Women, sectoral groups demand systemic reform on IWD 2026

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
March 8, 2026

(Photo courtesy: GABRIELA | A National Alliance of Women/Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — GABRIELA National Women’s Alliance, along with several progressive groups, led a mass protest from Liwasang Bonifacio to the US Embassy in Manila in celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day on Sunday.

Among the central calls in the protest were the denunciation of the ongoing proxy wars in the Middle East, described as US aggression, and demanding the removal of 12% Value Added Tax (VAT) on basic goods and services, as well as the excise tax amid soaring oil price hikes nationwide.

(Photo courtesy: Kilusang Mayo Uno/Facebook)

Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) participated in the protest fronted by women workers, who are fighting for relief and genuine reform in the system.

“Mula noon hanggang ngayon, nasa unahan ang mga militanteng manggagawang kababaihan sa paglaban para sa kagyat na ginhawa, at tunay na pagbabago,” the labor group said in underscoring the historical role of women in mass movements.

(From then until now, militant women workers have always been in front of the fight for urgent relief and genuine reform.)

(Photo courtesy: SPARK – Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan/Facebook)

Youth group Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK) stressed in a statement that patriarchy and capitalism are two interrelated concepts that continue to burden and ultimately exploit women of the world.

“Sa pambabastos man ni Bong Suntay at ibang opisyales ng gobyerno, o sa pagbobomba ni Donald Trump ng mga sibilyan sa Venezuela at Iran, makikita na magkaugnay ang pasakit na dala ng patriyarka at kapitalismo,” SPARK said.

(From the predatory remarks of Quezon City 4th District Rep. Bong Suntay and other officials of the government toward women, or the bombing of US President Donald Trump to the civilians in Venezuela and Iran, the connection of these struggles is interconnected, brought by entrenched patriarchy and capitalism.)

The youth group also called for ending the existing rape culture in the country and fostering a genuinely safe space for all genders.

“Iwaksi natin ang karahasan ng naghaharing uri, sa kultura man ng pambabastos at diskriminasyon kontra sa kababaihan, hanggang sa imperyalistang gyera na primaryang biktima ang uring manggagawa,” it added.

(Let us discard the violence of the ruling elite, from the culture of predatory and discrimination against women, to the imperialist war whose primary victims are the working class.)

(Photo courtesy: Kilusang Mayo Uno/Facebook)

During a confrontation that erupted between protesters and law enforcement personnel, as the rally neared the US embassy’s building in Ermita, GABRIELA said that some of the women leaders were hurt.

“Hinarangan ng kapulisan at sinaktan pa ang ilang lider-kababaihan: patunay ito ng pagkatuta ng rehimeng Marcos Jr.,” GABRIELA said in a post.

(The police officers barred and hurt some of the women-leaders: this is proof of the subservience of the Marcos Jr. regime.)