Filipino Women in Shelters Join Campaign vs Violence Event in HK

Acting Head of Post and Deputy Consul General Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan delivers her welcome remarks at “Babae, Natatangi 4” (Woman, You Are Special) event for Filipino women in various shelters in Hong Kong, held on 23 November 2018 at the Philippine Consulate General’s Public Area. (Hong Kong PCG photo)

HONG KONG 11 December 2018 – More than 50 Filipino women who have sought protection for various reasons in shelters located on both sides of Victoria Harbor gathered for a one-day lecture-workshop organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong on 23 November 2018.

The event, entitled “Babae, Natatangi 4 (Woman, You Are Special)” was opened by Acting Head of Post and Deputy Consul General Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan for former migrant workers who fell into especially difficult circumstances at the Consulate Chancery, in observance of the “18-Day Campaign to End Violence against Women” from 25 November to 12 December 2018.

This year, the Consulate partnered with the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation (HKBCF), and Enrich Hong Kong to conduct the event with residents of seven government-, church- and NGO-run shelters located on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

On its fourth year, the project employed orange as its color theme in support of the campaign to end violence against women.

Sharing the poem “Woman Work” by the late American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Acting Head of Post Aguilar-Usudan expressed gratitude to the residents, shelters, and partner agencies for making the project possible.

Representatives from the Consulate General, including its attached agencies, then presented their respective offices’ services relevant to the shelter residents, and discussed the project’s rationale as it promotes the Magna Carta of Women and the annual Campaign to End Violence Against Women.

HKBCF Senior Health Service Office Grace Chung kicked off the workshop proper with a talk on breast health. Enrich Hong Kong Trainer and Outreach Assistant Katrina Eeyan Villamarin then lectured on financial literacy and management, teaching the shelter residents how to determine their wants and needs while stressing that greater financial independence means less vulnerability.

EOC Corporate Communications Officer Devi Novianti gave a lecture on sexual harassment and, in particular, gave tips on empowering the shelter residents on how to take a stand in case of sexual harassment.  

HKBCF also conducted breast exam sessions and referred several shelter residents for free mammogram services, while Enrich Hong Kong provided one-on-one financial counseling.

To further liven the event, Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) representatives led by Assistant Labor Attaché Angelica M. Sunga held games to help the participants take to heart their rights under employment. 

Vice Consul Robert D. Quintin serenaded the shelter residents with Filipino hit songs and led the community singing, to the residents’ delight and to cap off the event.

“Babae, Natatangi 4” was held under the auspices of the Consulate General’s Gender and Development program, and its initial project in observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence against Women. END

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

Representatives from the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong attached agencies make presentations with partners from Hong Kong government and civil society to Filipino women in shelters at the one-day during “Babae, Natatangi 4” (Woman, You Are Special) event for Filipino women in various shelters in Hong Kong held on 23 November 2018 at the Philippine Consulate General’s Public Area. In particular (top row, from left) Welfare Officer Virsie B. Tamayao, Social Welfare Attaché Elizabeth L. Dy, Social Security System Head Lester Paul S. Mata and Pag-IBIG Fund Head Raymond Francis L. Ramos presented their respective offices’ services relevant to the shelter residents. Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation Senior Health Service Office Grace Chung, Enrich Hong Kong Trainer and Outreach Assistant Katrina Eeyan Villamarin, and Equal Opportunities Commission’s Devi Novianti (bottom row, from left) gave talks on, respectively, breast health, financial literacy and management, and addressing sexual harassment. (Hong Kong PCG photo)

Snapshots from the activities held for the one-day “Babae, Natatangi 4” (Woman, You Are Special) event for Filipino women in various shelters in Hong Kong held on 23 November 2018 at the Philippine Consulate General’s Public Area – (top row from left) Philippine Overseas Labor Office and Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration representatives, led by Assistant Labor Attaché Angelica M. Sunga hold games on terms and conditions and rights under employment (photo 1 and 2); and Consulate’s Gender and Development Team ready to hand out token gifts to shelter residents (photo 3); (bottom row from left) Enrich Hong Kong provides one-on-one financial counseling; Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation officials conduct breast exam sessions and refer several shelter residents for free mammogram services; and Vice Consul Robert D. Quintin serenades the shelter residents with Filipino hit songs, and leads the community singing, to the residents’ delight and to cap off the event. (Hong Kong PCG photo)