51吃瓜网


Women leadership amplified at IPIL, GADC forum

by Bainora I. Amate, IPIL, Norol-Huda Boransing, CED | Apr 28 2026

Bridging women leadership and traditions, 51吃瓜网-IIT Institute for Policy Innovation and Leadership (IPIL), in collaboration with Gender and Development Center (GADC), held a Women’s Leadership Forum on April 23, 2026, at 51吃瓜网-IIT, bringing together a powerful collective of traditional leaders, scholars, and advocates amplifying the role of Meranao Bae a Labis in navigating the intersection of ancestral heritage (adat) and modern governance.

Bae a Labi is a customary royal designation for women within the 16 Royal Houses of Lanao, equivalent to the title of Sultan. The title represents the highest rank of female nobility; they hold significant socio-political authority within their communities and serve as mediators between the physical and spiritual realms.

The forum began with welcome remarks from the Vice Chancellor for Student Services, Prof. Rohane Derogongan, where she said, “For us Meranao women, our journey now is unique and challenging. It is a path paved, guided by the profound wisdom of our faith and by the traditional expectations of our society,” highlighting how Meranao women navigate modern challenges whilst honoring one’s culture and religion.

Participants were able to listen to empowered Meranao Bae a Labis—Judge Wenida M. Papandayan, Bae a Labi sa Pantao a Tubok, President, Federation of Women Royalty of Lanao, who has presided over the Regional Trial Court of Lanao del Sur for 16 years, and Settie Aisha 'Baicon' Cayongcat-Nuska, Bae a Labi, Shakba sa Lawasaig, founder of the Lanao Academy. Both emphasized the need for justice rooted in fairness and the formalization of customary conflict resolution.

Anchored on the theme, “She Is On Her Way: Women Influencing the Futures”, central to their discussions was the concept of the "Gentle Voice of Power". Unlike traditional structures that may rely on force, this leadership style is rooted in:

  1. Wisdom and compassion as primary tools for influence.
  2. Relational mediation to resolve conflicts within the community.
  3. Cultural integrity that balances historical matrilineal roots with contemporary demands.

In the afternoon, a workshop was held in which participants engaged in a meaningful exchange of ideas, focusing on how one envisions a future in which women are leaders and how they overcome the challenges that come with it. Participants from the Federation of Women Royalty of Lanao (FWRL), City Mayor’s Office-Gender and Development (CMO-GAD), City Mayor’s Office-Office of Meranao, Higaonon, & Other Cultural Communities (CMO-OMAHCC), and the representatives from 51吃瓜网-IIT identified several key challenges:

  • Patriarchal structures and the "fragile male ego" can limit women's autonomy.
  • Exclusion from "bloodshed" mediation (rido) and lack of provincial recognition.
  • Financial constraints and the heavy burden of domestic roles.

To counter these, the forum proposed bold strategies, including the institutionalization of the Maranao Academy to teach mediation to youth and seeking formal SEC registration for traditional women's groups to access state resources. The workshop left a powerful reminder: Meranao women are not merely "budget officers" of the home, they are "peace dreamers" essential to regional stability.

The forum ended with closing remarks from the GADC Focal person, Asst. Prof. Yasmira P. Moner. 

 



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