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The empowered “Queens” of REINA
By Haribon staff
Quezon has been a cultural and economic treasure trove of the country. The largest province in CALABARZON, Quezon has a total land area of 8,706.60 square kilometers[1] with a population of 1.9 million.[2] Aside from the grandeur of Pahiyas and Niyogniyugan festivals, it has been gifted with rich natural resources from its fertile agricultural lands and vast marine resources.
On the coast of Quezon lies the REINA area, composed of municipalities of Real, Infanta, and General Nakar.
These areas have significantly contributed to the province’s economic development through agriculture, fishery, and tourism.
But poverty remains a challenge. According to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Real, Infanta, and General Nakar have poverty incidences of 16.7%, 27.3%, and 16.1%, respectively.[3] These double-digit numbers reflect the situation of the people, as some of them were forced to leave the towns in search of greener pastures, or worse, look for ways to earn a living that is detrimental to the environment.
To protect the environment and address the root causes of poverty in REINA, the Haribon Foundation, through its Enhancing the Role of Women in Protected Area Governance for Social Change project or Women Go Project,[4] began supporting livelihood and conservation programs hoping to transform women’s organizations into bastions of empowerment among the women in their respective communities.
Making change through Women Go
The Women Go project is an initiative funded by the European Union that seeks to empower women and highlight their role in natural resource management, which includes managing environmental risks, reducing vulnerabilities, and improving climate resiliency.
In the REINA area, the project focuses on engaging women in forest governance, an area where the sector is severely underrepresented. The project ran from 2020 to 2024.
In the REINA area, the project focuses on engaging women in forest governance, an area where the sector is severely underrepresented. The project ran from 2020 to 2024.
Looking into these objectives, Haribon and its partner stakeholders in REINA will be mobilizing at least 100 rural women to participate in activities promoting community development and mobilization, and environmental protection.
As the project progressed, several transformative leaders emerged from the women’s organizations called “KALIPI” or Kalipunang ng Liping Pilipina.
As the project progressed, several transformative leaders emerged from the women’s organizations called “KALIPI” or Kalipunang ng Liping Pilipina.
The women leaders of KALIPI
Cristina “Cristy” Luna is the president of KALIPI Infanta Federation, a women-led, non-stock, and non-profit organization recognized and accredited by the local government in October 2017.
From being a member, she emerged as the leader of the federation which saw an increase in income among its members through their sustainable sewing initiative. Through the group’s partnership with the LGU, they have generated a market for their tote bags, foot rugs, and curtains in schools, restaurants, markets, and other establishments.
The initiative also helped reduce waste materials, most of them causing flooding in canals and sewers.
The transformation of KALIPI Infanta under the guidance of Cristy earned the admiration of leaders of other organizations.
The initiative also helped reduce waste materials, most of them causing flooding in canals and sewers.
The transformation of KALIPI Infanta under the guidance of Cristy earned the admiration of leaders of other organizations.
Aylene Fabula of Kilos Unlad ng Mamamayan ng REAL (KUMARE) lauded Cristy for her vision and passion for strengthening the role of women in livelihood participation and environment conservation.
The transformation of KALIPI Infanta under the guidance of Cristy earned the admiration of leaders of other organizations. Aylene Fabula of Kilos Unlad ng Mamamayan ng REAL (KUMARE) lauded Cristy for her vision and passion for strengthening the role of women in livelihood participation and environment conservation.
“She’s becoming the role model of other women leaders in the REINA area,” Aylene said.
Another notable leader who emerged in the Women Go project is Edna Azogue of KALIPI Cawayan. In 2021, the rural women’s organization, KALIPI Cawayan, was registered with the Department of Labor and Employment.
rom an organization that only participates in the festivities during women’s month, the KALIPI Cawayan has changed into a dynamic organization that leads the efforts in livelihood and environmental conservation.
Through their strong collaboration with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), the organization was able to conduct community activities that inspire women in the community. It also provided them with logistical support for their lemongrass tea production which earned their members additional income.
Edna credited the success of their endeavors to the Women Go project.
“Women are no longer confined to thinking that they are only meant for household duties such as childcare and home management. They have their own businesses and can form support networks while protecting the environment,” she said.
In the Biodiversity Champion Scorecard, which looks into the personal growth and leadership skills of these women leaders, both Cristy and Edna have shown remarkable progress in different areas such as effective communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and strategic planning.
The transformation of KALIPI Infanta under the guidance of Cristy earned the admiration of leaders of other organizations. Aylene Fabula of Kilos Unlad ng Mamamayan ng REAL (KUMARE) lauded Cristy for her vision and passion for strengthening the role of women in livelihood participation and environment conservation.
“She’s becoming the role model of other women leaders in the REINA area,” Aylene said.
Another notable leader who emerged in the Women Go project is Edna Azogue of KALIPI Cawayan. In 2021, the rural women’s organization, KALIPI Cawayan, was registered with the Department of Labor and Employment.
rom an organization that only participates in the festivities during women’s month, the KALIPI Cawayan has changed into a dynamic organization that leads the efforts in livelihood and environmental conservation.
Through their strong collaboration with the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), the organization was able to conduct community activities that inspire women in the community. It also provided them with logistical support for their lemongrass tea production which earned their members additional income.
Edna credited the success of their endeavors to the Women Go project.
“Women are no longer confined to thinking that they are only meant for household duties such as childcare and home management. They have their own businesses and can form support networks while protecting the environment,” she said.
In the Biodiversity Champion Scorecard, which looks into the personal growth and leadership skills of these women leaders, both Cristy and Edna have shown remarkable progress in different areas such as effective communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and strategic planning.
Creating more empowered women
The Women Go project is also eyeing to create more leaders like Cristy and Edna. Capacity building activities on technical and leadership skills were conducted. The women were also involved in dialogues with governance bodies in REINA through Haribon.
They were also given a chance to participate in local governance as exhibited by KALIPI Cawayan, who is now part of the Municipal Development Council in Real.
They were also given a chance to participate in local governance as exhibited by KALIPI Cawayan, who is now part of the Municipal Development Council in Real.
Opportunities for growth in the future
The transformation of Cristy and Edna is a testament to women’s empowerment that was enabled by the Women Go project. However, based on a series of interviews, it is indicated that women are still confined to traditional gender roles and cultural perceptions.
Because of this, Haribon will be working to enrich its organizational advocacy so it can focus on women’s issues and organizational sustainability.
This way, the KALIPIs can be more involved in advocacies other than livelihood and conservation. And with that, women can achieve their full potential and eventually, true empowerment.
Because of this, Haribon will be working to enrich its organizational advocacy so it can focus on women’s issues and organizational sustainability.
This way, the KALIPIs can be more involved in advocacies other than livelihood and conservation. And with that, women can achieve their full potential and eventually, true empowerment.
[1] https://quezon.gov.ph/history-and-culture/
[2] https://rsso04a.psa.gov.ph/content/special-release-urban-population-quezon-province-excluding-lucena-city-2020-census
[3] https://www.psa.gov.ph/content/psa-releases-2021-city-and-municipal-level-poverty-estimates
[4] https://haribon.org.ph/learn/work/women-go
[2] https://rsso04a.psa.gov.ph/content/special-release-urban-population-quezon-province-excluding-lucena-city-2020-census
[3] https://www.psa.gov.ph/content/psa-releases-2021-city-and-municipal-level-poverty-estimates
[4] https://haribon.org.ph/learn/work/women-go
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