...the UAE Architect of the Year nominee

Filipina nominated "Architect of the Year" in UAE

Manila Bulletin
08 November 2019

Filipina Christine Espinosa-Erlanda, a Dubai-based architect, was nominated for the “Architect of the Year” award in the 12th annual Middle East Architect Award.

Architect Christine Espinosa-Erlanda (Photo via MPIO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Erlanda was also nominated for the Big 5 Women in Construction Award.

In an interview with the Kabayan Weekly, a Filipino newspaper based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Erlanda shared how she was able to achieve her dreams.

“I am fortunate that my humble beginnings in Tondo, once I was a little girl sketching my dreams on the wall, I have culminated my creative instincts, have met mentors along my way, flew from Manila to Dubai and now I am part of building the future of the Middle East, designing and working on noteworthy award-winning projects, master plans, heritage, residential, commercial, hospitality, and heritage projects, turning visions into reality.”

Erlanda graduated from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) with a degree in Bachelor of Science Major in Architecture.

She spent her internship at the Manila City Planning and Development Office.

Erlanda is now an associate architect in UAE for 11 years, working for Godwin Austen Johnson.

Erlanda explained how she survived to work in a foreign country despite all the challenges that she had encountered.

“I am a Filipino. I smile a lot. Being Filipino helped me cope with the challenges of working abroad. We Filipinos are like water; versatile and can adjust to any shapes or forms and like water, they are necessary to life. Filipinos have the hunger for development and better future. We are not bounded by our race, gender nor financial situation. We Filipinos need to lift each other up, raise our flag and show the rest of the world our ingenuity, resilience and skills, all of those while radiating with the sincerest smiles,” she explained.

One of her missions as an architect was to empower women and promote gender equality: “As an architect my mission is to design and build something valuable that will last even after my own lifetime and in doing so elevate the position of women in what is, still, a male-dominated arena. Being part of the industry that creates and shapes the present and future cities keeps me close to that mission.”

The 12th annual Middle East Architect Award recognizes the great architects behind the best projects in the architecture community in the Middle East. The awarding ceremony will be on November 20.

...the Asean leader in gender-equality

PHL cited as gender-equality leader in government hiring - ADB, OECD

Business World | September 10, 2019

THE Philippines is a regional leader in terms of gender equality in job hiring, specifically in the public sector, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Speaking to reporters at the launch of the Government at a Glance Southeast Asia 2019 report issued by the ADB and OECD, Chiara Bronchi, an ADB Chief Thematic Officer from the bank’s Thematic Advisory Service Cluster, said the study found that 53.7% of public sector jobs in the Philippines were occupied by women in 2016, up from 50.7% in 2009.

The Philippines outperformed the the Southeast Asian average of 47% in 2016, while also employing larger proportions of women than Japan or South Korea, where less than 50% of public sector employees were women,

“That makes actually Philippines a leader… in terms of hiring [with] a gender balance if you are in the public sector,” Ms. Bronchi said.

Edwin Lau, Head of the Reform of the Public Sector division at the OECD’s, Public Governance Directorate, said the findings reflect “meritocratic” hiring in government service.

“You also see that the types of recruitment systems that are used are very meritocratic, so they’re really built to ensure top-quality people are rising in the public service,” Mr. Lau said.

He said the Philippines is “far above” the Southeast Asian average in terms of performance management systems.

“It’s [Philippines] even using more performance management systems than OECD countries… (In) public employment… the systems are fairly well developed,” he added.

The study also found that women are underrepresented in parliamentary bodies, with only 20% of these seats across the region held by women in 2018, just 1.7 percentage point higher from a decade earlier.

The report is the first of its kind that looked into the latest available data on public administration in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

...the Asia-Pacific best performer in gender equality

PH best performer in Asia-Pacific in gender equality–WEF

By Doris C. Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Friday, October 25th, 2013

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines is the best performer within the Asia-Pacific region when it comes to gender equality and the country has likewise improved its global ranking to 5th place from 8th in the 2013 Global Gender Gap Report.

This latest annual gender equality-focused report of the World Economic Forum ranked 136 countries on their ability to close the gender gap in four key areas: economic equality, political participation, health and survival and educational attainment.

“The Philippines remains the most advanced country in the (Asia-Pacific) region in terms of gender equality, ranking 5th in the global index. It improves as a result of advances in economic participation and opportunity, a subindex of the report, as well as having a strong score in terms of political participation,” WEF said in a statement issued on Friday.

The report said the Asia Pacific region had now closed 67 percent of its gender gap but still lagged every region in the world except the Middle East and North Africa when it comes to economic equality between the sexes having closed only 56 percent, the report said.

The eighth annual edition of the Report ranked Iceland closest to equality for the fifth year running.

It, along with Finland (2nd), Norway (3rd) and Sweden (4th), has now closed over 80 percent of its gender gap.

