‘Women are not punching bags, we should love, cherish, and protect them’ – Mayor Dagadag during Tanudan’s women’s month celebration

Tanudan, Kalinga – “Ayaten tayo dagiti kababaihan tayo, haan tayo da isuda kab-kabilen wennu sak-saktan,” Mayor Jaedicke Rhoss Dagadag urged the public, stressing that women should be cherished and not treated as punching bags.

Dagadag made the statement as the country celebrates Women’s Month this March, honoring the contributions, hard work, and nurturing spirit of women. According to him, women play a significant role in building happy homes, nurturing children—the future of the nation—and empowering and leading communities and workplaces.

“Dakkel iti contributions iti kababaihan tayo, agstart dayta iti uneg iti pagtaengan tayo ta da isuda iti mangnur-nurture kadagiti u-ubbing tayo nga isu iti future iti ili ken iti nation tayo. Dakkel met lang iti contributions da iti offices ken workforce, pati iti panag-lead kadagiti communities, workplaces, ken pati dagiti naduma-duma nga ili ken daytoy country tayo,” he said.

In an interview, Dagadag also took the opportunity to acknowledge the plight of some women who experience abuse from family members, particularly intimate partners. Based on the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey, roughly 4.8 million ever-married women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence by an intimate partner in the Philippines.

“Pangaasi tayo kuma ta haan tayo nga sak-saktan iti kababaihan tayo, haan da nga punching bags. Haan nga makapalalaki iti panagkabil iti gayyem, asawa, ken pamilya nga babae. Usaren tayo kuma iti pigsa tayo to protect and to provide a safe space para kanyada,” he said.

Meanwhile, on March 18, 2026, the Municipality of Tanudan honored women in the town through a Kalipi Day celebration, which highlighted the important role of women in empowering and building communities. The celebration was spearheaded by the Tanudan Municipal Local Government Unit, headed by Vice Mayor Antonio Basungit Jr.

The activity included lectures on the Magna Carta of Women and women’s right to suffrage.