In celebration of Women’s Month
RISING SUN
ThE National Women’s Month Celebration every March is part of the worldwide observance of the International Women’s Day on March 8. For this month, there are many initiatives by women and for the women in the fields of business, politics, science, arts and culture, and many other sectors.
I would like to allot some space here to mention just a few of these programs and projects so that it can also serve as an invitation for the general public.
At the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the annual Readathon: Dramatic Reading of Plays by Women is happening again this year, on March 15 and 16 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Silangan Hall of the CCP Main Building. This event, which is a flagship project of the CCP Gender and Development Committee and is
being presented in partnership with the Women Playwrights International-Philippines, is open to the public. Various monologues and plays written by women from different regions of the country will be featured in the Readathon.
On the first day of this event, there will be a simultaneous Mama Makers Market called Gawa ng Ina Mo, organized by the Old Manila Eco Market. On the second day, Gantala Press is running Gandang Ganda sa Sariling Gawa, a zine and book fair featuring works by women. If you have questions about any of these events, you may send a message to Ariane Sagales through 0927-776-6893.
On March 14 at the University of the Philippines-Solair (School of Labor and Industrial Relations), a forum for freelance writers will be happening from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is being organized by the international trade union federation UNI Global Union-Asia & Pacific, in partnership with the Freelance Writers’ Guild of the Philippines, an organization of freelance writers started by its female Founder Imelda “Aimee” Morales.
The event, called “UNITE! Understanding the Current Work Landscape of Freelance Writers in the Philippines,” will feature former Labor Secretary Rene E. Ofreneo and Atty. Alvin Alburo as two of the morning session speakers who will talk about the laws governing freelance writers. The afternoon session focuses on the opportunities and challenges being faced by freelance writers today.
Forum speakers and participants represent various sectors in the field of freelance writing: corporate, independent media, film, government, nongovernment organization/intergovernmental organizations, web/ online, book publishing and print. Although physical participation to the event is by invitation, the proceedings will be live-streamed on the Freelance Writers of the Philippines’s Facebook page. For inquiries, you may send a message to 0921-4800-342.
Supporting events by and for women is only one of the ways by which we can celebrate Women’s Month this year. Find similar events in your locality and support these by promoting them and participating in them. Happy Women’s Month to all of my female readers! Mabuhay po kayo!