Gov’t agencies to account gains, reaffirm commitments on Anti-VAW efforts

Government agencies, particularly those who have direct programs and services relative to Anti-Violence Against Women and Girls are set to account for progress and reaffirm their commitments in addressing the issue on November 25, 2015; 2:00 PM at the Aliw Theatre in Pasay City as part of the annual 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW).

Dubbed as the “Assembly of Anti-VAW Advocacy Supporters”, the event will be a gathering of government, non-government, academe and private sector stakeholders. It will be a venue for government, as duty bearers, to highlight their mid-decade (2010-2015) actions in ending VAW, as well as pledge their continuing commitment to sustain the gains and pursue further actions to move towards the shared vision of a VAW-free community.

These will be presented through the use different art forms like interpretative dance from ERDA-Sanayan ng mga Batang Nanambakan (SABANA) Children’s Theatrical Group, shadow play to be performed by the first Asia’s Got Talent Champion El Gamma Penumbra Dance Company, and visual arts.

Agencies that are expected to present their milestones and commitments on VAWC are as follows: Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Commission on Population (POPCOM), Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), and Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

This year’s 18-Day Campaign To End VAW, carrying the theme “End VAW Now! It’s Our Duty!: Gains and Ways Forward”, considers this period as another turning point in the country’s anti-VAW advocacy. The expected change in leadership at the national and local levels by mid-2016, makes this year’s campaign a fitting time for duty-bearers and advocates to reflect and take stock of milestones and accomplishments in the last five years (gains), continue looking forward to our vision of a VAW-free community, and identify concrete / actionable steps towards reaching that vision (ways forward).

Said campaign is annually led by the PCW, the lead agency that makes government work for the promotion, protection and fulfillment of women’s human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Launch of All-Women Cast Lupang Hinirang Video

PCW and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) is also set to launch the Lupang Hinirang Music Video with an All-Women Cast during the event which has an estimated audience of 2,000 people.

This first of its kind project pays tribute to the great women of our “herstory.” It presents the vital role of women in various sectors including education, culture and the arts, sports, science and technology, politics and governance, business, finance, agriculture, and fisheries, among others.

Iconic women leaders including former Senators Helena Benitez and Leticia Ramos-Shahani, Ambassador Rosario Manalo and Senator Pia Cayetano were featured in the video. Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Patricia Licuanan, Philippine Representative to the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children Aurora Javate De Dios, Journalist Che-Che Lazaro, and Filipina sports icon Bong Coo also appeared in the two-minute video.

The Philippine National Anthem used in the video was sung by female vocalists from the Philippine Madrigal Singers while musical scoring was arranged by Mr. Darren Vega, with ethnic Instrumentation of Harmonya, in collaboration with Rojin Suarez of the University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB) Chorale Ensemble. Legit Entertainment and Media Company, composed mostly of women staff, was engaged by the Commission to film and edit the video.

PCW plans to make said video the official National Anthem Video every March, which is the National Women’s Month.

“The Philippine Commission on Women is the lead agency that makes government work for the promotion of gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights.”