PGMA's Speech during the 79th Commencement Exercises of the Philippine Women's University (PWU)

PGMA's Speech during the 79th Commencement Exercises of the Philippine Women's University (PWU)

PICC Plenary Hall, Roxas Blvd. (08 March 2002)

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DR. JOSE CONRADO BENITEZ, PRESIDENT OF PHILIPPINE WOMEN'S
UNIVERSITY; HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE PWU BOARD OF TRUSTEES LED BY ITS
CHAIRMAN FORMER SENATOR DR. ELENA BENITEZ; VICE CHAIRMAN DR. VICENTE JAIME;
ACTING PRESIDENT DR. AMILO BENITEZ-REYES; NATIONAL ARTIST DR. LUCRESIA
KASILAG; DR. MANUEL ALBA; DR. RENATO PARAS; MR. CONRADO BENITEZ II; MANILA
CAMPUS CHANCELLOR DR. DOLORES BAJALASAN; DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE PWU
ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNITIES; CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION YEAR
2002; BELOVED PARENTS; FRIENDS; OTHER GUESTS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY WITH THE COMMUNITY OF THE PHILIPPINE
WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY ESPECIALLY ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT DAY, THE DAY FOR
WOMEN. IT IS APPROPRIATE TO BEGIN THE CELEBRATION OF WOMEN'S DAY BY BEING
WITH THE WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY.

AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, BEING WITH THE PHILIPPINE WOMEN'S UNIVERSTIY ON
THIS VERY IMPORTANT DAY FOR WOMEN MAKES ME FEEL THAT I AM WITH A WOMAN
WHOM I LOVE VERY DEARLY EVEN UP TO TODAY BEYOND HER LIFE, MY MOTHER, THE
LATE FIRST LADY EVANGELINA MACARAEG-MACAPAGAL, HERSELF AN ALUMNA OF
PHILIPINE WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY.

ACTUALLY, EVEN I DID SOME STUDIES IN PWU. NOT ACADEMIC STUDIES BUT I
LEARNED SOME LESSONS WITH THE BAYANIHAN BEING TAUGHT BY NO LESS THAN MOMMY
URTULA HERSELF. THIS WAS WHEN MY FATHER WAS PRESIDENT OF THE
PHILIPPINES, AND THERE WERE OCCASIONS WHEN SPECIFICALLY FOR THE KING AND
QUEEN OF THAILAND AND THE CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF JAPAN WHO ARE NOW
THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF JAPAN. MY MOTHER DECIDED THAT THE CULTURAL
PRESENTATION WOULD BE DONE BY ME AND SO I TOOK LESSONS WITH BAYANIHAN. AND
I WAS VERY HAPPY THAT AT THAT TIME, I LEARNED MUCH ABOUT THE REPERTORY OF
BAYANIHAN. AND THE DANCES THAT MOMMY URTULA TAUGHT ME WERE NEW DANCES THAT
SHE HAD JUST DISCOVERED FROM HER RESEARCH ALL OVER THE PHILIPPINES. AND
SO, IT MADE ME VERY FAMILIAR WITH HOW BAYANIHAN WORKS NOT ONLY BY MAKING
EVERYBODY A SKILLED DANCER BUT ALSO BY DOING RESEARCH AND, THEREFORE,
BRINGING OUT MANY HIDDEN TREASURES OF OUR CULTURE AND MAKING THEM PART NOW
OF OUR PUBLIC PROPERTY. AND I APPRECIATE BAYANIHAN FOR ALL THE THINGS I
LEARNED WITH THEM.

AND OF COURSE YOU MY DEAR GRADUATES, I CONGRATULATE OUR GRADUATES OF THIS
YEAR. YOU ARE THE PRIDE OF FAMILY AND KIN. YOU ARE THE PRIDE OF YOUR
INSTITUTION, YOU ARE THE PRIDE OF OUR NATION.

AND AS WE HAVE BEEN SAYING TODAY, TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
TODAY THE WORLD HONORS WOMEN AS THE PILLAR OF THE HOME, THE WORKPLACE AND
SOCIETY. AS WOMEN, OUR HISTORICAL STRUGGLE IS STEEPED IN GLORY AND
ACHIEVEMENT, SACRIFICE AND HEROISM. BUT SADLY, MILLIONS OF WOMEN AROUND
THE WORLD STILL STRUGGLE FOR EMANCIPATION AND FREEDOM. WE MUST CONTINUE TO
EMBRACE THEIR CAUSE WITH FERVOR AND ZEAL. UNTIL EVERY WOMAN IS LIBERATED
FROM THE SHACKLES OF OPPRESSION, IGNORANCE AND POVERTY -- THERE WILL BE NO
REAL PEACE, NO REAL JUSTICE, NO REAL PROGRESS FOR MANKIND.

I SINCERELY THANK THE PWU FOR THE "HIYAS NG PAMANTASAN AWARD" PRESENTED TO
ME. I HUMBLY ACCEPT IT AS PART OF THE CONTINUING HONOR BESTOWED UPON MY
FAMILY BY THIS INSTITUTION.

IN HIS TIME, MY FATHER THE LATE PRESIDENT DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL, I BELIEVED IN
THIS VERY HALL, ALSO RECEIVED THE CONRADO BENITEZ CENTENARY HERITAGE AWARD
FOR BEING "THE SHINING EXEMPLAR OF THE FINEST VIRTUES AND THE NOBLEST TASKS
THAT MAKE A MAN AND PRESIDENT OF HIS PEOPLE A TRULY GREAT FILIPINO."
MY MOTHER -- THAT WAS IN THIS HALL FOR SURE BECAUSE I STILL HAVE
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THAT -- WAS AWARDED IN 1992 THE FRANCISCA TIRONA BENITEZ
MEDAL OF MERIT. I AM AWED BY THESE HONORS. AND I THANK YOU WITH ALL MY
HEART.

AFTERALL, AS I SAID EARLIER, MY LATE MOTHER WAS A PHILWOMENIAN, A GRADUATE
OF PWU's HIGH SCHOOL. SHE WAS AN INTERN. EVEN HER PIANO WAS AN INTERN.
AND SOME OF HER BEST FRIENDS THEN BECAME HER BEST FRIENDS ALL THROUGHOUT HER LIFE UNTIL THE END OF HER DAYS. SHE WAS ALWAYS PROUD OF
HER DAYS AT THE PHILIPPINE WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY. THE VALUES SHE INCULCATED
-- DILIGENCE, ACHIEVEMENT, THE QUEST OF GOOD AND DECENCY -- CONTINUE TO
GUIDE ME AND MY FAMILY. THESE VALUES WERE NURTURED AND REINFORCED IN THE
VERY HALLS OF THE INSTITUTION OF PHILIPPINE WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY. THE
HALLMARKS OF ACHIEVEMENT ARE ABUNDANT IN YOUR GREAT UNIVERSITY.

AS MENTIONED EARLIER, YOURS IS THE OLDEST WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY IN ASIA. AND
ONE OF ITS FOUNDERS WAS THE LEGENDARY FRANCISCA TIRONA BENITEZ, A CHAMPION
OF WOMEN POWER. EVEN IN THE MALE-DOMINATED EARLY 20th CENTURY, SHE SAW THE
VALUE OF EDUCATION IN SHORING UP WOMEN'S AWARENESS OF THEIR RIGHTS. SHE
ALSO FOUNDED NOT JUST THE PWU BUT THE CIVIC ASSEMBLY OF WOMEN IN 1946, THE
FORERUNNER OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON THE ROLE OF FILIPINO WOMEN.

THE GRADUATES OF YOUR INSTITUTION WERE MOLDED BY THE ILLUSTRIOUS FORMER
SENATOR HELENA BENITEZ. AND TITA HELEN IS THE ONLY FILIPINA
TO HAVE SERVED AS THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE U.N. COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF
WOMEN. AND UNDER HER STEWARDSHIP, THE BAYANIHAN PHILIPPINE
DANCE FOLK COMPANY, WHICH I SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER BECAUSE I HAD THE CHANCE TO
DANCE WITH THEM OR LEARN TO DANCE FROM THEM, AGAIN WON THE GOLD TEMPLE
TROPHY AT THE FESTIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE IN SICILY, ITALY EARLY IN
FEBRUARY THIS YEAR.

YOUR UNIVERSITY COUNTS AMONG YOUR GRADUATES NATIONAL AWARDEES: DR. LUZ
BELARDO FOR SCIENCE; DR. LUCRECIA URTULA, MOMMY URTULA FOR DANCE; AND OF
COURSE, OUR DR. LUCRECIA KASILAG FOR MUSIC. AND I'M HAPPY THAT SHE IS
STILL WITH US HERE TODAY.

PWU WAS ALSO ONE OF THE FIRST PROPONENTS OF THE INTEGRATION OF OUR VARIOUS
CULTURAL COMMUNITIES. IT ENABLED CHRISTIAN WOMEN TO UNDERSTAND FILIPINO
MUSLIM CULTURE, DATING FROM WHEN THE SULTAN OF SULU BY PERSONAL INVITATION
OF FRANCISCA TIRONA BENITEZ SENT HIS DAUGHTER, PRINCESS EMILY KIRAM AND HER
COUSIN, PRINCESS RADA TO STUDY AT THE PHILIPPINE WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY. MANY
PEACE-LOVING MUSLIM FILIPINAS HAVE GONE THROUGH THESE HALLS, AMONG THEM DR.
EMILY MAROHOMBSAR, A PEACEMAKER IN HER OWN RIGHT.

AND WHEN I WAS LEARNING HOW TO DANCE AT THE PWU, THE DAUGHTER OF MY
FATHER'S SECRETARY FOR GENERAL SERVICES DUMA SINSUAT, BAY SINSUAT WAS ALSO
MY FRIEND WHO WAS STUDYING AT PWU AT THAT TIME.

PWU IS ALSO A TRAILBLAZER IN DISTANCE EDUCATION ENABLING MANY FILIPINAS TO
PURSUE LEARNING WITHOUT LEAVING THEIR JOBS OR HOMES. IT IS ONE OF THE FEW
UNIVERSITIES THAT REQUIRE THE LEARNING OF BOTH ACADEMIC SKILLS AND MORAL
VALUES THROUGH ITS SOCIAL AND CIVIC EDUCATION COURSES. YOU INDEED HAVE
UPHELD A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE THAT MUST BE SUSTAINED AND PRESERVED.

I AM GLAD THAT YOU HAVE ALSO STEPPED FORWARD INTO THE INFORMATION AGE AS
MENTIONED BY DR. BENITEZ. YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE HELM OF E-LEARNING,
E-BUSINESS AND E-COMMERCE. YOU HAVE DEVELOPED A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO
GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS. YOU HAVE SET UP A STAR
LEARNING NETWORK WHICH PUTS TOGETHER MODULES ON GOVERNANCE, LEADERSHIP, AND
PEACE AND ORDER MANAGEMENT. ALL THESE ARE RELEVANT TO DEVELOPMENT,
PROGRESS, GOOD GOVERNMENT TO A JUST AND PROGRESSIVE SOCIETY.

IT IS MY POLICY TO ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS TO TAP INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO
PROVIDE MORE STUDENTS ACCESS TO HIGHER LEARNING. THIS IS IN LINE WITH MY
COMMITMENT TO MAKE EDUCATION MORE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE TO THE BROAD
MASSES OF OUR PEOPLE.

IN THIS LIGHT, I TAKE NOTE OF YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO HASTEN ACCREDITATION OF
YOUR MASTERAL DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES. THE PERTINENT STANDARDS FOR
THESE ARE NOW BEING HAMMERED OUT BY A PANEL OF EXPERTS WITHIN THE
COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION. THIS PANEL IS COORDINATING CLOSELY WITH
THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND E-COMMERCE COUNCIL. AND I URGE YOU TO TEAM
UP WITH THE CHED IN THIS EFFORT. WITH COMMON STANDARDS AND NORMS WE CAN
AND WE SHALL CREATE AN IRREVERSIBLE IMPETUS FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AS A TOOL
FOR NATIONAL CONSOLIDATION AND DEVELOPMENT.

NEVERTHELESSS, I AM DIRECTING THE CHED TO REVIEW YOUR PROPOSALS IN CONSULTATION WITH ALL OTHER AFFECTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING. I
WOULD LIKE CHED TO SUBMIT TO ME ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS BY APRIL
30th OF THIS YEAR. LET US DO THIS BY CONSULTATION AND
CONSENSUS SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AS ONE UNDIVIDED FORCE FOR EDUCATION
AND DEVELOPMENT.

EDUCATION FOR EVERY FILIPINO IS THE KEY TO STABILITY AND PROGRESS. THE
UNDERPINNINGS OF A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE ARE AN EMPOWERED AND
LITERATE CITIZENRY. EDUCATION WILL BRING COMFORT, SECURITY AND PEACE INTO
OUR LIVES. EDUCATION WILL STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY.

WE ARE PROMOTING VARIOUS MODES OF DELIVERING QUALITY AND RELEVANT
EDUCATION. WE ARE IMPLEMENTING MEASURES THAT OPEN NEW EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE POOR. WE AIM FOR BETTER RELEVANCE BY STRENGTHENING
OUR FOUNDATIONS IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS. WE ARE IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL,
INSTITUTIONAL AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY TO FLOURISH.

