April 30, 2019 — The celebration of International Women’s Month has always been an opportunity to recognize and honor the achievements and contributions of women to nation-building and promote and uphold their rights as citizens and sector of society.
For this year, the celebration at UP Manila, led by the Center for Gender and Women Studies (CGWS), became more relevant with its focus on the role of women on HIV/AIDS prevention and control. The month-long activities kicked-off with the opening ceremonies held on March 4 at the UPMASA-PGH Science Hall.
In her opening remarks, Chancellor Carmencita Padilla stated that the role of women as researchers, educators, clinicians, caregivers and advocates has to be maximized and strengthened. Women, as providers and scientists and activists and volunteers, have been involved since the beginning, in advancing knowledge, generating knowledge and innovations through research, advancing treatment, and waging information campaigns, particularly on HIV/AIDS. She commended the CGWS for organizing relevant activities that focus on varied issues on women’s health.
UN Country Director for HIV/AIDS Dr. Louie Ocampo in his keynote speech entitled “Rethinking the HIV Approach in Girls and Young Women” noted the stigma and discrimination patients experience at the hands of family members, communities, workplace, and healthcare practitioners. He stressed the need for proper information dissemination specially to health workers dealing with HIV/AIDS patients.
Another guest speaker was Ms. Elena Felix who shared bits and pieces of her journey as a person living with HIV/AIDS, including the discrimination she felt from some health workers as a patient of PGH,
as well as that of her friends and peers.
The other activities were grouped into three categories based on their goals:
• Those promoting public awareness on the vulnerability of women and other marginalized sectors because of insensitivity and misogynistic attitudes of authorities, such as the lecture on violence against women organized by the College of Nursing, film showing on women empowerment by the College of Public Health (CPH), and a seminar on the Magna Carta for Women by the CGWS. Topics on culture competence, gender sensitivity, social accountability, Republic Act 103541 (Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health), and Republic Act 11210 (105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law) highlighted the commitment of the University to promote understanding of the issues related to gender and women’s rights and uphold gender equity and equality among the constituents;
• Those celebrating the beauty and value of women, such as health and wellness seminars, poetry, and arts aimed at empowering the UP Manila women and other constituents, and student-led activities, such as street art, street dancing, pride march and shows that created awareness and encouraged engagement on gender-related issues, namely the Health and Wellness booth set up the CPH, Make-up Tutorial by the College of Nursing, Zumba Wellness Program and earthquake and fire drill by the School of Health Sciences (SHS)-Palo, lecture on mother’s health and awareness on responsible parenthood by SHS-Koronadal; and
• Those raising awareness on gender-related issues, such as an inter-active mural painting and mobile photo booth organized by the College of Arts and Sciences, poster-making contest organized by the Gabriela organization of UP Manila, and an inter-active forum organized with the UPLB Babaylan and Bahaghari on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE).
The CGWS, headed by Dr. Leilanie Nicodemus, conducted and coordinated the various activities participated in by the different colleges and units in cooperation with the Gender Focal Persons.
