SULU – Hundreds of women have flocked to the Sulu Provincial Capitol Gymnasium in Patikul town where the Sulu Provincial Women Council recently held its 4th General Assembly.
With the theme “INDAH, Ang Tatag mo ay Tatag natin sa Pagbangon at Pagsulong,” the assembly tackled various development and livelihood projects planned for the years to come.
Hadja Nurunisah Tan, who is the chairperson of the Sulu Provincial Women Council and very active in medical and humanitarian missions being a registered nurse, led the different activities.
Officers and members of the 19 Municipal Women Councils in the province made up the bulk of the attendees with SPWC Vice President Dr. Fahra Omar opening the General Assembly.
Sulu Vice-Governor Sakur Tan represented the provincial governor and he also spoke during the event. He also read the governor’s message before the ecstatic crowd.
Vice Governor Tan said he was privileged to represent Governor Totoh Tan and at the same time apologized because the Chief Executive was not able to attend the important gathering.
He said through the years, the women of Sulu have proven their worth many times over and in many instances, serving communities even beyond the borders of the province to answer calls of distress from victims of calamities and extending consoling hands to those who are in need.
He said the genuine concern they have demonstrated in the performance of their responsibilities in social services and outreach programs may have escaped the attention of the general public, perhaps for the reason that they go about their tasks and endeavors without begging for publicity and media mileage. He said such is the measurement of selfless service worth emulating.
“I have always been guided by the principle that when offering assistance or help to anyone, I do so with pure intention, without counting the cost or expecting repayment in kind. In the tradition of the Holy Prophet, sallallahualaihiwasallam, what you give with your right hand should not be visible to the left hand.”
“This principle had served me well in both my public and private life and I do believe the same principle when applied by those who are in authority will not only be the in the service of God but of mankind as well,” Vice Governor Tan said.
He said during his tenure as Governor, he had no second thoughts in initiating the construction of the Women and Children’s Center at the site of the old Provincial Jail. “At the inauguration of the Center, I said that from the site which formerly housed criminals and scourge of society arose a beautiful building for noble intentions and purposes. With resolve and dogged determination to pursue a set target for the common good, we can overcome challenges and hurdles strewn in our path,” he said.
“I work by the same principle in efforts to bring changes to Sulu and in creating a new breed of Tausug with a different attitude and mindset from the usual typecasting which places our province and people in a disadvantage. We cannot move forward when we are shackled by the chains of ignorance, mistaken beliefs and outdated traditions,” he added.
Vice Governor Tan also encourage the women to set a goal in their life and to be able to achieve it. “I do admit that the task of changing attitudes and mindsets is daunting and bordering in the impossible. But shall we just sit down and accept defeat? We may not see an ideal situation during many lifetimes, but let us be consoled by the fact that we tried and took the initial few steps leading to that direction that posterity will judge us kindly.”
“From the remains of a prison house, the Women and Children’s Center arose like a proverbial bird from the ruins and dirt. It is now the nerve center of Sulu women branching out to serve the most vulnerable sector of our society and reaching out to fulfil the many needs and demands of our people. Most of the credit goes to the leadership of the Sulu Provincial Women’s Council. We may have built a house for their use but our women gave it soul and conscience,” he said.
He said concerns in education, health services, peace and order and governance to name a few, are not the monopoly of any particular gender. He said they are shared concerns, responsibilities and tasks crossing over gender borders.
“We are all in this together. As partners in nation-building and sharing common aspirations, let no particular sector be content with merely criticizing for the sake of criticism or fault-find just to elicit attention. It may sound overused, but if you cannot play your role as part of the solution, then do not attempt to be part of the problem. Women have indeed come a long way. Their presence is acknowledged in every field and their contributions to society are immeasurable,” he said.
He also administered the oath-taking of the newly elected officers of the Municipal Women Councils. Aside from Hadja Nurunisah Tan and Dr. Fahra Omar, the other Sulu Provincial Women Council Officers for 2013-2016 are Charisma S. Ututalum, MHA Vice Chairperson for External Affairs; Eleonor N. Ilustre, Secretary; Nurhata M. Salahuddin, Treasurer; Aisa J. Akalal, Auditor; Sitti Kausar H. Sahijuan, PIO.
And Merilyn J. Amin, Chairperson on Livelihood Programs Committee; Norma A. Abdulla, Chairperson on Education Committee; Lynde Moreno, Chairperson on Health Committee; Amelyn I. Tan, Chairperson on Environment and Sanitation Committee; Mercian Aspi, Chairperson on Membership Committee; Charina I. Isahac, Chairperson on Gender and Development Committee; Rufaida Tan, Chairperson on Peace and Governance Committee; Jainab Abdulmajid, Chairperson on Information and Communication Committee and Aisa J. Akalal, Chairperson on Cultural Affairs Committee.
The assembly also held seminar and workshops on health, education, gender and development, livelihood, environment, peace and reconciliation and cultural heritage, among others. (Franzi Sali)
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