‘Beside a confident man is an empowered woman,’ Hon. Sandra Sanchez-Montano, Chairperson of Phil. Women Commission who served as Keynote Speaker, resonated these powerful words throughout her speech at Pangasinan State University-Main Campus in celebration of the 2021 National Women’s Month.
PSU Gender and Development Office headed by Dr. Gilbert P. Moralista ushered this year’s celebration on Nat’l Women’s Month with the slogan ‘Juana Laban sa Pandemya: Kaya!’ which coincides with 2017-2022 NWMC theme: WE Make Change Work for Women. The event was actively participated by notable public officials, Lingayen Mayor, Hon. Leopoldo N. Bataoil, Vice Mayor Hon. Judy De Leon Vargas, PSU Campus Executive Directors, GAD coordinators across campuses, and other staunch GAD advocates.
Hon. Montano firmly remarked, “We take this opportunity to honor women who fulfill extraordinary roles in the society. Our WonderJuanas, with their grit and grace, passion and compassion, diligence and intelligence, build the family, community, and the nation as a whole”.
However, she cautioned that the observance of this year’s NWMC poses a challenge for everyone as the effects of COVID-19 pandemic lurk and continue to hound our lives. Conversely, she lauded the rise of various technological modes and platforms which ease physical assembly and boost online convention.
She boasted that PCW-organized activities for 2021 NWMC upscaled and shifted to online, these include: Juana Laban sa Pandemya: Kaya! Online Forum Series which will run throughout March; MusikJuana Songwriting Contest; and Online Advocacy (consist of #MyWonderJuana, #MySuperJuan, #JuanaSays, 2021 NWMC Viber sticker pack), for full details of said activities visit: pcw.gov.ph.
“We celebrate women trailblazers in politics, governance, and other areas of public service and development efforts, especially during the pandemic,” she said, prompting the entire PSU community as stronghold of gender equality to take a resolute role in empowering women in all walks of life. /ksg