03 April 2014 - In celebration of the International Women’s Month, the Philippine Consulate held a “Women’s Forum cum Film showing” activity at its Community Hall on March 29.

Consul Germinia Aguilar-Usudan, the sole lady senior officer in the Consulate, welcomed the attendees that were mainly composed of Filipino Community representatives from the Kapit-Bisig organization, spouses of officers and staff of the Consulate and wards of the Filipino Women Resource Center (FWRC). Consul Usudan emphasized the vital importance of women in our society today.

In a powerpoint presentation entitled “Inspiring Change”, during the forum, Dr. Omega Garibay, spouse of Consul General Uriel Norman R. Garibay, explained the rationale of the Magna Carta for Women or RA 9710 which institutionalized gender equality and women’s empowerment, ensured the equal access of Filipino women to resources and development outcomes, and protection from violence. She, however, also reminded everyone that “every right involves a corresponding responsibility to others and society”. She further credited Filipino women who made an important impact in the Filipino society saying:

“Let us cherish what the women leaders of yesteryears have done for us, as we support the women leaders of our present time who continue what they have begun. We give them tribute by taking control of our own lives and prove we are equal partners in shaping a more humane world. Let us make full use of RA 9710, otherwise known as Magna Carta for Women to realize our full potentials and become better individuals as we contribute to the development of our nation and bring compassion to the whole world…”

“My House Husband”, which won the Quezon City Gender Sensitive Film Award in the 2011 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), the featured film, was an enthralling and fitting conclusion to the Consulates celebration of the International Women’s Month. The domestic drama about a middle-class macho husband who loses his job and ends up with doing household chores usually done by women, and stars the real life marital partners Ryan Agoncillo and Judy Ann Santos, placed in proper context and perspective the welcome remarks and presentation of Consul Usudan and Madame Garibay, respectively.

A select group of FWRC wards, which performed an interpretative song-dance number provided apt intermission between the forum and the film-showing. END