6 Filipino women warriors for land, human rights cited

BAGUIO CITY—Six Filipino women, four of them from the Cordilleras, have been recognized by an Asian women’s group for defending ancestral land rights and fighting for human rights.

They were among the 100 awardees chosen by the Asian Rural Women’s Coalition (ARWC) for the celebration of the 5th International Day of Rural Women this year.

In a ceremony to mark World Foodless Day last week at Malcolm Square here, the Cordillera Women’s Education Action Research Center gave citations to Endena Cogasi, 88, of Besao, Mt. Province; Leticia Bula-at, 62, of Tabuk, Kalinga; Maria Galong, 58, of Conner, Apayao; and Petra Macli-ing, 83, of Bontoc, Mt. Province.

The center also honored Bae Magdalena Suhat-Herbilla, 56, of Bukidnon, and Mary Francis Añover of Camiguin.

They were all cited for advancing indigenous peoples rights, promoting civil rights, combating violence against women, and for seeking better treatment of the rural poor, political prisoners, farmers and children.

The ARWC is composed of leaders of national women’s groups and regional networks representing farmers, agricultural workers, indigenous women, workers and migrants from Asia and the Pacific.

“This year, ARWC honors exceptional rural women and advocates from several countries across Asia who continuously fight for survival, justice and freedom.

ARWC celebrates their leadership, strength, creativity and commitment in pushing for gender equality while improving the lives of the general rural populace,” the

ARWC said in a statement.

“The land that we defended was for (the future generation). Land is precious to us who did not go to school. Our lands are wrapped around our very hearts. We did not have money but we are still alive and we continue to live because of our lands,” Macli-ing said.

In 2009, Macli-ing received the Laureate Prize for Rural Women given by the Women’s World Summit Foundation.

Cogasi was a 2009 awardee of the Gawad Tanggol Karapatan, conferred annually by the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance, for her passion and commitment in fighting the abuses of government soldiers in the Cordillera. Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon