Press Release - [Transcript of Interview] Senator Risa Hontiveros after the UN Women event in Ortigas Pasig

Q: (On Macho bloc)

Senator Risa Hontiveros (SRH): I think that some of the so-called macho bloc will actually be welcomed by the electorate, especially some of the returning former senators to continue to add to that statesman-like personality of the Senate. But lalo na kasi pinag-uusapan natin ang women leadership and democracy, syempre ang pinapangarap ko mas maraming kababaihan pa ang makapasok sa Senado. Especially that historically, at most pito lang kaming mga babaeng senador sa 24. So that's only what, 30%, less than 30%. Eh dapat at least kalahati ng bawat institusyon natin, pati Senado ay kababaihan para katawanin din yung populasyon natin na kalahati din ay mga babae. So that's something also that I'll be working on to elect more women opposition senators in 2025.

Q: (Gender quota)

SRH: Maganda kung magkaroon ng gender quota hindi lang ang oposisyon kundi lahat ng mga koalisyon na magpapatakbo sa 2025 at sa 2028. But for one, we will do our best from the opposition better to represent women.

Q: (50-50 women representation)

SRH: It's important to have 50-50 or more of women representation in all our government institutions para salaminin yung empowerment at autonomy at decision-making ng kababaihan sa lahat pa ng espasyo ng ating lipunan in our homes, in our workplaces, in all our social institutions. Hindi dapat taliwas o parang bulag yung gobyerno o estado natin sa ganoong realidad. It's also important to have women participation, representation and leadership in order to enhance the quality of our democracy. Because democracy is about all of those things: Representation, participation and leadership. Eh kung kalahati ng ating demokrasya ang kababaihan plus people of diverse SOGIE ay absent, underrepresented eh di degraded ang demokrasya natin sa ganoong usapin.

Q: You mentioned na we had two presidents na female and vice-presidents. Why is it we're not yet moving further?

SRH: Well, totoo, we've come a long way, but it's also true we still have a long way to go. At ang kasaysayan naman, pati natin, hindi linear 'di ba? We've made advances before, there have also been terrible reversals like under the previous Duterte administration. Reversals not