Marking Women’s Month, Malacañang on Wednesday called for an end to the culture of objectifying women, stressing that women deserve respect and dignity, not to be reduced to subjects of vulgar remarks or sexualized fantasies disguised as compliments.
In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that women should be guided, uplifted, and honored— never treated as objects of public display or crude imagination that some even expect them to be grateful for.
“Hindi kami babae lang — babae kami…This is empowering women to empower all women,” Castro said.
During a proceeding in the House of Representatives on March 3, a lawmaker made remarks referencing an actress and claimed he could not be held liable for thoughts he formed in his imagination about her.
In response to the incident, Castro underscored the administration’s position on upholding respect and dignity for women, particularly in public discourse.
“Kababaihan, hindi dapat ginagawang paksa ng bastos na pananalita. Let us end the culture of objectifying women. Ang kababaihan ay ginagabayan, inaangat, ginagalang at hindi ginagawang paksa ng malaswang pagpapantasya na ipagmamalaki pa sa publiko,” the Palace Press Officer noted.
Castro, a lawyer, decried the persistent mindset that normalizes verbal harassment and sexual objectification, warning that such attitudes continue to undermine efforts to build a culture of respect and equality.
“Na dapat pa raw na ituring na compliment kapag ginawan ng kalaswaan sa isip ng isang lalaki… at dapat pang ipagpasalamat ito ng isang babae,” she pointed out. “Nabubuhay tayo sa lipunang kumikilala, gumagalang, nag-aangat at nagbibigay ng lakas sa kababaihan.”
