MALATE, Manila – The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region MiMaRoPa held a whole day event for the winners of the Regional Search for Contemporary Woman from Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan on May 25, 2017.

The activity, which aims to recognize women’s efforts, initiatives, and achievements in promoting women empowerment, started with an agency visit at the GABRIELA National Alliance of Filipino Women. Ms. Joms Salvador, Secretary General of GABRIELA provided an educational discussion to the five contemporary women from the provinces who are Marites Bolasco of Occidental Mindoro; Jeneper Fajilan of Oriental Mindoro; Analiza Lupangco of Marinduque; Marife Fabito of Romblon; and Maylende Esler of Palawan.

After the agency visit, winners were invited to be interviewed in DZRB Radyo ng Bayan 738 Khz through the Philippine Commission on Women. They were able to share their stories of empowerment and give testimonies on their experiences with Pantawid Pamilya.

The activity ended with a symposium entitled, Women Leading Change: A Symposium on Women Empowerment held at the Noel B. Benitez Hall, Philippine Women University (PWU), Taft Avenue, Manila. The symposium, which aims to increase awareness and level of participation on women empowerment and gender equality, was attended by BS Social Work students and faculties from PWU.  The five contemporary women discussed their stories to the participants on how they promote women empowerment on aid, religion, education, and politics. Ms. Mary Nhiang Sung, a social worker from Myanmar served as the guest speaker for the program, who shared her research study on “Women Empowerment in the UN Context and Social Work Perspective”.

 

The awarding of the winners for the Regional Search of Contemporary Woman commenced at the end of the symposium.  Jeneper Fajilan from Oriental Mindoro was crowned the Grand Winner, while Marife Fabito from Romblon got the Second Place. The Third Place award was conferred to Marites Bolasco of Occidental Mindoro, followed by Maylende Esler of Palawan and Analiza Lupangco of Marinduque at Fourth and Fifth Place, respectively.

All five winners will serve as active partners of Pantawid Pamilya in promoting gender equality in their respective provinces. ###