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 Women, and Certified-Edu.net, held the first Course Program of the Angat Bayi Political Empowerment Fellowship on 15-17 November 2018 at the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), Diliman, Quezon City.
Resource persons were Dr. Nathalie Lourdes Africa-Verceles of the UPCWGS and the Department of Women and Development Studies, UP College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD); Dr. Jean S. Encinas-Franco of the Department of Political Science, UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP); Atty. Ibarra M. Gutierrez III of the UP College of Law; Dr. Maria Ela L. Atienza of the Department of Political Science, UP CSSP; Lina Bacalando of the Likhaan Center for Women’s Health, Inc.; Councilor Corazon M. Raymundo of Pasig City; Mayor Carolyn S. Fariñas of San Felipe, Zambales; Mayor Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro of Tabaco City, Albay; Mayor Flora L. Villarosa of Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte; Representative Maria Lourdes Acosta-Alba of District I, Bukidnon; Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea of the UPCWSFI and the UP Asian Center; Vice Mayor Ma. Josefina G. Belmonte-Alimurung of Quezon City; and Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio of the UP CSWCD.
Guest speakers were UP Executive Vice President Teodoro J. Herbosa, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines John T. Holmes, Dinagat Islands Representative Arlene J. Bag-ao, Senator Ana Theresia N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, and Vice President Maria Leonor G. Robredo.
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]
