Albay Gov. Grex Lagman honors his late mother in Albay’s first All-Women Leaders’ Summit

Albay Gov. Grex Lagman spoke at Albay’s first All-Women Leaders’ Summit and paid tribute to one of the most important women in his life: his late mother.

In his message during the event Lagman said his mother taught the men in her family that women should always have their say in the decision making process when it comes to important matters.

His mother was also a very accomplished individual, he said. She graduated salutatorian in high school and won a scholarship to the United States before going on to study in the University of the Philippines.

She also topped the Law Aptitude Exam in UP Law, but stopped her law studies to raise her children.

His mother is a constant reminder of how women and men should complement each other and not to compete against each other, he added.

Meanwhile, Lagman also commended Vice Governor Glenda Bongao for making change possible for women.

He is in full support of the All-Women Leaders’ Summit that she headed, he said.

Programs for women must continue until we achieve equality between men and women, he added.

The governor knows how important women are!

“First ever All-Women Leaders’ Summit in Albay was held yesterday! Thank you, VG Glenda Ong Bongao for being a woman who makes change possible for women!

As Governor of Albay and as a man who grew up in a home where women had their place in the table of power, where women were empowered and empowering and where where women’s voices were heard and acted upon, i support 100% this first of its kind event.

I am also so happy that i was with “kindred men” in the persons of ABC VP for Albay and Ex-Officio Councilor of the City of True Love, Manoy Ed Perol; SK Federation of Albay President and BM Eboy Jesus Go and PCL Albay President, National EVP and BM Juan Miguel Salceda who all excellently delivered messages of solidarity for Albay’s Women Leaders.

And since we’re a celebrating women leaders in Albay, i also acknowledge the powerful messages of BM Atty. Melissa Arias Abadeza-Armedilla, COMELEC-Albay PES Atty. Ma. Aurea Bo-Bunao, Senator Risa Hontiveros, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte and Angat Buhay Founder Atty. Leni Gerona Robredo.

In my message i honored my late mother. She was the one who taught the men in her family that women should always have their say in the decision making process in all of life’s important facets. She was a woman who was ahead of her time. Graduating as Salutatorian of her 1960 batch in Tabaco High School and winning an educational scholarship in the U.S at age 16, she went on to study in UP and excelled as the very first University Student Council (USC) Vice Chairperson. She then topped the Law Aptitude Exam in UP Law (but studied for only as semester) as she had to raise seven (7 ) kids which she did so in the most unconventional yet effective way. But, most of all, she was (and still is) a constant reminder to me, my brothers Nikos, Marco and Andrei how important it is for boys to learn early on how women and men should complement each other and not to compete against each other. Thanks so much, mama!

Sa gabos na Albayano, we are a work in progress. We are still a patriarchal society. So these programs and interventions must continue. It cannot be addressed in one sitting or in one event. I still see a generation or two passing before we can truly say that there is the “approximation of equality” in the men-women dynamic in this country,” Lagman posted.