The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS), in cooperation with the UP College of Human Kinetics (CHK), the UP Men’s Basketball Team, and the UP Pep Squad, launched the #SafeCampusTo: UP Fight Against VAW on 23 March 2019 at the Quezon Hall Steps, UP Diliman. The campaign aims to make UP campuses safe from all forms of gender-based violence.

As part of its celebration of Women’s Month, the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) conducted a Research Dissemination Forum on 20 March 2019 at the Institute for Small-Scale Industries (ISSI), UP Diliman.

The studies presented during the event, which received the 2018 UPCWGS Research Grant, were “Knowledge on University Policies, Procedures and Resources; Attitudes Towards Sexually Harassing Behaviors; and Experiences on Sexual Harassment of Students in the College of Arts and Sciences, UP Manila” by Prof. Marla A. Endriga of the Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Manila; “Women Resistance, Homemaking and Neoliberalism: The Case of Women Resistance Against the Philippine Jeepney Phase-out Program” by Prof. Chester C. Arcilla of the Department of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, UP Manila; “Life Stories of Women Political Leaders: Investigating the Meaning of a Counterfactual to the Benchwarmer Phenomenon” by Dr. Raymundo R. Pavo of the Department of Social Sciences, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, UP Mindanao; “Exploring the Spaces of LGBT’s Aging Ls: Narratives on Inclusion-Exclusion of Older/Tiguwang Lesbians in Davao City, Mindanao” by Gina Rose L. Chan of the UPCWGS; “Contemporary Gender Ideologies and Intra-household Relationships of Farming Families in Malaysia and Philippines” by Veronica L. Gregorio of the National University of Singapore; and “Effect of Music Therapy to the Pain and Anxiety Level Experienced During Childbirth Labor” by Kristine Joy L. Ricafort-Acera of the School of Health Sciences, UP Manila.

As part of its celebration of Women’s Month, the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) organized a seminar on Urban Farming for Women and Men of UP on 19 March 2019 at the UPCWGS Conference Room and Courtyard. Resource persons were Lian Janelle DR. Valencia and Jomar O. Tabor of the Agricultural Training Institute, Department of Agriculture. Staff of the various UP Diliman offices and residents of Barangay UP Campus attended the event.

As part of its celebration of Women’s Month, the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) conducted a Seminar for the Staff of UP System Administration Offices: Gender Sensitivity and UP Anti-Sexual Harassment Code of 2017 on 15 March 2019 at the College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD), UP Diliman. Resource persons were Dr. Nathalie Lourdes Africa-Verceles of the UPCWGS and the Department of Women and Development Studies, CSWCD; Prof. Excelsa C. Tongson of the UPCWGS and the Department of Family Life and Child Development, College of Home Economics (CHE); and Atty. Leo D. Battad of the College of Law.

As part of its celebration of Women’s Month, the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS), in partnership with UP Babaylan, Babaylanes, Inc.​, and the UP College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD) Doctor of Social Development Program, organized a roundtable discussion on the development of a system-wide UP Policy on Equality and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) entitled, “UP for Equality: Towards a University SOGIESC Policy,” on 14 March 2019 at the Bulwagang Tandang Sora, CSWCD, UP Diliman. The event aims to discuss and identify the elements and framework of the UP SOGIESC Policy.

Panelists were Dr. Cynthia Grace C. Gregorio of the Institute of Chemistry, College of Science (CS), UP Diliman; Dr. Eloisa May P. Hernandez of the Department of Art Studies, College of Arts and Letters (CAL), UP Diliman; John Andrew G. Evangelista of the Department of Sociology, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), UP Diliman; Eljay Bernardo of Rainbow Rights Philippines; Claudine Faye M. Tecson of the UP Diliman Psychosocial Services (PsycServ); Dylan Twain Constantino of the UP Diliman University Student Council; Atty. Claire de Leon of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR); Lysander James Montilla Doble of the Department of Psychology, CSSP, UP Diliman; and Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio of the Department of Women and Development Studies, CSWCD, UP Diliman.

