When was the last time you sat down just for yourself—without a laundry basket beside you or a kaldero waiting to be washed?
If you’re like most Filipino moms, chances are you’re juggling a million things: alaga sa mga bata, luto, linis, trabaho, lahat na! But a new online campaign is reminding us that care work at home shouldn’t be a one-woman show.
Meet the Asenso Squad, an inspiring community built to highlight one important truth: care work is work, and it deserves to be recognized, respected, and shared.
Launched by Oxfam Pilipinas, the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA), and OCI Group under the “EmpowerHer” project, the Asenso Squad invites micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), families, and individuals to speak up about the real-life challenges of unpaid domestic labor and gender roles at home.
Supported by the Australian Government initiative Investing in Women, the campaign aims to create more conversations about why moms shouldn’t have to choose between family or career because we can do both, with the right support.
“Kapag pantay-pantay ang hati ng gawaing bahay, mas nagiging matatag ang pamilya. Nabibigyan din ng pagkakataon ang bawat isa, babae man o lalaki, na umunlad sa bahay at sa trabaho,” says Lot Felizco, Executive Director of Oxfam Pilipinas.
Felizco adds that giving women the time and opportunity to earn their own income boosts not just the family’s budget, but also the entire community. “Redistributing care work is a crucial step,” she says.
The Hard Truth: Gawaing Bahay Falls Mostly on Women
Research shows that in the typical Filipino household, women spend 6.5 hours daily doing unpaid care work, three times more than men. This includes chores like cooking, cleaning, childcare, and caring for elderly family members or persons with disabilities.
A NEDA study this year also found that marriage and motherhood often mean a drop in women’s participation in the workforce. Sa madaling salita, maraming babae ang napipilitang iwan ang trabaho para mag-alaga ng pamilya habang ang kalalakihan ay patuloy sa kanilang career.
Worse, the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report ranked the Philippines 25th, dropping nine spots from last year. One big reason is the country’s decline in women’s share in leadership roles and wage equality.
At ito ang gustong baguhin ng Asenso Squad.
Pag-usapan Natin!
The campaign launched with an online forum called “Family or Career? Why Not Both?” where everyday Pinoys shared how gender roles at home affect their chances to earn, grow a business, or simply get some rest.
Surprisingly (or maybe not), the forum also touched on attitudes that still linger in many households, where some believe that shouting at women is acceptable, or that men doing housework should feel ashamed.
Clearly, we’ve still got a long way to go.
Moms, Sama Ka Na sa Asenso Squad!
If you’ve ever felt alone in your parenting and homemaking struggles, Asenso Squad is a digital space for you. Join the Facebook group to connect with fellow moms, tatays, entrepreneurs, and advocates who believe in teamwork at home and success for all.
Let’s build homes where everyone helps out, because real progress begins right where we live.
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