If I am not mistaken, the month of March is declared to be National Women's Month . To recognize and celebrate the months for women, our barangay official arranged an event for young people, specifically women aged 15–30 years. At first, I wasn't aware of the event. However, the posting of the event reached out to me while I was scrolling on my Facebook. Maybe, too, it reached out to me with the purpose that joining the event would help me with what I felt at that moment. Without having a second thought, I registered for the event through Google Forms.
After the day I registered, I received a text that I was invited to the event. On March 23, 2024 (Saturday), the event will take place at the Cebu Business Hotel at 1 pm. I got there to the place just in time. They have checked my name and have signed some papers. When I was sitting, I bumped into some familiar faces and also with a friend of mine. I spotted them so I sat next to them.
When the host arrived, which was a little time after mine, the program started. As always, the program would begin with a prayer and singing of the national anthem, and we also danced "energizer" before officially starting the program.
For the welcome remarks, the SK President welcomed us all with warm greetings. She expresses her gratitude to each one of us in the room who has joined and to the guest speaker. After her speech, the host began introducing the first speaker.
Image source
First Speaker: PCPT Albe B. Codilla (Chief, WCPD, PRO7) together with her partner.
Image source
Topic:
Harnessing Technology for Women's Rights.
Before she started talking about her topic, she asked us a question...
"What is your accomplishment and what things did you do that helped others?
The host asked for volunteers to answer such questions.
Person 1: She is the former crowned as the Queen of the Barangay, she considered her as her great accomplishments. According to her, her title as the Queen and her job as an event host give way for her to spread love and positivity while also making people laugh at the moment.
Image source
Person 2: Being someone's friend is what she have considered an accomplishment. According to her, as someone who has also experienced dealing with mental health, she was able to share her experiences with those who also experienced the same battle as her. She was there to listen and give advice, becoming an advocate in fighting for mental health battles.
Image source
Person 3: She shares her career struggle being in the IT industry where people think it is very masculine for women to be in the industry. However, she dealt with it and became successful. That way, she proves to them that a woman can do everything, even masculine jobs.
Image source
That is what makes the speech more interesting, since there is a lot of sharing happening. The first speaker and her partner started tackling the topic. They further discussed the rights of each woman and child, including the laws that protect them and the forms of violence that many women experience and when to report it. It is very informational and detailed as they give real life cases for us to clearly understand what has been discussed. The rights of women and children have been discussed further and emphasized.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
After the first speaker ends their topic, they are recognized and awarded with a certificate and a gift as a token of appreciation for their effort and time.
Image source
Afterward, the snacks were served. It consists of a tart, a purple cake and a pancit with coke drinks. Aside from that, it is very delicious, the flavor and color of the cake is very empowering indeed. After having snacks, they proceed with the next speaker.
The next speaker's topic is all about "Leading with Authenticity, Purpose and Resilience".
She shares with us her personal life and struggles, how she conquers everything leading her to the success right now. Her story is so inspiring and emotional that I can somehow relate to it. You know that feeling when you can relate to someone or to a situation, and will somehow make you emotional? That is exactly what I felt. She never failed to give inspirational advices and quotes she once read in a book and even about her personal learning experiences. Her life stories and experiences clearly define the topic.
AUTHENTICITY for her is the quality of being true to yourself and your beliefs. She also added that RESILIENCE is the capacity to successfully adapt to difficulties and challenges in life.
Moreover, as it is about empowering women, she highlighted that "Women can survive in a male-dominated workplace". The reason is that, currently, the speaker herself is the only girl employed in the group.
Before she ended her topic, she left a very inspiring quote that says...
"Authentic leadership is not about being perfect but about being TRUE TO YOURSELF and your values .
Indeed, the talks give us a lot of learning and motivational messages which are also beneficial to us women. We are greatly honored and empowered as well after hearing them sharing their empowering journey. After the sharing, the speakers are awarded with certificates and taking of pictures takes place after that. Moving forward, we all gathered at the front and took pictures together. Each one of us also received certificates. I am very grateful to be part of this event, and I am looking forward to more of it.Thank you so much my dear divers for reaching this part of the blog.
Image source
Always remember your worth and do not let a man define you by things you can do. Stand on yourself and be a woman. Remember! We are not "just" a woman but a WOMAN.
