Photo by: Letran Legal Management Society
As National Women’s Month makes its mark, we are reminded of the roots of women that we celebrate this March. The Letran Legal Management Society honored them through their event entitled “HERStory: Unveiling the Gains and Gaps of the Magna Carta for Women,” emphasizing the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) as an ally in the continuous fight against inequality, supporting the rights of every woman.
The event was held at the St. Thomas Hall at Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Manila, organized by the Letran Legal Management Society (LLMS) on March 7. A fruitful and meaningful discussion took place, led by Ms. Janssen Micah E. Fajardo, a Gender and Development (GAD) Specialist II at the Philippine Commission on Women.
Roots of the Magna Carta
Ms. Fajardo began by introducing the Magna Carta of Women, emphasizing that it is the Magna Carta of Women, not for women. Their active participation during the national consultation in the 13th Congress was recognized in this manner.
It is “of women” because they deserve to have ownership of the bill, not just limited as beneficiaries. As defined in her presentation, the Magna Carta of Women is a women’s human rights law that seeks to eliminate discrimination through the recognition, protection, fulfillment, and promotion of the rights of Filipino women, especially those belonging to marginalized sectors of society.
The role of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in the implementation of the Magna Carta carries significant weight, in accordance with Section 40 of the Act. The commission is tasked with monitoring the progress of the act through regular reports.
One of the recognized gains from this act is under “Section 17: Women’s Right to Health.” It ensures that government agencies integrate gender perspectives into health plans and programs, as well as support and promote gender and development. A common example related to this is the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave law, in which women are assured security in their work—essentially a paid maternity leave that is common in corporate settings.
Ms. Fajardo pointed out that pregnancy alone is a challenging situation, which is why such considerations must be made.
The rights of vulnerable women were also given importance, particularly for Women in Especially Difficult Circumstances (WEDCs), including victims and survivors of sexual and physical abuse. A total of 40,866 barangays have established Violence Against Women and their Children (VAWC) Desks, making it accessible to provide assistance in documenting cases, providing referrals, and supporting the issuance of Barangay Protection Orders.
Upon this discussion, Ms. Fajardo reminded everyone what to do in the face of violent situations.
“Dapat hindi inaareglo in the name of love and family. Violence is not a private crime; it is a public crime. The state has a duty to meddle with it,” imparting courage to women who might be in these vulnerable circumstances.
Rapid changes, today’s concerns of women
Despite the Magna Carta of Women’s existence , it cannot be denied that challenges and gaps remain, opening opportunities for further improvements in hopes of achieving gender parity, which may take generations to come. Still, Ms. Fajardo remains optimistic. Even with the overwhelming estimate of 134 years to achieve that goal, she emphasized that the fight must go on.
However, realities remain for Gender and Development. The low or inconsistent utilization of budget allocations and the lack of plantilla positions both create disadvantages in providing solutions to gender issues. Not to mention, the rising number of cases of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) raises concern despite implemented initiatives, with 33,713 cases recorded in 2024.
There are various factors contributing to the cycle of violence. One common scenario exemplified by Ms. Fajardo is that women are often made to be dependent on their husbands, who serve as providers, especially if they have children to feed. This makes it difficult for women to leave their abusers, leading them to believe that their conditions would not be any better outside their homes.
Ms. Fajardo also expressed her dismay over law enactments related to these experiences.
“It should be amended na kailangan pa marepeat ang abuse para mareport. It is also important to consider that there are different forms of abuse—not just bruises and scars.”
Outdated and patriarchal laws also continue to exist in modern society, where inclusivity is being approached in a better light. This includes the forgiveness clause in rape laws, traditional gender roles that remain reflected in the Revised Penal Code and other family laws, and women holding only limited elected positions, comprising only 24% as recorded in 2022.
Moreover, the stigma surrounding women still echoes loudly. It is not only limited to the cycle of violence and law enactments, but also to the way society responds to this reality.
Ms. Fajardo emphasized challenging the fear of retaliation through the continuous building of a culture of reporting. Through this brave act, despite the sensitivities and risks involved, the lives of women and the youth can be protected.
Women’s perspectives are yet to be heard
“Women present a vital role in our nation, yet are not empowered enough for equal opportunities; Justice is not achieved by laws alone,” said Juliana Marie Arboleda, co-project head of the event and 3rd year Legal Management batch representative.
This National Women’s Month, women must also be seen in their everyday lives and in situations that matter most. This initiative from LLMS was more than just acknowledging the Magna Carta of Women; it also aimed to uplift women in recognizing their own experiences. As a woman herself, Arboleda felt empowered by this event, especially in the present society where misogyny remains normalized.
“This event asserts the idea that there is ‘hope’ for us to be protected. Since it is about PCW, especially during the open forum session, we were made aware that there are actions for our voices to be heard by everyone—specifically the government to answer our needs and to finally fight injustices toward women through this Commission,” said Arboleda.
Continuous dialogues assessing the Magna Carta of Women must always carry on until all forms of discrimination against women cease to exist. Nicole Zuleika Llanderal, a 3rd year Legal Management student, made her point on the role of women and how the Magna Carta of Women strengthens this altogether.
“Hangga’t pinaglalaban at pinag-uusapan ang rights nating mga kababaihan, nagsisilbi na rin ang MCW as an empowerment na ‘Hello, babae ako, hindi ako babae lang,’” Llanderal expressed.
She further emphasized that women should have more opportunities and spaces in professional and political fields, as women are also capable—just like everybody else.
Beyond benefits and gains, the underlying gaps were also addressed with recommendations as Legal Management students gathered their knowledge into potential solutions.
Llanderal mentioned the ‘pink tax,’ which was not explicitly stated under the rights of women, wherein female products have higher prices compared to those for men—hindering the process of attaining equality.
“Women in marginalized communities and with low income should be given consideration, yet we are taxed more on hygiene products, kaya I recommend na i-amend yan sa Magna Carta of Women,” said Llanderal.
She also added that the Reproductive Health Law does not include free comprehensive reproductive health checkups, especially for women who only want to have their reproductive health assessed. Llanderal concluded that she hopes for more inclusive and attainable laws for women to be made.
Educating citizens more about the Magna Carta of Women is also recommended by Arboleda. This ensures transparency regarding updates on past issues that have now been resolved and promotes a more effective implementation of the law.
The Magna Carta of Women has more stories to tell for future generations. Although the journey is far from reaching the end goal, a glimpse of hope remains that equality is achievable. Without the efforts toward the Magna Carta of Women, the fight for gender parity may not be where it currently stands. This event emphasized that women’s rights are human rights, while also calling for action toward a future where no woman is left behind, reminding everyone that the power to make this goal possible lies within each of every individual.