WIN at 10
By Asuncion David Maramba
(Reproduced from Philippine Daily Inquirer, November 6, 1997, page 9.)

IT all started at the Bandila Congress back on Oct. 11, 1986 when then Health Secretary Alfredo Bengzon twitted the Middle Forces, "Where have all the Middle Forces gone?" Then and there, Letty Shahani, Mely Nicolas, Saling Boncan, Tessam Castillo, Tess Baltazar, Popsy Aquino and Remy Rikken decided to organize the women of the Middle Forces.

Till then, most of the nebulous Middle joined any march, any rally and sat in on any forum or lecture as long as it was against Marcos. The pull was inexorable. But after Edsa the ideological complexion surfaced and the ‘dems shaped up. Only then were questions asked, "Ano ba ‘yang sinalihan ko?" Characteritically last to organize (and first to disband but tops in normalizing a country), centrists realized that "as usual, huli tayo."

In response, WIN (Women Involved in Nation-Building) was unequivocal about its centrist orientation, the answer to moderates who wanted to get or stay organized. On KKB breakfast, more recruits, like Susan Zulueta, Carmen Arceno, Jing Karaos, Beth Diaz and Ching Abad Santos, met weekly at Popsy’s house or at some friend’s in Greehills.

On March 8, 1987, the convenors mounted its Founding Congress that filled the Folk Arts Theater with more than 500 women who came on their own or represented more than 65 organizations. The enthusiasm was impressive.

Founding president Mely Nicolas led it through a General Assembly in August 1987 in which the articles, by-laws and centrist ideology were tackled. November saw the Council of Convenors off to its first regional assembly in Vigan with Pansy Bautista, Cory Alcantara, Luz Lopez making the arrangements.

WIN’s favorite meeting place was Cora Tan’s Makati Cuisine. Sometimes it was Sonia Roco’s husband’s law office or Mel Alonzo’s office but the KKB merienda at Cora’s was better. At the council meetings were Norma Urbina, Liway Chato, Precy Ong, Lorna Kapunan, Felici Silayan, Virgie Lopez, Gina Ordonez, Elmar Catindig and other "origs."

Of course, WIN had its ups and downs. What organizations does not? When the rifts came, this writer in typical centrist fashion hid her head in the sand because she had friends on both sides. (We are not called fence-sitters for nothing.)

For the last five years, Sonia Roco, Felici Silayan and now Barbara Migallos as successive presidents have steered WIN for the long haul of nation-building. Chief of operations is Erlin Tagle.

Last Oct. 14, I attended WIN’s 10th Anniversary Program, hoping to see old friends and curious to see how the organization has been.

Revelation. Deliberately or serendipitously, WIN has found its "character." From an organization trying to be all things to all centrist women (in the early years, we had membership, projects, finance, ways and means, education, legal, media, QRT committees!), it has found its focus: Women in Politics, i.e., elected and appointed officials and political leaders.

It still cloths itself in such broad motherhood statements as "women empowerment and national development" and "the improvement of the position of women in the Philippine society." But thankfully, WIN has not mired itself in such abstractions but has concentrated on a solid niche in the body politic.

Its main activities are focused on women in governance. To date it has held more than 20 seminars, workshops and congresses in Tacloban, Tagaytay, Davao, Dumaguete, Baguio, Ilocos Sur, besides Metro Manila; training women in politics and governance and how to win elections, too! It has put out a Primer on Women’s Rights in English and Filipino subtitled, Answers to 50 Questions Most Commonly Asked. (Where can we get one?)

Annually it awards efforts that recognize and uplift women. A favorite is Edna Z. Manlapaz for ALIWW, an archival facility for women’s writings-- less spectacular than prostitution or AIDS but an equally necessary "peacetime" activity. It’s 10th anniversary awards went to four gender-responsive programs by local government units from Benguet, Salay, Negros Oriental and Surigao del Norte.

Underscoring its "political" focus, six of its board members are local women leaders: Provincial Board Members Shirley Aala of Davao del Norte, Regina Alaan of Surigao del Norte, Lea Bromo of Negros Oriental and Nenita Lacayen of Zamboanga del Norte and City Councilors Rebecca Pacanan of Tacloban and Betty Lou Tabanda of Baguio.

Without much fanfare (unlike say, Gabriela that is enviably covered whenever it sneezes), WIN is quietly doing its homework. Its metamorphosis into an organization that is frankly "political" is very welcome for several reasons.

One of them is the prospect of diluting the dirt in the political stables. Thanks to either a venal majority or a rotten few, our male-dominated political field is a sordid, stinking sty of greed and gluttony (pork is the staple food), of ineptitude, double-talk, absenteeism and opportunism; a waste of time, saliva, people’s money and the real thing. Getting to the nitty - gritty, the big question is, are women cleansing agents or more of the same?

Our fondest hope is that WIN will help make a difference among all the women that it will train and support. WIN aims "to build skills of local women leaders." "Skills" is a slippery word. It will take more than skills to make a difference. Our male politicians have them in abundance and women can learn as fast as themen. How about including an examination of our sick political culture, the art of resisting temptation and demythicizing M-O-N-E-Y? How about reinforcing some values like honesty, service, delicadeza, the first things that are thrown out with empowerment? "Empowerment," you see, is another slippery word.

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WIN Secretariat Address:
101 Hyacinth, Roxas District, Quezon City 1103, Philippines
Tel/Fax: (63 2) 371-4064)
E-mail: win@kababaihan.org