MANILA – Vice President Leni Robredo recently reminded Filipino women that becoming financially independent is a good way to empower themselves.
The vice president, who is a widowed mother to three daughters, was asked to share some advice on how to face challenges for women as National Women’s Month was coming to an end.
“I remember growing up, parang iyong mommy ko parating sinasabi na, ‘Kayo, mga babae kayo… siguraduhin niyo na kapag tumanda kayo may sarili kayong hanapbuhay. Huwag kayong magde-depend sa asawa’,” Robredo said in an interview on FM radio.
“Kasi parang it’s power eh. No matter how small your income will be as long as you have something of your own, parang okay ka na. Parang financial independence is empowerment,” she added.
“So parang my sister and I, parang we grew up with that kind of mentality, na you don’t depend on anyone. I think, for moms with daughters, importante iyon eh.”
Robredo, who has long advocated for empowering women and pushing for gender equality, was also a human rights lawyer. (GMA News)