“Countries will need to start thinking of human capital very differently – including how they integrate women into leadership roles. This shift in mindset and practice is not a goalpost for the future, it is an imperative today,” said Klaus Schwab, WEF founder and executive chair.

“Both within countries and between countries are two distinct tracks to economic gender equality, with education serving as the accelerator. For countries that provide this basic investment, women’s integration in the workforce is the next frontier of change. For those that haven’t invested in women’s education, addressing this obstacle is critical to women’s lives as well as the strength of economies,” said Saadia Zahidi, co-author of the report and head of the Women Leaders and Gender Parity Programme.

Elsewhere in Asia, China continues to hold 69th position after improving its overall score. Japan loses four places to 105, mainly because of a decrease in the number of women in parliament which overshadows a rise in its economic participation and opportunity score. Korea, on 111, slips three places largely on account of a decrease in labor force participation and perceived wage equality.
Germany, in 14th place, is the highest-placed individual G20 economy, although it fell by one notch from 2012.

The best performer among BRICS (the grouping of fast-growing emerging markets coined to refer to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is South Africa at 17th place, followed by Russia (61th), Brazil (62nd), while the two Asian BRICS ranked lowest, with China at 69th and India at 101st.

At the global level, the report found that in 2013, 96 percent of the health and survival gender gap had now been closed. It is the only one of the four pillars that has widened since the report was first compiled in 2006.
In terms of education, the global gender gap stood at 93 percent, with 25 countries having closed their gaps completely. The gender gaps for economic equality and political participation are only 60 percent and 21 percent closed respectively, although progress is being made in these areas, with political participation narrowing by almost 2 percent in the past year.

In both emerging and developed countries alike, relative to the numbers of women in tertiary education and in the workforce overall, women’s presence in economic leadership positions is limited.

Europe’s progress towards eliminating its gender gap is polarized, with countries from Northern and Western Europe presenting a stark contrast to those from the South and East. Spain came in 30th, having closed 72 percent of its gender gap. France ranked 45th (70 percent closed) while Italy ranked 71st.

Latin America’s leading nation when it comes to closing the gender gap is Nicaragua. At 10th place, it has now ranked in the top 10 for two years, largely on the back of a strong performance in terms of political empowerment. Cuba is next (15th), followed by Ecuador (25th). Mexico climbed 16 places to 68, due to increases in the number of female parliamentarians and the number of women in professional roles. Brazil held firm at 62nd despite a slight improvement in its overall score.

 

...the Filipinas in Global index

Filipinas have better access to opportunities: global index

 

by Raphael Vincent Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

03/13/2013

 

 

"...Philippines is the  only country in Asia that has closed the gender gap in terms of opportunities to education and health." - WEF

 

 

Navy Commander Luzviminda Camacho

Philippines in top 10 of 2012 Gender Gap Index

MANILA, Philippines - Women in the Philippines have better access to opportunities as their male counterparts compared to any other country in Asia.

This is according to the 2012 Gender Gap Index released by the World Economic Forum earlier this year.

The report, assembled by experts from the University of California in Berkely, Harvard University and the WEF, identified the Philippines as the only country in Asia that has closed the gender gap in terms of opportunities to education and health.

It is also among the top 20 countries where women are given economic participation and political empowerment. Combining the results of all subindexes measured, the country holds the 8th spot worldwide.

Filipino women have indeed diversified and are now playing more important roles in national development. In the Armed Forces alone, several of them are now making marks and setting records.

Marine Captain Maria Rowena Miyuela set a record in 2007 for being the first female in the frontline who was wounded during an encounter with a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

She recalled her experience during their attempt to rescue Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, the Italian missionary who was held hostage by the group, as the turning point in her career.

"It was during that time that I realized that danger is something I have to face especially in this profession. Women can pretty much serve in the frontline as men," she told ABS-CBN news.

Marine Captain Maria Rowena Miyuela

Similarly, Navy Lieutenant Jovy Iringan is also the first female instructor pilot in the service. Although she admits that it is far from an ideal job of a woman, it gives her the opportunity to help others in far-flung areas.

She adds that being the first female instructor pilot allows women to be viewed differently especially by those who are unfamiliar with the nature of serving in the military.

"It's a glamorous job but in a different way. It's very fulfilling when you are seen differently, that you are able to help people in a big way," Iringan said.

Navy Lieutenant Jovy Iringan

Recently, another Navy personnel made history by being the first female officer who commanded a warship.

Commander Luzviminda Camacho is still on a high whenever she recalls her experience of controlling the helm of a World War 2 vessel.

She explained that being a mother added to the challenge but was never viewed as a reason for her not to carry out her duties.

"It's very different when you are trusted to ensure national security. Of course your family will always be important, but as members of the military, you also have to prioritize your duties to the country," she said.

