PH Embassy in Rome Gathers FilCom Leaders to Spread Advocacy on Women Empowerment

Ambassador to Italy Domingo P. Nolasco addresses the Filipino Community leaders from different organizations and encourages them to take part in the government’s advocacy on gender equality and women empowerment. (Rome PE photo)

ROME 19 March 2019 – In celebration of the National Women’s Month, the Philippine Embassy in Rome brought together 40 Filipino Community leaders in Italy for the “Juan (One) for Juana” program.

The program was meant to inspire community leaders to join the Embassy’s advocacy on gender equality and women empowerment. By having male community leaders speak about women empowerment, the event highlighted the meaning of the word “we” in the 2019 National Women’s Month celebration’s theme, “We Make Change Work for Women” that calls for collaboration of both men and women to make real change possible.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador to Italy Domingo P. Nolasco emphasized the crucial role played by the Filipino community in disseminating information on women’s rights and the Philippines’ efforts in closing the gender gap.

This was seconded by former President of the Philippine Independence Day Association (PIDA) and current PIDA adviser Mr. Augusto Cruz, who talked about the power of collaboration among men and women. “It takes two to tango. Men and women are partners for change,” he said during his inspirational talk.

Meanwhile, incumbent PIDA President Fresco Santos talked about the changing times and how Filipinos had positively changed for the better. He cited an instance when before, Filipino men as heads of the household would usually make family decisions unilaterally. Nowadays, they would consult their wives for any decision affecting the household and this practice proved to be worthwhile.

After the key messages of Filipino community leaders were delivered, a video featuring the story of Filipina women who made money from rags was shown to inspire women participants to innovate to transform their lives and the lives of others. This was consistent with the UN Women’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change”.

The program ended with a talk by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Ma. Claribel Ochoa on the milestones and progress made by the Philippines in the field of gender equality and women empowerment.

“Juan (One) for Juana” is a part of a series of month-long activities conducted by the Philippine Embassy in Rome in celebration of the National Women’s Month. The activity was also attended by personnel from the Embassy and its partner agencies. END

Philippine Independence Day Association adviser Augusto Cruz talks about why men should be at the forefront of advancing women’s rights. (Rome PE photo)

Philippine Independence Day Association President Fresco Santos tells the participants how the Philippine society is gradually shredding its paternalistic character. (Rome PE photo)

Third Secretary and Vice Consul Ma. Claribel Ochoa updates the Filipino Community leaders on the progress made by the Philippines in the field of gender equality and women empowerment. (Rome PE photo)

For more information, visit www.romepe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinItaly/.