WE SHALL PURSUE THESE AIMS UNSWERVINGLY. WE CANNOT RELENT BECAUSE TO DO SO
WILL ONLY BREED MORE POVERTY, SOCIAL INJUSTICE AND CONFLICT.

THE EMPOWERMENT OF FILIPINO WOMEN IS VITAL TO THE OVERALL QUALITY OF OUR
HUMAN RESOURCES. WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE WE CAN TRULY SAY THAT OUR
WOMEN ARE FULLY EMPOWERED. EVEN AS I SPEAK, POVERTY IN THE PHILIPPINES
STILL HAS THE FACE OF A WOMAN. MANY FILIPINAS CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM
PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL BATTERY.

VALUES HAVE TO BE CHANGED, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL STRUCTURES HAVE TO BE
UNRAVELLED AND TRANSFORMED.

LAST YEAR, I INSTRUCTED THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE ROLE OF FILIPINO WOMEN
TO DRAFT A FRAMEWORK PLAN FOR WOMEN TO INCORPORATE EXISTING AND EMERGING
WOMEN'S CONCERNS. AND AFTER THIS GRADUATION CEREMONIES, I SHALL LAUNCH
THIS PLAN . IT WILL PROVIDE A MORE CONCRETE BASIS FOR AGENCY PLANNING AND
BUDGETING ON GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT. IT WILL ADDRESS THE GAPS IN PRESENT
GENDER MAINSTREAMING ACTIVITIES.

THE PLAN PAYS SPECIAL ATTENTION TO WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND HUMAN
RIGHTS. THESE ARE MY TWO CAUSES AS FAR AS WOMEN ARE CONCERED. WOMEN'S
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN MY ADMINISTRATION. WE WANT TO ENROLL ONE MILLION
WOMEN OVER THE THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS THAT I AM PRESIDENT IN THE
MICROFINANCE PROGRAM SO THAT THESE WOMEN WILL BE ABLE TO EMPLOY THEMSELVES
AND THEREFORE BE ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERED. THAT IS MY FLAGSHIP
PROGRAM FOR WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.

ON THE MATTER OF WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS. YES, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE
PROTECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN. AS HEAD OF GOVERNMENT, HEAD OF STATE
AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE SIXTEENTH MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD,
AND BEING A WOMAN HEAD OF STATE, WOMAN HEAD OF GOVERNMENT AND WOMAN
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PROMOTE WOMEN'S
HUMAN RIGHTS. RIGHTS AGAINST ABUSE, RIGHTS AGAINST
EXPLOITATION.

EARLIER, DR. BENITEZ ACKNOWLEDGED THAT I HAVE GONE ALL OVER THE WORLD TO
PREACH THE PHILOSOPHY THAT THE BATTLE AGAINST TERRORISM IS INTERLINKED WITH
THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY. LET ME ADD ALSO THAT IN THOSE SOCIETIES WHERE
TERRORISM IS THE RULE, THOSE SOCIETIES ALSO HAVE EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN AS
A PRIMARY CHARACTERISTIC. AND IN THOSE COUNTRIES WHERE DEMOCRACY IS THE
RULE, THOSE ARE THE COUNTRIES WHERE WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE MOST RESPECTED.

AND THEREFORE, THE BATTLE AGAINST TERRORISM, THE BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY IS
ALSO A BATTLE FOR PROTECTING WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS. ONE REASON WHY I AM
VERY ADAMANT THAT WE MUST DEFEAT THE ABU SAYYAF BY ALL CONSTITUTIONAL MEANS
WITHIN OUR POWER IS BECAUSE THE ABU SAYYAF BEING THE ULTIMATE TERRORISTS
ARE ALSO THE ULTIMATE ABUSERS OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS. THE WOMEN HOSTAGES, ONE
AFTER THE OTHER, HAVE BECOME MORE BRAVE IN RECENT TIMES DURING THIS
ADMINISTRATION. AND ONE BY ONE, THEY HAD GIVEN US THEIR HORROR STORIES OF
PHYSICAL RAPE AND ABUSE THAT WERE INFLICTED ON THEM BY THE ABU SAYYAF.

