PH Consulate General Vancouver joins 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW)  

The officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, led by Consul General Maria Andrelita S. Austria,( center, top left photo) recite the VAW prayer during its flag raising ceremony on 29 November 2021. Master Shishir lnocalla (right, bottom left photo) explains Krav Maga strategies to the participants during the Self-Defense Session held on 29 November 2021' at the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver.( Bottom right)   The men and women of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, led by Consul General Maria Andrelita Austria, pose with Master Shishir lnocalla before the start of the Krav Maga Self-Defense session. (Photos by Vancouver PCG)

VANCOUVER, 09 December 2021 - The Philippine Consulate General launched the 18- Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VA\/V) on 25 November 2021 at the Consulate’s premises as part of its Gender and Development (GAD) program.

Personnel of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver wore orange shirts in support of the campaign. Information flyers on the campaign containing the list of agencies helping battered women were distributed to the Consulate’s clients. Orange-themed giveaways have also been placed at the consular area in order to increase public awareness about the campaign to end VAW.

An info flyer on VAW with contact details of various organizations helping battered women was also released by the Consulate in collaboration with POLO- OWWA.

Relatively, the Philippine Consulate General organized a Krav Maga Self-Defense Session with Master Shishir lnocalla at the Consulate’s premises on 29 November 2021 in support of the Campaign.

The Krav Maga Self-Defense Workshop incorporated training methods to build a fighting spirit and train the participants how to respond both mentally and physically in a time of need, eliminating the danger of “freezing” or “shutting down” in confrontations. During the session, the participants learned how to de-escalate threats, assert their boundaries and use their personal experiences to employ various techniques in properly handling such situations.

The session was conducted by Master Shishir lnocalla, a practitioner of Filipino martial arts. He was awarded "Datu" and Grandmaster in Modern Arnis and won other international martial arts competitions. Mr. lnocalla also played “Michaelangelo” in Teenage Mutant Ninja turtle 3 Movie and TV series.

At the end of the training, the participants felt empowered after learning how to be in command of their mind, body and spirit. The session was also made available thru the Zoom platform for other participants.

The 18-Day Campaign to End VAW, an annual advocacy campaign held in the Philippines by virtue of Proclamation 1172 of 2006, will run from 25 November to 12 December 2021 with the theme “VAW-free community starts with Me.” END

For more information, visit https://www.vancouverpcg.org/   and https://web.facebook.com/PHinVancouver

An orange icon at the consular area has been devoted to the observance of the 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW), where the info flyer and orange treats are offered to the public. (Photo by Vancouver PCG)