WHO DESERVES YOUR VOTE? Exclusive Interview With JC Delos Reyes (First Of 5)

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Cosmo: Describe your leadership in three words.

Delos Reyes: Simplicity and methodology. Servanthood and sacrifice.


Cosmo: What will be the pivotal role of women in nation building under your administration?

Delos Reyes: Okay, yeah, that's a good question. I have an article; it's a short article and it's all about, well, the title is "Servant Mothers, Humble Nation Builders." That's the title, "Servant Mothers, Humble Nation Builders." The main message of that article is motherhood in the Philippines. It should not only raise new Filipinos, it should dream of raising new Filipinos to be leaders one day. And it's an interesting read, kasi ang dami-daming naka-pose doon e, it's kind of deep.

But the point there is, I focused on the life of Mary; that she hungered for social justice. You could see that in her, in the Magnificat, "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God the Savior for he has rooted down the proud and raised the humble." And what she was saying there was, she believed that she would suffer because of her son. So if mothers start to raise the future Filipinos in a way that is nationalistic and patriotic, then we will have a new generation.

So to answer the question [on] the role of women, if I get elected, I will seek their assistance in many major policies that are really nothing to traditional politicians. For example, breast feeding. Breast feeding. There was an executive order regulating the advertising of a formula but it's violated. But breast feeding, I really believe, could radically reduce poverty. In Canada, they give incentives for mothers to breast feed because the government saves in costs for health care [and] crime, because the kids become healthy, bonded human beings. So that's one example. Another example is the role of women in the educational system. I believe there should be close coordination between the school and the family; there must be some responsibility to the family, [with] the parents' participation in drawing the curricula for the school. It goes hand in hand, it's not a state policy, [with] the department of education just [drawing] up these curricula. It should really be family-based.


Cosmo: Describe the modern Pinay. Who is she and who should she be?

Delos Reyes: Okay, modern Filipina…that's a tough question ha. A modern Filipina, to me, is Cory Aquino. Kasi she's humble, she exudes quiet labor, she has poise despite the fact that, from a housewife, she became president. And she bore herself well. I think we could draw so many virtues from Cory Aquino. [She's] prayerful. However, there are many influences that affect my idea of how a Filipina should be.

Right now, I really disagree--I don't want to offend anybody--but I really disagree that the Filipina should be that liberal, to the effect that she should shout women's rights. I believe there should be a balance between rights and responsibilities or duties. And just because fathers, sons, boyfriends, [and] husbands do not do their duty, we will demand rights. I believe that the government or the state should demand that men do their role, fulfill their roles and do their duties, and if they do not, well, there should be certainty of punishment.

It should not be a contest of rights, so that preserves the dignity of womanhood. Kasi if we will just allow a situation where women demand their rights and the state gives it, yes, I think there would be a social imbalance. There would be a legal imbalance, and the dignity of woman, womanhood, will be eroded; the effect [is] that she [would] needlessly compete with the Filipino man.

Yeah, I think--I'll give you an example. I believe that the Filipino man, the Filipino male, should respect the Filipina. I believe that, personally, but I respect other beliefs. I believe that Filipinos should marry Filipinas before they could sleep with them. That's my belief, that's giving them proper respect. I don't believe in condoms, I don't believe in pills. I believe that you have to preserve the dignity of the body of the Filipina. Traditional values--that's my idea of the Filipina. A Filipina, a woman who demands respect and would not allow a situation where the Filipino uses her for pleasure. And not until we have that ideal set up, hindi titigil 'yung mga women's rights, women's movements.

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