Best performing women groups feted
WOMEN groups in the city were feted for their active community involvement as they showcased talents and presented recycled fashion masterpieces in a show held March 20.
Balakbak, Sto. Tomas Women’s Organization was awarded the best performing women’s organization winning a cash prize of P15,000 and a certificate.
The program is done in coordination with the Balikatan sa Kaunlaran (BSK), City Social Welfare and Development Office and other agencies.
Gibraltar Kalipi Women’s Organization, South Sanitary Camp Kalipi, Upper Rock Quarry, and Middle Rock Quarry Women’s Organization were second to fifth place; with P12,000; P10,000; P9,000 and P7,000 as cash prizes respectively.
Camp 8, South Drive, Pacdal, Loakan-Liwanag and Middle Quirino Hill Kalipi were 6th to 10th place with P2,000 each as consolation prize.
A certificate of participation and a thousand pesos each were given to; Dominican-Mirador United Women’s Organization, Palma-Urbano WO, Trancoville, West Quirino Hill, East Quirino Hill, Victoria Village, San Roque Village, Sto. Rosario, Kalipi Happy Homes and Lourdes Subdivision Extension.
The activity is part of the 2016 Kababaihan Festival in celebration of National Women’s month graced by women leaders Councilors Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Elaine Sembrano, Archt. Gloria Vergara., Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Regional Director Helen Tibaldo, businesswoman Epifania Daoey, City Social Welfare and Development Officers (CSWDO) head Betty Fangasan and Edith Furigay, and sociocivic leaders Linda Winters and Rebecca Domogan.
The womens’ groups were involved with livelihood concerns; foodbased small scale business, beauty and health care, mini-market, micro-lending, and home-based weaving which enhanced camaraderie between and among themselves.
Marissa Marilla, Theodora Caguicla and Emma de la Cruz were judges for the recycled material fashion contest.
The competing women groups were chosen as to accomplishments and involvement in community and national activities, and membership. Well-prepared reports, action photos and documented activities are needed for the screening process and submitted during the time frame allowed, civic leader Winters said.
A well-rounded approach to women empowerment in the grassroots should be evident as with efforts against violence against health, education, livelihood, environmental protection, and now, climate change.
Activities are focused on the theme, “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda.”
For the fashion show of recycled materials, top prize went to the Dizon-Manzanillo subdivision model who wore a fitted sack gown sprinkled with sawdust and wood shavings.
Second prize is Camp 8 with a sack gown decorated with flower-formed plastic wrappers and colored bottle caps while Palma-Urbano WO presented a fullsleeved gown decorated with plastic spoons, paper and plastic bags; and a Ms. Universe-inspired foil crown. The models’ accessories were made of beaded paper, as with the sandals, parasols, and clutch bags.
Other fashion models showed-off gowns, cocktail dresses from multi-colored plastic bags, wrappers and paper formed as butterflies, fans, flowers. Other materials used were crocheted plastic bags, styrofoam, shells, rags and paper strips.
The costumes were painstakingly made piece by piece, in the process inculcating patience for the women-artists.
The University of the Cordilleras led by coordinator Ruel Costina also presented a recycled materials fashion show with students as models, clad in for-
mal attire, futuristic and ancient time-inspired costumes made of rolled-up and folded newspapers, foils, ribbons, tarpaulin sheets, broken compact discs, buttons, used office supplies, multi-colored tin cans, handmade beads, pencil shavings, outdated brochures.
Meanwhile, Mayor Mauricio Domogan lauded the women as mothers who are influential and responsibly instill values in their children what could be passed on to the next generation.
“What women can do is limitless, the mayor said, citing that they can be plumbers, engineers, lawyers, farmers, company executive officers, pilots; occupations which were formerly dominated by men. Women are God-given helpers, thus should be esteemed, respected and treated with utmost care,” the mayor said.
Domogan added women are fortified by adversity, and as keepers of the home, prove to be good examples, specially to the children.
“A month is not enough for tributes to our highly regarded women, as they make the world a better place,” Domogan ended. Julie Fianza