PCG Toronto conducts webinar on roles of Filipino women through the centuries 

Dr. Nathalie Lourdes Africa-Verceles, (inset) Director of the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies gave a comprehensive talk on “Being Pinay: The Roles of Filipino Women Through the Centuries”, a virtual event organized by Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and held on 3 December 2021 via Zoom. (Photo from Toronto PCG)

TORONTO, 09 December 2021 - The Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Consulate General, led by Consul General Orontes Castro, organized a virtual seminar entitled “Being Pinay: The Roles of Filipino Women Through the Centuries” on 03 December 2021 with Dr. Nathalie Lourdes Africa-Verceles, Director of the UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies as main speaker.

Ambassador Rodolfo Robles delivered the welcome remarks where he emphasized on the leadership role that women presently hold in almost all fields of society. Dr. Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista of the University of the Philippines (UP) also gave brief remarks on the role of women and lauded the U.P. Center for Women’s and Gender Studies for its various programs to advance the status and welfare of Filipino women.

In her lecture, Dr. Verceles discussed the evolution of the role of Filipino women in Philippine society from the pre-colonial until the present times. She noted that Filipino women were equal and, in some cases, even occupying higher roles than men. However, with the arrival of the Spaniards, the role of Filipino women was relegated to the household. Nevertheless, Filipino women were able to re-establish their role in Philippine society through several turning points in Philippine history.

Also present as reactors during the lecture were Hon. Member of Parliament Salma Zahid of Scarborough Centre and Hon. Member of Provincial Parliament Doly Begum of Scarborough-Southwest who both shared their experiences as migrants in Canada and how as women they were able to overcome the challenges and play a leadership role initially in their communities, and later at the provincial and federal levels. Other members of the panel were Dr. B. Lynne Milgram of the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) University who shared her studies on the involvement of Filipino women in alternative business enterprises and and Ms. Agnes Manasan of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Toronto (UPAAT) who noted that a new breed of Filipino-Canadian women is emerging as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Verceles and Dr. Bautista were presented the Quincentennial Award by Consul General Castro at the end of the program for their advocacies in advancing and promoting the welfare and interest of Filipino women and their support to the Philippine Consulate General.

The webinar was moderated by Ms. Helen Chua Balderama of York University. Around 78 individuals attended the webinar, representing different Filipino-Canadian community organizations in Canada. END

For more information, visit https://philippineembassy-usa.org and https://web.facebook.com/PHinUSA

H.E. Ambassador Rodolfo D. Robles (left) gave the Welcome Remarks while Dr. Maria Cynthia Rose Banzon Bautista (right) delivered the Opening Remarks at the virtual event  (Photo from Toronto PCG)

The Panel of Distinguished Women Reactors composed of Hon. Member of Parliament Salma Zahid (top left) of Scarborough Centre, Hon. Member of Provincial Parliament Doly Begum (top right) of Scarborough-Southwest, Dr. B. Lynne Milgram (bottom left), and Ms. Agnes Manasan (bottom right).(Photo from Toronto PCG)

Dr. Nathalie Lourdes Africa-Verceles (top left) gave an inspiring presentation on the evolution of the roles of Filipino women over the centuries. Consul General Orontes V. Castro (center) the  host of the webinar and Ms. Balderama (right), the Moderator of the webinar. (Photo by Toronto PCG)