UPV, Ugsad kick off 18-Day EVAW Campaign

To kick off the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (EVAW), the University of the Philippines Visayas, through the Gender and Development Program (GDP), together with the Ugsad Regional Gender Resource Network, organized the “#VAWFREEPH: A Public Forum and Self-Defense Training” on 25 November 2023 at the UPV Auditorium, Iloilo City campus.

The said event was in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Iloilo Branch and the Bankers Association of Iloilo (BAI), Inc. Around ninety five (95) participants coming from various government agencies, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, local government units, and private institutions in Western Visayas attended the activity.

Prof. Ysabella P. Cainglet, Director of the UPV GDP and Coordinator of the Ugsad Regional Gender Resource Network, delivered the welcome remarks during the program. As one of the co-organizers of the event, Ms. Joanne Marie D. Castelo, Area Director of BSP Iloilo Branch also gave her message.

Atty. Mia Laine C. Catalan-Dabao, Public Attorney II of the Public Attorney’s Office-Iloilo served as the first resource speaker during the public forum. In her talk, she discussed the salient features of Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004, Republic Act No. 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, and the Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act.

It was followed by a Self-Defense Training for Women with Mr. John Leogin Fuentes, Head Coach of the MDS Jiu Jitsu Jaro Branch and the Coach of the Ateneo de Iloilo Jiu Jitsu Club. Mr. Fuentes, together with some members of MDS Jiu Jitsu, gave a demonstration of various self-defense techniques.

The activity ended with a closing remarks by Ms. Angeline Cayabyab, President of the Bankers Association of Iloilo (BAI), Inc.

The said event is one of the series of activities of UPV and the Ugsad Regional Gender Resource Network in observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (EVAW). The campaign will run from November 25 to December 12, with the theme “UNiTEd for a VAW-free Philippines.”