Celebration of National Women's Month

In the Philippines, Former President Corazon C. Aquino signed Proclamation No. 224 s. 1988 on 1 March, declaring the first week of March each year as Women’s Week and 8 March as Women’s Rights and International Peace Day. Then on 17 March, 1988 she signed Proclamation No. 227 s. 1988 providing for the observance of the Month of March as Women’s Role in History Month which designated the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW, now Philippine Commission on Women) as the secretariat to coordinate the nationwide observance. On 10 April, 1990, she signed Republic Act (RA) 6949 an act declaring 8 March of every year as a Special Working Holiday known as National Women’s Day, to encourage both the government and private sector to participate in Women’s Day activities. The day has since become the highlight of women-related events and activities in the country.