Elizabeth Angsioco: My Civic Hero

*Beth is a finalist in Rexona and Rappler's Do More Awards. I am sharing with you my nomination essay.

From time to time, we all come across stories of how women are treated as second class citizens, or sometimes even less, in various situations. A number of us will be so moved as to take action in order to change this. Still fewer will see this action through until fruition. Beth does all this on a daily basis, and for the most part of her life. She lives and breathes women empowerment. She has devoted her life to alleviating the plight of women, especially those who live in abject poverty and who have absolutely no means to make their voices and choices be heard. One of her great achievements, if not the greatest, was when she became instrumental to the passage of the much-needed Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10354), which had been languishing in Congress for more than a decade. While there may have been days when she felt the burden of swimming against the tide heaviest, she never lost steam. Her persistence and relentlessness were what pushed the legislators and RH supporters outside Congress to stand up against long-standing religious resistance and traditional thinking, and give it a final push towards passage. Today, Beth continues to fight, everyday, so that each woman stands a chance in fighting for herself.

I am in awe of Beth's relentlessness and persistence in pushing for a cause. She gets an idea, develops a method and makes sure she succeeds in achieving the selfless and compassionate objectives of her actions. She never lets go and loses hope because she knows that it is worth it to give her all, to put in everything she has. That seemingly tireless fighting spirit inside her, that is what is inspiring. For a petite woman, her spirit and her energy make up a humongous individual inside that tiny shell. It is an honor to know Beth. And it is such a privilege to draw inspiration from her.

The cash prize and the recognition will do wonders for the women Beth and her organization are helping. It will not only be a recognition of Beth and her resounding ideals and valiant efforts, but also of the value of the women she has been helping. Winning the Do More Award for Civic Hero will affirm the self-image of the women who have been so lacking in self-worth and confidence as a result of abuse and discrimination. The recognition will emphasize to them that Beth had been right all along -- that they are individuals of value, that they have a voice in this society, and that they can DO MORE to live better, more productive lives.

READ BETH'S SHORT PROFILE HERE!

VOTE FOR BETH HERE!

A Decade of Decadence

Panfilo Lacson delivered a speech in March 2003, ten years ago, calling for the abolition of the pork barrel. He detailed how the thieves divided the spoils among them; how the opportunists, both public and private, pocketed money paid by taxpayers, meant for the citizens of this country. He practically begged his fellow legislators in the Upper House to do what was best for the country and to actually fulfil their sworn duty to put the interests of the people over their own.

Ten years later, the legislators remain deaf. It is as if the Lacson privilege speech did not happen. It is as if they did not hear anything on that fateful day in March 2003. Ten years later, the greed and audacity in misusing the pork barrel have gone worse beyond belief.

Below is the Lacson privilege speech delivered during session in the Senate on March 11, 2003:

No Different

They met online. 13 years ago. Both bored out of their wits, looking for distraction from monotonous work. They resorted to the Internet for entertainment, recreation, any form of relaxation that it afforded them.

While other people met in cafes or restaurants for the first time, Sam and Gina (names changed to protect their privacy and identities) met in a chat room. Call it cyber blind date, if you will. As in any other blind date, it was awkward at first. Neither of them knew the other, much less their interests, hobbies, greatest hopes and dreams. They forget now what the first topic was. But each vividly remembers how, after only a few minutes of chatting with each other, both of them instantly fell into the rhythm of the familiar, like they had known each other for ages. What began as one-hour midday chats during lunch break (having cyber lunch dates) became nightly heart-to-hearts, often extending until the wee hours of the morning.