With “Women’s Role in Participation and Decision Making in all Aspects of Society: Juana, Desisyon mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa, Ikaw Na!” as theme for this year’s Women’s Month celebration, UP Manila adopted a sub theme according to its role as the country’s premier health institution.  The subtheme was “Recognizing the Power of the Women’s Sector and its Role in Health and Development and in Nation Building.”

This year’s commemoration was led by the Center for Gender and Women Studies (CGWS).  The activities were participated in by the whole UP Manila community through each unit’s Gender Steering Committee (GSC) representatives. The celebration kicked-off on the first Monday of the month, March 2, that jibed with the PGH flag ceremony. This event was organized by the CGWS together with the PGH Gender and Development Related Committee and graced by UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Carmencita Padilla, PGH Director Jose C. Gonzales, and CGWS Director and OASH Coordinator Dr. Alma Lucindo-Jimenez.

Other activities during the month included fora, symposia, information campaigns, exhibits, film showings, health services, legal consultations/townhall meetings on women’s rights, photo contests, and ‘tula’ writing contests, all organized by the different units and their respective GSC representatives.

The fora focused on the following themes with their respective organizers as follows: Women’s Role in Health and Development on March 3 organized by the College of Medicine; Kababaihan sa Kontekstong Pilipino on March 9 by the College of Pharmacy; Magna Carta of Women and Other Laws Forum on March 12 organized by the PGH; Loving our Mothers on March 18 by the Office of Student Affairs; Seminar on Women’s Strength in Adversity on March 19 by the College of Allied Medical Professions, which is also the main event of the Women’s Month; Juanang Palaban, Mariang Makabayan – Ang Kababaihang Pilipino sa Agos ng Kasaysayan on March 20 by the College of Arts and Sciences; Ain’t No Hollaback Girl on March 20 by the Sigma Alpha Nu; UP-Rising: Rising to the Challenges of UP-Holding Gender Equality and Human Rights on March 20 by the Buklod-CN and OSA; Kababaihan at Wika sa Midya on March 23 by the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino; Symposium on Active Aging, Examplars from Accomplished Women in Nursing on March 24 by the College of Nursing; and Symposium on Women Empowerment in Love, Family, Career and Health on March 26 by the College of Dentistry.

Information campaigns on gender issues were facilitated by the Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment through Anti-Sexual Harassment Orientations on March 5, 12, 19 and 26 and by the PGH Gender and Development Related Committee through Gender Desks located at the PGH lobby on March 6, 13, 20 and 27.

Several film showings sponsored during the month evolved around two themes: Kababaihan sa Lente ng Pamayanan organized by CP which showcased films like Still Alice on MWFs of the second and third week of March and  Kababaihan ng Malolos shown by CAS on March 25.

Exhibits were displayed all over UP Manila throughout the month of March: at the College of Medicine (Free Hugs Day – Hug a Mom Exhibit), College of Nursing (Women’s Week Celebration), along with other Women’s Month publicity materials.

The health and extension services held during the week benefited both UP Manila – PGH employees and patients of PGH and those in the community.  These services included Cancer Awareness Lecture (March 5 & 19, organized by PGH), Breast Exam Lecture and Diagnostic Exam (March 11, Pahinungod) Lifeline Blood Drive (March 6, Phi Lambda Delta Sorority), Beauty in and Out: Spending the Day with Female Street Children (March 13, Tahanan Sta. Luisa, Pahinungod), Milk Matters Public Health Lecture and Milk Drive (March 10, 14 & 21, Phi Lambda Delta Sorority), Presbyopia Screening Among Women Aged 35 and above (March 19, Philippine Eye Research Institute), Visual Inspection Acuity for Cervical Cancer and Breast Exam (March 16-20 at Alabat, Quezon and March 21 at Tanay, Rizal, Pahinungod), and MU Health Caravan – Women Empowerment Through Health Education, W.E.A.L.T.H Campaign, Seminar on Women’s Health with Free Cervical Screening (PAP Smear) and Breast Examination (March 28-29, Batangas, Mu Sigma Phi Sorority).

A first in the Women’s Month Celebration in UP Manila was the Town Hall Meeting/Legal Consultation on Women’s Rights on March 25 (for the townhall meeting) and on March 26 , 27 and 30 for the One-on-one Legal Consultation for legal concerns organized by the Learning Resource Center and UP Manila Legal Office.

For the photo contest organized by the Interactive Learning Center, the winners for the employees category were Nelia B. Bas’ Paggabay sa Tamang Landas Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan, 1st place; Kristine Deborah Cruz’s Gabay Tungo sa Isang Direksyon, 2nd place and student’s choice; and Aileen Regaspi’s Buhay Magsasaka, 3rd place and employees’ choice.

For the students photo contest organized by the Learning Resource Center, the winners were Moselle Hannah Bobadilla’s Women in Charge, 1st place; Katryna Mae Ann Torres’ Among the Thorns, 2nd place;  Rizza Alexes Gatpandan’s Tungkuling Gagampanan, 3rd place and Student’s Choice; and Mam Ara Quinn Mafe’s Inay, Employees’ Choice.

The Sentro ng Wikang Filipino-initiated Tula Writing Contest winners were Kamille Joy Miranda with her entries Babae, Anong Narating Natin? and Si Nanay, 2nd prize, Kevin Austin L. Ona with his Lumang Batayan, and Mara Liza V. Tabingo’s  Bb., Consolation Prizes.

On March 31, the culminating activity was held at the UP Manila Social Hall graced by  Philippine Commission on Women Executive Director Emmeline Versoza, former UP Manila Chancellor Marita V. T. Reyes, Chancellor Padilla, organizers, GSC members and contest winners. The UP Manila Gawad Lila 2015 was awarded to all organizers and to the Core Group of the Women’s Month Celebration.

Written by Mae Lin Jiwani Lorenzo Lactaoen and Dr. Ana Lucindo Jimenez