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International Women’s Day: Girl power quotes from Hidilyn Diaz, Pia Cayetano

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/life/03/08/pia-hidilyn.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano (left) and Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz. <cite>Karen Flores, ABS-CBN News</cite></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano are strong women, both literally and figuratively. </p><p>Diaz, the first Filipina to win an Olympic medal since the Philippines participated in the Games in 1924, turned poverty into her greatest motivation to excel in her passion – weightlifting.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/hidilyn-diaz">READ: How Mampang carried Hidilyn Diaz to Olympic glory</a></li></ul><p>Cayetano, on the other hand, was a two-term senator known for championing women’s and children’s causes. The lawyer and triathlete is also an advocate for environmental awareness and healthy lifestyle.</p><p>On Wednesday, Diaz, Cayetano and other female role models gathered at the “Filipina Next” press conference, sharing their thoughts on success and empowerment in celebration of International Women’s Day.</p><p>Be inspired by girl power quotes from these two ladies:</p><div><strong>HIDILYN DIAZ</strong></div><p>On pursuing her passion for weightlifting: “May mga taong nagsasabi na hindi mo kaya, na huwag ka diyan kasi liliit ka o huwag ka diyan kasi baka hindi ka mabuntis. Pero ang sinabi ko, gusto ko ‘yung ginagawa ko so hindi ako magpapapigil sa kahit sino. At napatunayan ko sa kanila na kaya ko.”</p><p>On the importance of getting support from others: “Lalaki ang coach ko pero naniniwala siya sa kakayahan ko. May naging coach din ako sa strength at conditioning. Siya rin ang tumulong sa akin para ilabas ang tunay kong galing sa sports at sa buhay… Parati ko nang sinasabi kung ano ang opinion ko, ‘yung ginagawa ko.”</p><p>On her advice to women: “Parati kong sinasabi na dream high kasi ‘pag alam niyo kung anong gusto niyong gawin sa buhay, madali na lang puntahan… Trabahuhin niyo, work hard on it at mararating niyo ang success.”</p><div><strong>PIA CAYETANO</strong></div><p>On what makes a woman successful: “I think it’s difficult to generalize because my definition of success may be very different from somebody else’s idea of success. My personal idea is balance. For women like me who are working, it is a challenge to do your job well and be a good mother. </p><p>“But for most who have set aside giving birth or raising a family, they’re not trying to achieve that balance yet maybe because they’re at a point when they want to focus on their career first. For me to tell them – ‘no, dapat balanced, you should have a child’ – I don’t want to send that message. It really depends on where they are at. I think success should be defined by you being able to achieve whatever you want to achieve.”</p><p>On including men in the discussion: “When we talk about role models, it’s the women who usually explain how they balance… I think it would be nice to explain it so men are aware na, ‘hello, mag-balance din kayo.’ Women should take pride in the fact that they can balance. If we don’t include men in the discussion, the gap widens.”</p><p>On the role of parents in raising strong women: “There were no boundaries for me. At a time when many of my classmates could not play sports because mabre-break daw ‘yung hymen mo… back then I didn’t even know what they’re talking about, but my dad said, ‘go, sige mag-sports ka.’ My dad and my mom, the were a balancing act who helped me become who I am today.”</p>

<p>Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano are strong women, both literally and figuratively. </p>

Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano are strong women, both literally and figuratively.