The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) and the UP Center for Women’s Studies Foundation, Inc. (UPCWSFI), with the support of the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), the Office of the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines through the Angat Buhay, and Certified-Edu.net, held the second Course Program (Feminist and Gender Transformative Governance, Leadership, and Development) of the Angat Bayi Political Empowerment Fellowship on 7-9 February 2019 at Villa Caceres Hotel, Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Resource persons were Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio of the UP College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD); Mayor Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro of Tabaco City, Albay; Dr. Nathalie Lourdes Africa-Verceles of the UPCWGS and the Department of Women and Development Studies, CSWCD; Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea of the UPCWSFI and the UP Asian Center; Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo; and Representative Maria Lourdes Acosta-Alba of District I, Bukidnon.

The first batch of Angat Bayi Fellows are Councilor Charisse Marie Abalos-Vargas of Mandaluyong City; Councilor Candice Magdalene Alumisin-Tupas of Iloilo City; Mayor Viviane P. Alvarez of Oras, Eastern Samar; Vice Mayor Arlyn H. Arcilla of Virac, Catanduanes; Councilor Jom Bagulaya of Tacloban City, Leyte; Councilor Rema E. Burdeos of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte; Mayor Rosario Mediatrix P. Fernandez of San Enrique, Iloilo; Mayor Trina Alejandra Q. Firmalo-Fabic of Odiongan, Romblon; Councilor Lena Marie P. Juico of Quezon City; Councilor Mary Marjorie P. Martin-Chan of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; Provincial Board Member Mikaela Karita S. Mendoza of Ilocos Sur; Councilor Maria Rosario Eufrosina P. Nisce of San Fernando, La Union; Councilor Annabel Pinat-Pelismino of Tubajon, Dinagat Islands; Councilor Rogelin Clemeña-Degoma of Panglao, Bohol; Councilor Elaine E. Teope of Luisiana, Laguna; Mayor Rowena R. Tuason of Masbate City; Councilor Joanne Ascencion G. Valdez of Candon, Ilocos Sur; Councilor Judy D. Vargas of Lingayen, Pangasinan; and Councilor Cecilia B. Veluz-De Asis of Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Angat Bayi recognizes the fundamental value of women’s political participation in achieving women’s empowerment and national development. It aims to contribute to the full, meaningful, and effective political participation of women towards a people-centered, rights-based, gender-responsive, participatory, empowering, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development.

[With a report from Laniza R. Lacsamana]

The University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) joined UP Diliman’s annual Lantern Parade on 14 December 2018 at the Academic Oval, UP Diliman. This year’s theme is “Paglaot, Pagdaong.”

As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) launched its latest journal, the Review of Women’s Studies Volume XXVIII, on 13 December 2018 at the UPCWGS Conference Room.

The Review of Women’s Studies (RWS) is a peer-reviewed journal published by the UPCWGS. The journal serves as a forum where ideas on issues and concerns affecting the lives of women, seen from the analytical perspectives of different disciplines, may be exchanged. It encourages and seeks to publish research that employ feminist methodologies and that adhere to the principles of feminist research, bearing in mind the intersectionality of gender, class, religion, age, and education.

This year’s UPCWGS anniversary theme is “#KabogAt30: Trailblazing in Equity and Equality.”

As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) held an Anniversary Night on 12 December 2018 at the Balay Kalinaw, UP Diliman. This year’s anniversary theme is “#KabogAt30: Trailblazing in Equity and Equality.”

As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS), in partnership with the UP Center for Women’s Studies Foundation, Inc. (UPCWSFI), conferred the Dakila Awards on 12 December 2018 at the Balay Kalinaw, UP Diliman. The Dakila Awards are given to the most deserving individuals in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the advancement of gender equality and women’s empowerment. The recipients of the Dakila Awards for 2018 are Dr. Rhodora M. Bucoy, Dr. Junice Lirza D. Melgar, and Emmeline L. Verzosa for Feminist Activism in Public Service; Dr. Sylvia E. Claudio, and Dr. Grace J. Alfonso for Feminist Activism in the Academe; and Loretta Ann P. Rosales and Aida F. Santos-Maranan for Advocacy and Feminist Activism.

This year’s UPCWGS anniversary theme is “#KabogAt30: Trailblazing in Equity and Equality.”