2017 Women’s Month Celebration focuses on ‘Change’, implementation of MCW
Women are potent agents of positive changes in our society. Thus, “real change” can be only achieved when women and men work hand-in-hand to foster an environment that is empowering to both sexes.
This is the highlight of the 2017 National Women’s Month Celebration (PCW) carrying the theme
“We Make Change Work for Women.”
The annual celebration is infused with activities that aim to inspire and empower women and girls to achieve gender equality. The PCW likewise initiated activities that promote citizen-centric governance and make “change” a conscious effort to know, understand, and provide what all citizens need.
To kick-off the month-long celebration, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) on March 1 launched the first leg of “We Make Change: Women Inspiring Women Series” at the Cebu Provincial Capitol in Cebu City. Speakers to the forum were Career Executive Service Board (CESB) Executive Maria Anthonette Allones, Public School Teacher Sabrina Ongkiko, National Anti-Poverty Commission Women’s Sector Representative Celia Flor and Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Elago.
In celebration of the International Women’s Day on March 8, the PCW held the second leg of the forum at the GSIS Theatre in Pasay City. Featured in this forum were inspiring tales of Prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, DIWA Party list Representative Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman and Atty. Jennifer Tauli-Corpuz of Tebtebba Foundation.
The third and final leg of the forum, will be held at the CAP Auditorium in Davao City on March 15. Confirmed speakers to the forum are Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial, Globe Telecom Education and Digital Learning Strategy and Innovation Head Michelle Tapia and Professor Lourdesita Sobrevega-Chan of Ateneo De Davao University.
Aside from the fora, a continuation of the annual Juana Says and Serbisyo Para Kay Juana shall also be offered this Women’s Month. Juana Says is a daily dose of inspirational quotes from Filipino women from different fields or profession which will be posted on social networking sites while Serbisyo Para Kay Juana is a collection of freebies, discounts, or distribution of IEC materials on March 8 which is the International Women’s Day (IWD), making the celebration more publicly known and felt. Participating agencies to the Serbisyo Para Kay Juana include the free Light Rail Transit (LRT) 2 and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) rides for women and girls and free admission to select parks and tourist sites.
CHANGE: A Women’s Summit
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodrigo Roa Duterte directed “all agencies, oversight bodies and local government units down to the barangay level to fully implement the Magna Carta of Women.”
Following this directive, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) is holding a summit titled “C.H.A.N.G.E.: A Women’s Summit (Compassionate and Harmonized Actions and Networks for Gender Equality)” on March 30-31 bringing together key stakeholders implementing the MCW and related Gender and Development (GAD) mandates.
The two-day Summit will feature relevant plenary discussions and parallel sessions to discuss strengthened implementation of the MCW, culminating to a commitment setting and the President’s Address.
The PCW, the agency that makes the government work for the promotion, protection and fulfillment of women’s human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, leads the annual Women’s Month Celebration.
