ZAMBOANGA CITY - “We are what
we declare ourselves. If we say we are good, we are beautiful, we are young
forever then you become one when you begin to believe yourself. Believe that
you can be what you want to,” declared beauty and wellness expert Cory Quirino
in her keynote speech during the World Women’s Day (WWD) celebration in
Zamboanga City recently.
City Public Information Officer (PIO) Belen
Covarrubias in a press statement said hundreds of women from various sector of
society marched the city thoroughfares during the “Marcha de las Mujeres” in
celebration of the WWD with the theme, “Kababaihan: Gabay sa pagtahak sa
matuwid na daan.”
“The parade ended at the Juaquin Enriquez Memorial
Sports Complex where a short program was held with Ms. Quirino as the keynote
speaker,” Covarrubias said.
She said the beauty and wellness “goddess” inspired
a lot of participants that day, who took by heart Quirino’s well-meaning
advice.
“When you declare violence against women is over,
you must believe it, you must leave it, and you must become the symbol of
power, of strength and the love that every woman in the world stands for. A
woman is really about heart,” Quirino counseled.
Covarrubias quoted Quirino as saying, “Women have
the power to give love, but we cannot give love to our loved ones if we do not
love ourselves first and foremost.”
Covarrubias said Quirino pointed out that the
essence of wellness in the body, mind and spirit is loving the people around us
and that love must begin with loving ourselves first by taking care of our
bodies, by listening to our hearts and by taking care of ourselves.
Quirino is the granddaughter of former President Elpidio
Quirino.
The
annual Marcha de las Mujeres, which started in 1999, is a joint activity of the
city government, the Gender and Development Focal Point and the Local Council
of Women. (PIA9)