VSU faculty, staff celebrate Women’s Month

March is Women’s Month in the Philippines!

To participate in the nationwide celebration, VSU kick-started its activities in a Flag-Raising Ceremony and awareness campaign first thing in the morning of March 6, at the VSU Hilltop Amphitheatre.

VSU faculty members and staff participated in the small trivia contest led by VSU Gender and Development Team Lead Prof. Maria Aurora Teresita Tabada, and screening of a short video from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

The video stressed that while there are laws that protect and uphold women’s rights, many Filipino women suffer in many aspects on account of their gender. Men, PCW said, constitute a greater proportion of the country’s labor force and judiciary arm.

Quoting data from PCW about the percentage of men and women in the work force, Tabada challenged the audience to imagine the situation where only half of the country’s people are contributing to its development while the other half is only relegated to home care.

VSU Vice President for Planning and Resource Generation Daniel Tudtud Jr. said he is hopeful that the gap between men and women in nation-building will soon be narrowed. At VSU, women take part in decision-making, Tudtud said.

The observance of March as a celebration of women’s role in history was declared in 1988 through Proclamation No. 227. In 2016, in his first State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte directed “all agencies, oversight bodies, and local government units down to the barangay level to fully implement the Magna Carta of Women (MCW).” 

This year, the Women’s Month Celebration takes the theme MCW (Magna Carta of Women): Make Change Work to emphasize the role of women as active drivers in bringing about a positive and inclusive change.

As a contribution to the nationwide campaign, VSU will implement the following activities: