For Week 9 on the Weekly Assessment Exercise of the Regional Fellowship Program on Parliamentary Diplomacy (RFPPD) under the Parliament Institute of Cambodia (PIC) of which I am one of the fellows, I prepared a draft memo for the consideration of our Acting Secretary General in the House of Representatives on the implementation of the recently passed law increasing the maternity leave from 90 days to 105 days. This is one of the hallmarks legislation in empowering women and achieving gender equality in the Philippines at present.

As an added reflection on this important transnational issue, you may also read my notes on gender equality also in memo form addressed to my instructor on this subject. I have gained much from the insights of Ms. Naila Kabeer where she rightly underscored that policies must be implemented where women can participate, monitor and can hold decision makers accountable, otherwise they will be powerless to empower women. Moreover, even if there will be women in governance but that they won’t be representing the grassroots but only the elite,  such an achievement would not mean anything.

On a related perspective, this prevailing issue has made me reflect on the Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible. A description of this very empowered woman can be read in verses 10-31. The issue of choice, access to opportunities and resources, sense of self-worth and  independence and the power to control her life within and outside the home are all exercised and manifested by this woman. All that God meant her to become and be doing are embodied in this narration.

I particularly like verses 25-29 which states:

” Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

Even though the Philippines is number 1 in terms of gender equality in the ASEAN Region at 29.5%, it is still number 51 in the world. So much work still has to be done. Hopefully Philippine legislation will continue to mature and will be able to correct and transform unequal practices and beliefs both for men and women alike in order to achieve true gender equality.

The importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the life of my country, the Philippines, cannot be overemphasized. In my timeline on ASEAN & the Philippines, it shows the history of the Philippines’ relationship with this rising regional bloc. A bloc which is a force to reckon with today since the time it was established in 1967.

The following are some of the important historical events which I believe marks the Philippines’ commitment to pursue ASEAN’s goal of “cooperative peace and shared prosperity”:

• 2003 (Oct 7-8) – 9th ASEAN Summit; The Leaders resolved under the Bali Concord that an ASEAN Community shall be established by 2020.

The need to deepen regional economic integration and to link to world economies through bold and strategic actions started the economic growth of ASEAN. In fact, many economists and other experts say it is a miracle growth.

• 2007 (Jan 9-15) – 12th ASEAN Summit; The Member-States signed the Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015

Hosted by the Philippines, the Member-States decided to hasten the ASEAN Community “to reinforce ASEAN’s centrality and role as the driving force in charting the evolving regional infrastructure”

• 2007 (Nov 20) – 13th ASEAN Summit; The ASEAN Charter adopted; This document became a legally binding agreement among the 10 Member-States. This was the first step towards the aim of a free trade area by 2015. The ASEAN Motto came to be “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.

• 2012 ( July 9-13) – 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting;

For the first time in the 45 years of ASEAN existence, it failed to come up with a Joint Communique. The Philippines deplored the non-issuance which was unprecedented. The Chair opposed any mention of the Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) at all in the Joint Communique and considered the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea (WPS/SCS) involving four ASEAN Members as a bilateral conflict which the Philippines questioned. Since ASEAN’s decisions can only be carried out through consensus, any objection on even one Member will block any action. I find this fact in the ASEAN history so interesting. I realized that this is one of those issues that the region has to face with a united stand but as I learned in International Relations and GeoPolitics (Module 1), it should not be to choose between the United States and China. A middle ground approach is more prudent as of now.

• 2017 (Nov 12-14) – ASEAN @ 50 and PH Chairmanship in 2017

The Philippines played host to the 31st ASEAN Summit where the grand celebration of the ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary was made. The Summit organizers prioritized the drafting of the South China Sea Code of Conduct which would seek to work for a more “people-oriented, people-centered ASEAN”, among other objectives.

I consider the foregoing events also as milestones in the life of ASEAN, not only in terms of its relationship with the Philippines, but in international context as well. To sum it up, indeed, “ASEAN is one of the cornerstones of the Philippines’ foreign and trade policies.” (Shead, Asian Briefing, 2017)

Most if not all people would like to live in a world where there is equality, peace and prosperity. However, this can’t be achieved if the necessary mechanisms and processes are not put into place to make this effective and protected. This is where law and order comes in. The establishment of legal frameworks is imperative in ensuring that societies and the world live up to the standard of the rule of law and apply these to individual instances and global concerns.

