Boses ni Magayon: Bicolana Journalists’ Cry for Gender Equality
Featuring Odessa O. Mazo (DJ Honey Ding) and other Bicolana Journalists
NATIONAL AWARDEE FOR GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT (GAD) WRITING, ICPA 2022 Senior Editor, The Bicol Universitarian Ad-Hoc Chairperson, CEGP-Albay
National Secretariat - Publication and Research, CEGP - National Office
The most beautifully regarded Bicolnon folk tale has always been portrayed as a legend that champions women. The story of Daragang Magayon has been revered for decades as a symbol of Bicol’s exquisite culture and all the wonderful praises for Bicol’s pride, the Mayon Volcano.
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The most beautifully regarded Bicolnon folk tale has always been portrayed as a legend that champions women. The story of Daragang Magayon has been revered for decades as a symbol of Bicol’s exquisite culture and all the wonderful praises for Bicol’s pride, the Mayon Volcano.
The plot revolves around a princess named Magayon. She was portrayed as the region’s finest maiden. In all versions of the story, the princess was courted by numerous suitors who fell in love with her beauty.
However, as time passed, many women in Bicol were exposed to the same despairing fate as Magayon, which most Bicolanos failed to perceive between the lines of the region’s most venerated legend, women objectification. Does the legend really champion women? - or is it just a dysfunctional tale of women commodification hiding beneath the beautiful recollection of Magayon’s life?
What sprang from the ashes of reality is the screaming cry to stop gender inequality that had long been culturally implanted among Bicolanos and their old customs which unfortunately had heavily normalized treating women as nothing more than prospect wives.
As Magayon is supposed to reflect Bicolanas, this has been a problematic reflection of how each woman in the region values themselves in a place that has considered women as mere vessels of beauty rather than strong characters with emulation-worthy intellect, tenacity, and exceptional abilities.
This is also why many female journalists fear that not being ‘magayon’ enough will reduce their chances of thriving in journalism and receiving respect from their colleagues.
Odessa O. Mazo, a radio journalist known as DJ Honey Ding, is one of many Bicolana Journalists who advocate for the elimination of any form of gender-based discrimination, especially in the practice of journalism in Bicol. According to her, one of the most significant factors resulting in fewer female journalists in Albay is the alarming gender discrimination that looms in the province.
“ As you [can] notice, here in Albay, there are only a few female journalists,” Mazo said when asked about the effects of existing gender-based discrimination against female journalists in the province.
She further said that eliminating gender-based discrimination in the workplace is an indication of an incredible work ethic. She claimed that being consistent in having high work ethics may also enhance gender inclusivity in the workplace.
“Maybebyjustshowingandbeingconsistentwithagoodworkethic… mayalsoincreasegenderinclusivityinthenewsroom,” Mazo added.
Mazo is presently a radio anchor at Zagitsit, a local media source in the province. She also works as a professorial lecturer at Bicol University (BU) while practicing community and advocacy journalism. She is one of many local journalists who, in addition to gender discrimination, have faced media censorship in recent years.
Modern-day Magayon
To respond to the fate of modern-day Magayons, Bicolana journalists amplify the appeal to abolish women’s objectification and prejudice, particularly in the region.
Mazo promotes the same cause through her platforms. According to her, Bicolana journalists must utilize their voices to inspire and encourage other women to speak up for their rights.
“By creating a platform… we [can] inspire and empower women to take action,” she said.
She is also the lead coordinator of Youth for Arangkada Banwa, a local group that trains youth volunteers, particularly women, to become more responsible leaders and advocates. They gave public assistance to various towns through her organization.
She also said that she aims to raise the spirit and confidence of female volunteers through her networks by providing key lessons that will encourage them to become empowered Magayon of their age.
“We can empower women by sharing success [stories] of women,” she shared.
Truly, Modern-day Magayons have much more to offer than just their beauty. As Bicolana journalists have powerful voices that support causes, their pivotal community influence serves as an important instrument that can improve the lives of countless people.
Independent Princesses
Aside from being a journalist and a professorial lecturer, Mazo is also a proud entrepreneur, event organizer, and event host. She works tirelessly to attain her dreams and and help her family.
More than acting as a princess of her fate, she builds her own kingdom from the dreams she valiantly followed at a young age. Revolutionary Magayons like her, as she believes, must aid and sustain one another to fulfill their common goals - and that is putting a stop to misogyny and sexism.
“Life is not a competition, but I believe that each of you has your own talentsandalwayshassomethingtooffer,” she explained.
She is now focusing her efforts on assisting other young Bicolana journalists by providing them with training opportunities.
“Idomentorwomen.Iseekawaytorecruitthem.Imakefriendsandlisten andliftthem,” she shared.
Like Mazo, Marianne Janna Balderama, the current editor-in-chief of The Mayon Publication, the official publication of Bicol University (BU) - College of Education Integrated Laboratory High School (CEILS), sees journalists as women’s hope for challenging gender stereotypes.
“Writershavewordsastheirpower,theirweapon.Advocatingforgender sensitivityandinclusivitytakeswieldingthesewordsintosomethingthatwould resonate[with]thereaders,” Balderama said.
When asked what advice she could offer to many struggling young Bicolana journalists such as Balderama, Mazo responded that aspiring young journalists must first believe in themselves and their ability to contribute to a better world.
“Just always do the right thing and everything will follow. So, just be the bestversionofyourself,” Mazo advised.
Odessa Mazo’s example demonstrates that modern-day princesses, particularly Bicolana journalists, do not require a prince or a lover like Ulap to save them since they have always been strong and capable of withstanding any tremors and even outbursts that life might throw at them.
BOSES NI MAGAYON: Bicolana Journalists’ Cry for Gender Equality
Rewriting the tale
To solve the looming gender-based discrimination, especially in Bicol, proper recognition and actions must be taken to address the problem.
Similar to how Odessa Mazo sees how powerful media is in advocating for gender inclusivity, Abby Bilan, the outgoing College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) - Bicol Region Coordinator, shares how Bicolana journalists can amplify the call for gender equality.
“Dahilmaykapangyarihanangpamamahayag,malakiangresponsibilidad natinnahindilangpanatilihin,sahalipayisulongangsafespacesatgender inclusivity lalo na para sa kababaihan at mga miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ community,” Bilan said.
Bilan pointed out that Bicolana journalists, along with CEGP-Bicol, have long been active in advancing the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ community members. According to her, several journalists and women’s rights activists covered numerous events calling for the abolition of gender discrimination.
Mazo likewise said that, in addition to covering such events, journalists of both genders must promote and practice this advocacy in their workplace. She pointed out that the support of her radio management and coworkers helped her overcome all of the gender-based discrimination she faced as a journalist.
“I surpass[ed] it with the help of having gender-sensitive and supportive radiomanagement.Ibelievethathavingagoodenvironmenthelpstoeliminate anydiscrimination,” Mazo shared.
Mazo and Bilan are only two of the Bicolana journalists who cover gender issues. They both believe that as community voices, Bicolana journalists can do a lot to help end the sexist culture that plagues the region.
“Maymgamagagawatayongparaansapamamagitanngpag-amplifyat pagcover ng kanilang issues. It also falls under our responsibility na maging gender-sensitivetoprotectandadvocateforvulnerablesectors,”Bilan argued.
Fortunately, more and more Bicolana journalists are already using their platforms to advocate for the rights of women and LGBTQIA+ community members. They are powerfully wielding their pens to reinvent the story of modern-day Magayons in which women are perceived as strong, capable, and independent heroes of today’s society more than just being pretty princesses.
