Purple clothes, purple banners, purple streets. The roads of Miagao Iloilo were riddled in swathes of purple color last March 24 in a parade titled, Purple Parade: Lakad Para sa Kababaihan in celebration of Women’s Month.
Boasting almost 300 in number, the parade was composed of various women’s groups from different sectors in Miagao. Present during the parade were the Committee on Women and Family, Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI), Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Family Circle, and solo parents. Students from the University of the Philippines (UPV) joined the parade as well.
This community-led event was in partnership with the Gender Committee of the UPV University Student Council (USC).
The parade and the event, thereafter, served as an avenue to share the LGU’s plans to enact a localized ordinance of the Safe Spaces Act. The initiative was proposed to the LGU by the USC Gender Committee with the help of SB Japhet Grace Moleta in an effort to create safer spaces in the municipality.
The parade started from the Miagao plaza to Brgy. Kirayan Evacuation Center, where a short program followed. Participants from the parade were energized by UPV student hosts, Paul Barranco and Nivil Pimentil upon arriving at the venue.
The program formally commenced with the opening remarks of Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) officer, Rosalinda Mueda, RSW. The remarks were followed by a series of intermission numbers from each women’s sector. The entire day of celebration was highlighted by a sharing session with a representative from each of the women’s groups present, as well as a representative from UPV.
The session was centered on the experiences of being a woman and the celebration that comes with womanhood. Also present was Atty. Heninda Genise, who informed the audience and participants of the different policies and programs in the municipality for women.
The event capped off with the launching of SB Moleta’s Localized Ordinance on Safe Spaces Act. Fliers containing information on the current Bawal Bastos Law were disseminated among the audience as a supplementary material.