While the Philippine Commission on Women (PWC) acknowledges that the country is doing well in bridging gender disparities, they remain hopeful that women will be more involved in economic and political platforms.

"Women play a very important role especially in moderating peace. Based on research, when women act as negotiators in any discourse, it is more likely that these talks would progress and achieve results," explained PCW official Anette Baleda.

The country has long been open to women in the workforce. For the PCW, what remains to be seen is women's consistent and increased participation towards national development.

 

...the Global Gender Gap ranking

Phl leads Asian countries in Global Gender Gap Report   By Jovan Cerda The Philippine Star Updated October 24, 2012

Zoom MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines remained as the top Asian country in ensuring that men and women have equal access to rights and privileges, including economic opportunities, a report released Wednesday by the World Economic Forum showed. The country remained at the 8th spot of the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index 2012, which ranks countries based on their ability to close the gender gap in healthcare, education, political participation and economic equality. "The Philippines remains the highest-ranking country from Asia in the Index. It ranks 1st on both education and health and is also among the top 20 on economic participation and political empowerment. The Philippines is the only country in Asia this year to have closed the gender gap in both education and health," the report said. It added that the country also performs in the top 10 of indicators that include legislators, senior officials and managers, literacy rate, enrolment in secondary education and years with female head of state. The Philippines has already elected two women presidents which include Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In August, President Benigno S. Aquino III appointed Maria Lourdes Sereno chief justice of the Supreme Court, the first female to hold the position. Ranked ahead of the Philippines are Iceland (1st), Finland (2nd), Norway (3rd), Sweden (4th), Ireland(5), New Zealand (6th) and Denmark (7th), while Nicaragua (9th) and Switzerland (10th) rounded out the top 10. Among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Philippines is followed by Singapore (55th), Thailand (65th), Vietnam (66th), Brunei Darussalam (75th), Indonesia (97th), Malaysia (100th) and Cambodia (103rd). Myanmar and Laos are not included in the list. Among economic powerhouses, the United States is ranked 22nd, China is 69th and Japan is 101st. Stuck at the bottom of the list are Saudi Arabia (131st), Syria (132nd), Chad (133rd), Pakistan (134th) and Yemen (135th). The report said there is a strong correlation between countries at the top of the index and the countries that are most economically competitive. “The key for the future of any country and any institution is the capability to attract the best talents,” said Klaus Schwab, WEF founder and executive chairman. “In the future, talent will be more important than capital or anything else. To develop the gender dimension is not just a question of equality; it is the entry card to succeed and prosper in an ever more competitive world,” he added.

...the countries with least gender gap

Philippines on Top 10 list of countries with least gender gap

By Michelle V. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines, where women enjoy the same access to education as men, remains on the Top 10 countries with the least “gender gap,” according to the 2011 Global Gender Gap rankings by the World Economic Forum.

From the 9th spot in the 2010 survey,  the Philippines ranked higher to 8th in 2011, with a score of 0.7685, among 135 countries. It performed favorably in the four categories that determine gender gap: (1) educational attainment, (2) health and survival, (3) economic participation and opportunity, and (4) political empowerment.

The Philippines got the perfect score of 1 in the first two categories.

In the first category, the Philippines shares the top rank with 21 other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Australia, among others.

The Philippines’ favorable performance in the first category comes amid official reports showing that women attending primary, secondary and tertiary education number about the same as, if not more than the men.

The country’s top rank in the second category showed that women in the Philippines have just about the same life expectancy as that of men. Life expectancy is affected by various factors such as disease, malnutrition and violence.

For the second category, the Philippines shares the top rank with 37 other countries, including Finland, Lesotho, Latvia, Bahamas and Argentina.

In the third category of “economic participation and opportunity,” the Philippines ranked 15th with a score of 0.7632. In this category, countries are evaluated based on gaps between men and women in terms of work participation, remuneration and advancement opportunities.

In the fourth category of “political empowerment,” the Philippines ranked 16th with a score of 0.3314. In this category, countries are evaluated based on gap between men and women in terms of women-to-men ratio in  government positions.

According to the WEF, the world ranking in terms of gender gap is aimed at increasing the awareness of countries on the importance of closing the gender gap.

“The rankings are designed to create greater awareness among a global audience of the challenges posed by gender gaps and the opportunities created by reducing them,” the WEF said in the Global Gender Gap Index report.

Global efforts to close the gap between men and women in various aspects, including access to education and employment, are supported by economists who say that promoting gender equality helps achieve developmental objectives of economies.

This is because tapping the skills of women helps increase an economy’s overall productivity.

On the contrary, they say, economies have been missing out on growth opportunities if women were not tapped to contribute their skills and talents.

“The rankings are designed to create greater awareness among a global audience of the challenges posed by gender gaps and the opportunities created by reducing them,” WEF said in the report.