AND SO, IF WE ARE GOING TALKED ABOUT THE U.S. SOLDIERS COMING HERE TO TRAIN
AND WE FEAR EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN, THEY ARE HERE TO PREVENT EXPLOITATION
OF WOMEN BY THE ABU SAYYAF. THEY ARE HERE TO PREVENT RAPE AND PHYSICAL VIOLENCE BY THE ABU SAYYAF. AND WHILE WE ARE AT IT, WE
HAVE ALSO MADE SURE THAT SOLDIERS WILL ALSO RESPECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF OUR
FILIPINO WOMEN. THAT IS WHY THOUGH THE VISITING FORCES COMMISSION HAS
BECOME VERY, VERY SMALL NOW FROM SO MANY MEMBERS IN THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATIONS -- THERE ARE ONLY THREE NOW, THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND THE SECRETARY OF SOCIAL WELFARE --
AND THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED EVEN WHEN
THERE IS A WAR, EVEN WHEN THERE IS A PARTNERSHIP AMONG STRATEGIC ALLIES.
AND THE RULES USED TO BE COUCHED IN VERY, VERY DIPLOMATIC LANGUAGE. THEY
USE TO SAY THAT THE SOLDIERS SHOULD BE CONFINED WITHIN THE CAMP. AND I
SAY, WHETHER THEY ARE CONFINED OR NOT WITHIN THE CAMP DOESN'T REALLY TELL
US WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO, BECAUSE THEY CAN BE CONFINED WITHIN THE CAMP
AND BRING THE WOMEN IN. SO I WOULD RATHER THAT THEY NOT BE CONFINED WITHIN
THE CAMP NECESSARILY BUT I WOULD RATHER THAT THE RULE BE VERY CLEAR, THAT
VISITING FORCES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PROCURE THE SERVICES OF PROSTITUTES.
AND THAT IS HOW WE HAVE BEEN OPENED ABOUT THE RULES OF THE VISITING FORCES
IN THIS ADMINISTRATION. QUENTAS CLARAS.

UNDER OUR VERY FORTHRIGHT STATEMENT OF RULES, STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES, AND
THE PROGRAM AND THE PLAN FOR WOMEN, THE VERY POOR WOMEN AND RURAL WOMEN
SHALL BE OUR PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES. WE ARE CURRENTLY, AS I SAID EARLIER,
PUSHING FOR THE GRAMEEN BANK STRATEGY TO COVER THE ONE MILLION WOMEN, WHICH
MEANS 300,000 VERY POOR WOMEN EVERY YEAR.

WE ALSO HOPE TO IMPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MEASURES THAT UPHOLD WOMEN'S
HUMAN RIGHTS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, AS AN EXAMPLE OF TODAY -- VERY
GRAPHIC -- THE WOMEN RAPED BY THE ABU SAYYAF AND THE WOMEN AND THE RULES
AGAINST THE ACQUISITION OF PROSTITUTES SERVICES BY SOLDIERS. BUT WE SHALL
ALSO FOCUS ON MORE GENERALLY ABUSED WOMEN, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, THE
PROTECTION OF THE GIRL-CHILD, AND MEASURES TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN
AND CHILDREN.

ON ANOTHER HORIZON, WE MUST RECOGNIZE CHILDBIRTH AND CHILD REARING AS VITAL
SOCIETAL FUNCTIONS. OUR FRAMEWORK PLAN SHALL PROPAGATE AWARENESS OF
RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD WHICH INCLUDES AWARNESS OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
ISSUES AND ADVOCATE THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE, MEANING THEY SHOULD
DETERMINE BETWEEN THEMSELVES HOW MANY CHILDREN THEY CAN AFFORD TO RAISE.
AND HAVING DETERMINED HOW MANY CHILDREN THEY CAN AFFORD TO RAISE, IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT THEIR CHOICE OF IMPLEMENTING THEIR DECISION BE MADE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL BELIEFS. THESE THEREFORE IS
OUR GENERAL POLICY REGARDING WOMEN, THEIR ECONOMIC RIGHTS, THEIR HUMAN
RIGHTS, AND THEIR ROLE IN RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD.

I AM VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THESE PRINCIPLES TODAY
BEFORE YOU, THE COMMUNITY OF THE PHILIPPINE WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY BECAUSE THIS
UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN IN ACTION, NOT ONLY IN WORDS, A LEADING PROMOTER OF
WOMEN'S RIGHT AND OPPORTUNITIES. AND I TRUST THAT THIS UNIVERSITY THROUGH
ITS ADMINISTRATION, THROUGH ITS FACULTY, AND THROUGH ITS GRADUATES WILL
CONTINUE TO PROMOTE WOMEN'S ECONOMIC AND HUMAN RIGHTS WELL INTO THE 21st
CENTURY.

GRADUATES, CONGRATULATIONS! I AM VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE PWU FAMILY.

THANK YOU.

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