In this regard, relationships between citizens and their governments, and relationships between governments can only be effective when there is a respect of governing laws and an honest desire of applying them in prevailing contexts and situations.

The constitutions of each country, being the paramount law, protects the legal rights of its citizens and sets each state’s sovereignty within the community of nations. Moreover, the statutes and precedents derived from this basic law lay the foundation of international law. As “international law is derived on from the principles, norms and procedures established in domestic law”.

In this respect, regional and international bodies play a crucial role in ensuring that international relations is preserved and the beautiful world created by the Almighty God will be enjoyed by all regardless of economic status, beliefs and race.

This is now the predicament that my country, the Philippines is facing in the international front. It wants to enforce its territorial sovereignty pursuant to international laws. The different international legal instruments relating to this, primarily the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) should be respected.

On other hand, in the domestic front, the Philippines has successfully passed the Bangsamoro Basic Law which governs the newly established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Mindanao. This new region and its governing law is the response to a decades old conflict in Southern Philippines between Muslims and Christians.

The foregoing proves how legal frameworks protect and allows citizens and states to live their rights within the law. Although there are different legal systems in different jurisdictions, “still each of them plays the same role and possesses the same functions. All of these systems are effective in their place.” I have made an audio recording of the summary of the interplay of legal frameworks to stress this point.

As a conclusion, parliaments play a crucial role in ensuring the passage of relevant domestic laws that will be the basis of good and well established international laws. This hopefully will work towards the world being a better place to live in. How will I contribute to fulfilling this? To continually hone my skills as a Committee Secretary in the Congress of the Philippines, thereby providing legislators the needed technical support as they craft laws both in the domestic and international fronts.

The following are the tasks for this week:

Task 1:

1. Upload a google document;
2. Upload google slides;
3. Upload spreadsheets;
4. Upload images;
5. Upload audio; and
6. Upload video.

Task 2: Use of Snipping Tool for taking screen shots

Today, I learned about the strategies and tools for effective online learning. I am now physically alone during this period of the Program, but learning continues with these tools and the connection they provide to me, my colleagues and professors.

Today starts my journey on online learning… something challenging but something exciting too!

In order for this to become successful, I need first to know these tools, to stay motivated by having clear objectives of the Program and to have a viable Study Plan, among other requirements. One of which is the use of note taking methods. I have tried to use the Outlining Method in explaining how digital skills will help me in my legislative work and policy formulation in general.

Week 6 has been most challenging so far in this Program. I feel like I am a ship that has been released into the sea with compass and other instrumentalities but without a physical captain. I know where I am headed but because I am used to having my anchor, I am feeling the jitters. However daunting the journey is, I know I am in capable hands and going through the process of learning is as much gratifying as to arriving in the destination.

In terms of the knowledge and understanding on digital skills, the application of the different tools have pushed me from my comfort zone and enabled me to study them on my own. It can be gleaned in the writing of this blog and my answer to this week’s exercises that I now possess a workable knowledge and understanding of WordPress, Zoom, Schoology, google docs and the outline method of note taking.

The Philippines has recently concluded its mid-term elections and a new Congress will assume by the end of June this year. The skills I will develop through this training will make me a better Committee Secretary and consequently will be an added boost primarily to the Committee Affairs Department of the Philippine House of Representatives.

The question on how will these tools be of use to my working environment made me use my analysis and critical thinking. Also going through the process of applying these applications on my own increased my power of analysis by thinking on my own and using logic and cause and effect. Moreover, the importance of these tools has strengthened my commitment to develop my digital skills, as well as study and research skills as well. Further my handicap on technology ironically enhanced my communication and diplomatic skills as I have to express myself more in order to understand and be humble enough to admit my shortcomings, yet provide solutions to my incapacity. For this week, the evidence that I have increased in all of these aspects is primarily through the outputs of this week’s exercises.

The journey towards being an equipped and empowered parliamentary staffer lies before me. My husband has great interest in the applications I am now learning and he asked me to teach the organizations he is leading, composed of students, professionals and ministers, among others of these tools. This Program indeed goes beyond work and career. It is enriching me personally and my family as well. With this, I am continually grateful to PIC for coming up with this course.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton