Shattering the Glass Wall: How women ‘mothers’ in public service

WHILE BOTH men and women have equal power to hold government positions from the highest offices down to the local level, leadership roles in the Philippines remain heavily male-dominated.  

According to the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in 2024, women held 23.3 percent of elected government positions in the Philippines with 3,170 female officials. In contrast, men dominate the political scene by occupying 76.7 percent of these roles for a total of 10,388. 

Despite calls for gender equality in the workforce, many female officials remain handling paperwork and are questioned about their ability to perform as public servants. But in Barangay 701, chairwoman Lilian Papa and her secretary Imee Rose Flores are determined to break the stereotypes through bolder leadership, demonstrating that public service knows no gender. 

Papa noted that women are just as capable as men in handling the responsibilities at the barangay level. 

“Yung akala nila is hindi kaya kasi babae… Pero, pinapatunayan naman na kaya natin,” she told The Capital. 

'Boss lady’ 

Papa began her journey as a public servant in 2016 when her husband encouraged her to run as kagawad to be his companion in Barangay 701, along Malate, Manila. 

“Ako pa yung nag-sponsor sa kanya. [Noong] first term niya, wala pang project noon ng school supplies. Then, pag may mga activities sila, ako lahat nag-asikaso,” she said. 

While other barangays fix rifts revolving around families and rifts between neighborhoods, Papa finds herself resolving cases on condominium rents, riding in tandem, and accidents, which are unusual for a residential zone.  

Among the issues she settled was the accident that occurred during the construction of a condominium within her zone. 

“Napagkasundo naman sila pero ang hirap noon dahil ilang beses na hearing. Hindi magkasundo [dahil sa] amount na hinihingi. Then, doon tayo naman namagitan hanggang sa napagkasundo naman at naging maayos naman,” she said.

But Papa was not alone as she was accompanied by her secretary Flores, who first entered the public service as a barangay councilor to help resolve community issues.  

One of her early experiences as a secretary was when she worked with the police to find a person of interest in their barangay.  

“Yung ka-barangay mo na [nasa] wanted list tapos kailangan mo siyang hanapin, babae ‘yun. So, kailangan mo hanapin kasama ng mga police. Nahanap naman. So, yun parang fulfilling na makatulong,” she shared.  

During the pandemic, then-councilor Flores single-handedly captured a drug pusher who violated the quarantine protocol.  

“Nakulong sila nung girlfriend niya. Namatay ‘yung lola. Parang yung family na galit sa akin na kasi ano, yun nga, hindi makalabas yung pamilya nila. Parang may nagsabi sa kanila mag-ingat daw ako,” Flores said.  

Battling bigotry  

Female barangay officials experience gender-based discrimination, which is often driven by societal expectations in the work field. Papa said some locals doubted her capabilities in being the barangay’s head, saying that women are too soft for the role.  

“Kasi yung ibang lalaki, minsan. Na-experience ko ayaw [nila] sa akin, successor pa ako noon. Ayaw nila na ako yung humawak ng case kasi babae ako. So feeling nila, hindi ko kaya,” she said. 

Similar to the chairwoman, Flores also said that locals were skeptical towards her capabilities because of her gender. 

“Siguro nga lang kasi pag lalaki mas matapang, pero pag babae, akala, hindi kaya. Iba yung tingin nila,” she said.  

Papa and Flores remain pressed on with their duties, choosing to disregard the belittling remarks about them as women in leadership positions.

“Kasi normal yun, sa barangay officials, na talagang hindi mo mapi-please lahat,” Papa said. 

However, Papa also received her fair share of praises from other government officials for her efficient leadership in Barangay 701.

“Pag bumababa sila rito, nagugulat sila na okay yung barangay namin. Lagi ako nandito. Tapos, sabi nga nila, Chairman po ba talaga kayo? Yes po. Sabihin nga nila, dapat po nag-kokonsehal ka na po,” Papa said. 

Since there are only a few women working in their barangay, Flores made sure to set a good example for her colleagues, showing that she was not there for the position, but rather to provide community service. 

“Siguro nag-set ako ng standard sa amin kasi yun nga, sa trabaho. Papakita mo talaga na magtatrabaho ka... Hindi lang para kumuha ang sahod or punta lang, papirma lang. So nung nag-kagawad ako, nagtrabaho talaga ako,” Flores said.  

With Papa and Flores working hand-in-hand, Barangay 701 was able to extend its support to other barangays, especially when it comes to outreach programs centered around education for street children from neighboring barangays. 

Both women also led a program that features technical-vocational courses to teach women residents new skills that could help them find employment or even start their own businesses. 

“Plano namin na turuan yung mga kababaihan sa baking, may free pa sila na oven. Meron ding bartending, waitress, o mix, kasi mas perfect ‘yun sa mga kababaihan kasi sila yung matiyaga sa mga ganyan talaga,” she said. 

Passion and grace 

Flores and Papa encouraged women aspiring to enter public service to lead with heart and purpose, reminding them that true service goes beyond titles as it is about commitment to the community. 

“Dapat nasa puso nila yung pagiging public servant. Hindi lang yung parang may honoraria or ano,” Flores said. 

While future leaders may find themselves facing unfamiliar challenges in the barangay, Papa reminded them to stay grounded in their purpose to serve the community.  

"Iba kasi kapag nandito ka sa position na to. Yung tao na lumalapit sa'yo, na natutulungan mo, na ilapit mo sa mga tao na kakilala mo. Para ka talagang nanay na yung mga anak mo ay lalapit sa'yo, at niyayakap mo,” she said. -- Shane Quiachon and Angeline Mae Villanueva