women have demonstrated their ability to deal with the recent economic downturn with ingenuity. As financial experts, they meet the challenges of today’s ever-increasing prices in their income. Outside, they work shoulder-to-shoulder with men in almost every area. Many have achieved good education. Women in developed countries are financially self-sufficient. Modern women are more aware of their rights than their predecessors and are eager to exercise them. They understand their worth in the family, society, and the world. This progress did not occur overnight; women had to fight hard to get here. They worked tirelessly to achieve equality, liberty, and opportunity.
In honor of this year’s celebration of women’s month, this article highlights and acknowledges the struggles and experiences of the women in HAPI as they help transform our modern world. As they play a crucial role in laying the foundations for success in our society, these ladies deserve recognition.
HAPI Women: Women with Power
Marissa Torres Langseth
“The world would be more peaceful if more women lead the world.”
Marissa Torres Langseth, a.k.a. “Ms. M”, rose from humble beginnings and managed to become financially independent at an early age. As the founder of HAPI, Ms. M is an advocate for equality, reason, critical thinking, logic, and science – a woman who dreamed, and then materialised, a secular humanist society that inspired a lot of people across the Philippines. According to Ms. M, the role of women in society has been important since time immemorial. For her, “Knowledge is power, but knowledge with money is more powerful.” Having been an advocate for human rights since 2010, she found it easier to lead when you have the means. More than once, Ms. M has experienced being put down and disrespected because she is a woman. But those instances have tapered down as she came out victorious in most of her plans. As she puts it, “Failures are also a part of the process of being successful in leadership. You cannot herd cats easily.”
Angelica Driskell
“I only have the power that is within myself, any other kind of power is only something temporary because a title can be taken away just as easily as it was given.”
Angelica “Angie” Driskell is the HAPI Auditor, a member of the HAPI Board of Trustees, and the HAPI Jr. Ambassador. Above all, though, she is a fierce, kindhearted woman and a single mother of three. She believes that women are stronger than they are given credit for, and is grateful for the opportunities she has had to help others in her community. She enjoys being able to help other people and was most fulfilled by her time in Dumagat, Bulacan, where she helped the community and saw smiles and appreciation from people she had never met before. As a woman, Angie has faced some challenges in her career, such as lack of funding or lack of time, but she always tried to find solutions. She believes that all women have power within themselves and that by finding and harnessing this power, they can make a difference in their communities.
Mary Jane Valenzuela
“With what is happening in our society today, the role of women is essential. From taking care of their family to voting, we are the basic unit of society.”
Mary Jane Valenzuela, a.k.a “Mutya”, is a member of the Board of Trustees and HAPI’s Chief Finance Officer. She is known for her fighting spirit, her love of helping others, and her dedication to educating women about their rights. Mutya also volunteers her time to teach women about microloans, because she believes that these small loans can help empower women and help lift economies. As a woman, she has experienced a lot of discrimination in her life, but she has never let that stop her from achieving her goals. Mutya likes to prove her doubters wrong: at one point, her company even recognized her and featured her on motoring shows on television. Her personal greatest achievement is empowering the women in her barangay by teaching them knowledge about reproductive health, HIV/AIDS awareness, and human rights. With that, she is proud of the progress that she has made in her life and is committed to helping other women achieve their own goals.
Glemir Sordilla
Glemir Sordilla is HAPI’s Associate Editor and HAPI-Bacolod’s Social Media Manager. She is a volunteer, a humanist, a woman with strong conviction, and a cool aura. Glemir believes that women’s role today is broader and more important than ever before. Women are in science, in humanities, sports, and more areas thought unacceptable before. For her, the main struggle that sums up all her experiences, or even the women around her, is that women are never taken seriously. As she puts it, “It is very disheartening because it is still happening in many areas of the world.” Moreover, Glemir thinks that as a woman, her biggest contribution to society is being able to show up, stand up for women, and occupy space, may it be in school or organizational work. She believes that it is already a powerful way in transforming society where women are not allowed to be part of decision-making or even be given education before.
Kryshia Gayle Solon
Kryshia Gayle Solon is a HAPI Scholar and a veterinary student. She is a young woman who is passionate, artistic, and strives to serve animals and humans alike. For Kryshia, the women of today prove that gender is not a hindrance to achieving success. Like men, women are capable of doing every role in society. One of the struggles she encountered as a woman was the stereotypical ideals of people close to her. She recounts someone telling her that she should learn household chores because she was a girl and is meant to work around the house. However, as an empowered woman, she believes doing household chores is not only limited to women; men are just as responsible for that role too.
HAPI women are strong and empowered individuals making significant contributions in various fields. They possess immense motivation and excellence, which are the hallmarks of true pioneers of change. With a deep understanding of their ability to make a difference in the world, they are unafraid to step into the limelight and showcase their achievements in our society.
