AS PART OF the number of activities dedicated to celebrating the annual Women’s Month, the San Beda Student Council (SC) held a two-part segment of discussions concerning women last March 8 at the Abbot Lopez Hall.
The two-part activity highlighted women educators of San Beda University (SBU) who are noted to be “insightful and broken free” from the “invisible barriers of a patriarchal society.” With this on hand, the event was aimed at further “empowering Bedan women” and “raise awareness of gender equality” with the various speakers of the event.
The event was divided into two segments. The first being dubbed as “Hold My Lipstick EmpowHERing Women: Babeng Bedista ang Mahusay,” with speakers namely: Atty. Ruiza Tolentino, Dr. Jacklyn Anne D. Toldoya, Prof. Susan Butac, Ph.D., and Ms. Ria Marielle Bautista. Through their segments, they discussed the impact that the women in academia have brought on society, as well as the opportunities that are available to women both inside and outside of SBU, all while sharing their insights.
The second segment, on the other hand, was entitled “Women Rising in a Male-Dominated Field.” Their speakers included: Mx. Shackie Caccam, who is the Creative Director of Oddefy, PCAPT; Veronica F. Apresurado, the Chief of the Women & Children Concerns Section of the Manila Police District; and Ms. Cristina “Tina” Doble, the CEO of Morph Aesthetics Corporation, as well as the Golden Doble 88 Corporation. Said speakers discussed their experiences concerning the reaction of society to being a woman working in a field that is dominated by men, the challenges they faced as women in their field, and the most effective methods for encouraging women to take up space in all areas of endeavor.
Julia San Jose, the current Vice President of Internal Affairs of the SC, as well as one of the chairpersons in the series of activities, shared the significance of celebrating the value of women even beyond the range of March. “Women’s month or women’s right is not just celebrated during March, but dito sa San Beda, it is becoming a norm, nabebreak na ‘yung stigma,” she shared as she underscored the inclusivity of the Student Organization Circle (SOC) as well as the whole Bedan community in general.
Moreover, San Jose also added how “thankful” she is for her co-officers, highlighting the ascent of women in the call of service, with “seven out of the ten members of the SC executive board” being females.
“I believe this fight for equality for women is not a one man fight but rather there’s a lot of women behind me, so I want to say thank you to the student council for a harmonious work even if there are problems, tuloy pa rin ang laban,” she added.
Following the success of the event, Eunice Bermudez, the current President of the SC and one of the activity chairpersons, expressed her gratitude before the women of SBU, exclaiming how “their actions have set an example to all women of the world.”
“Through your accomplishments, through your help, mas tumitibay ‘yung loob ng kababaihan to speak for themselves to speak for their truths and siguro, as a woman myself, let’s continue being the voice of the voiceless, of the unheard, and let’s continue to strive for gender equality in a sense na hatakan pataas,” Bermudez added.
San Jose also left a message before every Bedan, giving them the certainty of being “not alone in the fight for gender equality,” as she further elaborated that the “whole University” are “initiating platforms or projects that is very supportive of the Bedan women community.”
“So, from SC, to SOC, and to the whole San Beda community, I’m so thankful to be part of this community and at the same time, I’m proud to be a Bedan woman,” she closed.
(With Dianne Magallon)