#NEWS | We have come far, but we have got to do more — Hontiveros
by Grandis Frias
“Malayo na ang ating narating dahil sa ating pagpapahalaga sa pagkatao ng bawat isa. But we have got to do more.”
(“We have come far because of the importance we give to the humanity of each individual. But we have got to do more.”)
These were the words of Senator Risa Hontiveros as she emphasized the fight for equality, diversity, and the importance of the humanities in her keynote address during the opening ceremony of the Humanities Festival 2024, themed “Sari-sari, habi-habi: Embracing diversity, celebrating life,” held last November 25 at the Philippine Science High School — Main Campus (PSHS–MC).
Hontiveros, as a student of the social sciences herself, opened her speech with a sentiment on celebrating the humanities amidst the hard sciences having been recently favored.
“I’m glad that despite the recent and rather concerning trend of disregarding humanities in favor of hard sciences, you have found the time to celebrate these disciplines that teach us how to be human.”
The senator believed that the humanities and the hard sciences, instead of one dominating the other, should work together.
“Pareho naman silang mahahalaga. . . . [They] must go hand-in-hand, especially in solving the most pressing problems of this society,” she stated.
( “They are both essential. . . . [They] must go hand-in-hand, especially in solving the most pressing problems of this society.”)
However, as these pressing problems increasingly divide communities, Hontiveros recognized that unity becomes harder to achieve, especially as the Philippines’ “diversity, which could’ve been our strength, has instead become a weakness.”
The senator maintained that society, despite coming from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, must see past their differences and remember one key similarity: humanity.
“Iba-iba man ang ating mga pinanggalingan, pananaw, at pangarap, pare-pareho pa rin tayong tao,” she urged.
(“Although we have different backgrounds, perspectives, and dreams, we are still all human beings.”)
With that, Hontiveros stressed that being human comes with having rights: “Tayo ay mga tao na kailangang mabigyan ng pantay na pagtrato sa lahat ng aspeto ng pamumuhay.”
(“We are humans who need to be given equal treatment in all aspects of life.”)
The protection of, access to, and fight for these rights, according to the senator, have always been the center of her work as a legislator.
As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, Hontiveros named several of the bills she authored, including the Safe Spaces Act or Bawal Bastos Law and the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) Law.
Finally, the senator highlighted the fight for the SOGIE Equality Bill, which she also sponsored. She tied this to her advocacy for equality and recognizing diversity.
“LGBTQIA+ persons . . . are humans, too. . . . Madalas, ‘yan ang nakakalimutan ng ilan — na hindi naman tayo humihingi ng special rights, kundi equal rights,” she stated.
(“LGBTQIA+ persons . . . are humans, too. . . . Often, that is what some forget — that we are not asking for special rights, but equal rights.”)
With the fight for equal rights far from over, Hontiveros ended her speech by urging the students in the audience to dedicate their strength, knowledge, and heart into curing social ills.
“Alam kong kayang-kaya niyo itong hamon na ito. With your help, we can not only imagine a better future, but also actually live in it. Isang kinabukasan na may pagkakapantay-pantay, patas ang batas, at may oportunidad para sa lahat.”
(“I know you can absolutely take on this challenge. With your help, we can not only imagine a better future, but also actually live in it. A future where equality exists, the law is just, and there is an opportunity for everyone.”)
