“Being a woman today means fearlessly answering the call to create positive change within ourselves, within our homes, and in our communities to ensure a better future for all.”
– Nanette Medved-Po, Founder and Chairperson of Hope
On May 10, 2024, the USeP Gender and Development (GAD) Office and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), with the USeP-HANDURAWAN, conducted a symposium tackling Violence against Women and Their Children (VAWC) via Zoom. The event welcomed participating students from other universities as well as graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Southeastern Philippines to bring awareness and empowerment to women to become advocates of women’s rights and of gender inclusivity.
The activity commenced with the opening remarks of Dr. Marnie Grace I. Sonico, CAS Dean, followed by the reading of the rationale by Ms. Reah Izza T. Paglinawan, Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Cultural Studies (BALCS) Program Head, and the introduction of speaker by Asst. Prof. Joy R. Risonar, CAS Associate Dean. The program also showcased the talents of Literature students and an alumna through the segment I AM EVERY WOMAN: A Montage of Performances by Women in the Arts. Gracing the symposium with their liberating, poetic performances were Ashley Canillo (Master of Arts in Literature); Lewi Origenes, Dulce Rhea Alas, Cale dela Torre, and Clariss Silvino (BALCS students); and Jasmin San Juan (Bachelor of Arts in Literature Alumna). The host further entertained the participants with a short trivia game about women who made a mark in the Philippine history and across the globe.
As the highlight of the event, the resource speaker, Assoc. Prof. Edlyn Joy P. Espiritu, a professor of psychology and an advocate of mental health, shared her expertise and insights about the topic and delved into the importance of women in the society and the social struggles that women continuously face. The symposium had a special focus on the importance of women in the workplace through the decades, as well as the trajectory of their career in the 21st century and how it affects their relations within their family, society, and their personal identity. Following this, Assoc. Prof. Espiritu further tackled the challenges faced by the 21st century Filipina in terms of gender pay gap, access in reproductive healthcare and rights, and violence against women, sharing as well recent, significant cases in the Philippines.
The discourse on the topic was further enriched by the rapport between the speaker and the participants, both faculty and students, during the open forum. Assoc. Prof. Espiritu shared her insights on issues such as: the acceptance of transgender women in the Philippines, incorporation of trauma-informed practices into the training curriculum of the justice system, and the status of women empowerment in the Philippines, to name a few.
Caption by: Dulce Rhea M. Alas of Handurawan
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