By Cyrus A. Natividad
The Gurrea couple Louella and Ricardo.
In observance of the International WomenĢƵs 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 ĢƵLouĢƵ Nuñez is now married to an equally successful ĢƵwarehousingĢƵ businessman in Iloilo City, Ricardo ĢƵRicĢƵ Gurrea.
The Centralian Link had an engaging talk with Lou on ĢƵWhy do we celebrate WomenĢƵs Month?ĢƵ First she said that, ĢƵit is about the neglect on women as part of society or that they are often neglected by society.ĢƵ Asked how are they neglected? (We think that a lot of them are leaders in society). She answered, ĢƵYes, they are seen there, but not heard.ĢƵ On the other hand however, she said that, ĢƵthey are the strongest point in a household. Do you observe once the mother gets sick, the household doesnĢƵt seem to work?ĢƵ Who is a mother? ĢƵShe is a woman.ĢƵ She clarified that ĢƵa 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.ĢƵ She added that ĢƵI believe though how heavy the toll is on women; they still do many things, not only personally, household, and business ĢƵ but also a part of what we call ĢƵMarites societyĢƵ that the new normal has generated. I take these strengths from a woman who has given birth.ĢƵ She pointed out that the birth pains is no comparison to what other human beings have encountered. ĢƵDonĢƵt take me wrong,ĢƵ 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 OFWĢƵs. 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. ĢƵThese 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.ĢƵ she said.
About being a wife, she was asked, ĢƵWhatĢƵs 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 ĢƵorganizational skillĢƵ. 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, ĢƵMe, my husband and our two kids, Lourica Rastelli and Ric Jr. have lunch out after church every Sunday.ĢƵ
In relation to WomenĢƵs Month, Lou encourages to build a better society by giving a better support and treatment to women for our next generation. She added that, ĢƵAfter all, a womanĢƵs job is 24/7. No day off.ĢƵ
Happy WomenĢƵs Month to all the great women in the world!