Equality or Suppression?: Men’s Month in General Santos

written by Diego Rozul

A General Santos City ordinance posted by its City Population Management Office (CPMO) Facebook page took fire on the first of June 2021. The ordinance declared June as Men’s Month to recognize men’s role as partners in promoting and upholding gender equality and equity as part of the United Nation’s He For She movement.

Photo taken from https:// philstarlife.com/news-andviews/704512-gensanmens-month-and-day

The declaration of Men’s Month left a bad taste in netizens’ mouths as it coincided with the celebration of Pride Month, especially as several other countries celebrate Men’s Day in November. Netizens were quick to criticize the ordinance citing how after years of repressing the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride Month is being overshadowed by Men’s Month. The UP Mindanao Mentefuwaley were among its greatest critics calling for the CPMO to take down the social media post whilst conducting a SOGIESC seminar to the office’s employees.

Since then, the CPMO followed the recommendations of UP Mindanao Mentefuwaley and took down the post. A week after, the CPMO posted a poster promoting its Men’s Month activities sporting the theme “Pahalagahan at Pangalagaan ang Kalusugan at Kalikasan sa Panahon ng Pandemya (Value and Care HealthSince then, the CPMO followed the recommendations of UP Mindanao Mentefuwaley and took down the post. A week after, the CPMO posted a poster promoting its Men’s Month activities sporting the theme “Pahalagahan at Pangalagaan ang Kalusugan at Kalikasan sa Panahon ng Pandemya (Value and Care Health and the Environment in Pandemic Times)”.

The post further emphasized that the campaign aims to promote positive male role models who are exemplar in family, community, health, and wellbeing. With its new theme, netizens no longer flamed the CPMO.

Photo from https://www.facebook.com/CPMOGensan/photos /a.103971195099591/150313903798653/

This is not however the first time a men’s-related activity coincided with Pride Month. In fact, International Men’s Health Week is celebrated on the third week of June honoring the importance of looking after one’s health as a man, in which masculine beliefs discourage. Later in the month, the Department of Health Region III led its regional celebration of Men’s Health Month in conjunction with International Men’s Health Day.

"It underscores the premise that men are clients who have their own reproductive health concerns; partners who recognize that their own health impacts their partners' well-being; and change agents who are capable advocates for gender transformation," regional Director Corazon Flores said.

While society strives toward gender equality and equity, recognizing the importance of intersectional considerations has become increasingly important. Men’s month not only aims to celebrate men who have contributed towards gender-sensitive initiatives but recreate the ideal male image who advocates for a safer world for everyone no matter their SOGIE.