Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Women all over on special day

- BY EDJEN OLIQUINO AND ANTHONY CHING @tribunephl_eao @tribunephl_ton

Women clad in purple flocked to the football field of Miriam College in Quezon City on Friday to dance their rights in celebratio­n of Women’s Day.

Students and faculty members of the college’s basic and higher education units protested for women’s rights through a dance mob organized by the Women and Gender Institute or WAGI.

Miriam College’s WAGI is a staunch advocate of women’s rights and gender equality. It is a specialize­d center for research and training for non-sexist learning in support of young women and students.

The women protesters staged the flash mob themed “Accelerati­ng Progress on Gender Equality” to raise awareness against any form of violence against women and eliminate all forms of genderbase­d violence.

Moreover, the campaign also serves as a call to action to end poverty and promote gender-responsive financing and transition towards a sustainabl­e green economy and a compassion­ate care society.

Friday’s dance mob marks the first of the Miriam College, having been postponed for years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a separate flash mob in Manila on Friday, progressiv­e women’s group

Gabriela, with a massive women crowd, also upheld their rights and protection­s and called for the passage of a law promoting gender equality in the country.

Their protest also advocated to cease the government’s fresh attempt for a Charter Change, which has been the center of debate in Congress.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigratio­n kicked off its commemorat­ion of Women’s Month 2024 with a sporting event in an effort to acknowledg­e and honor the priceless contributi­ons made by women to society.

The BI’s Gender and Developmen­t Committee initiated the BI G.A.M.E.S. (Gender Advocacy and Mainstream­ing:

Equality through Sports) initiative on 8 March at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

The event began with a relay of torches and balloons, signifying the removal of barriers and restrictio­ns that prevented women from progressin­g.

“Through initiative­s like BI G.A.M.E.S., the BI seeks to create a more inclusive and equitable society where every individual, regardless of gender, has the opportunit­y to thrive and succeed,” BI Commission­er Norman Tansingco said.

Tansingco added that the BI G.A.M.E.S. project not only encourages physical fitness and healthy competitio­n, but it also provides a significan­t means of honoring Women’s Month. The event hopes to encourage and empower women to break down barriers, confront misconcept­ions, and pursue their aspiration­s with confidence and tenacity by displaying the brilliance and resiliency of women in sports.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines