Philippine Embassy in Buenos Aires Conducts a Session on the Safe Spaces Act and Self-Defense for the Filipino Community

Left photo: The Filipino community and the Philippine Embassy take a group photo outside the embassy and join the call to unite for a VAW-free Philippines; Third Secretary and Vice Consul Anna Iglesias delivers a talk on the Safe Spaces Act; Gustavo Albertti of Kombatan (left) teaches basic self defense to Anita Tobesa (right), a member of the Filipino community.. ( Photos from Buenos Aires PE)

BUENOS AIRES 07 December 2022 – In support of the 18-day campaign to eliminate violence against women and girls, the Philippine Embassy in Argentina, in cooperation with the organization Kombatan Argentin, gathered members of the Filipino community in Argentina for a session on the Safe Spaces Act and a self-defense seminar on 29 November 2022 at the Embassy Chancery. Kombatan is a Filipino martial art that combines various classical and modern styles of arnis.

“The Safe Spaces Law provides much needed legal protection for those vulnerable to gender-based sexual harassment, both in physical, public places and virtual spaces,” Vice-Consul and Gender and Development (GAD) focal point officer Anna Christina Iglesias underscored in her discussion the key features of Republic Act No. 11313, or the Safe Spaces Act, passed in 2019.

In the first part of the session, Argentine and Filipino members of the audience shared their views and experiences of sexual harassment in its different forms and highlighted the vulnerabilities women, girls, and persons of diverse gender identities and expressions face.

Resource speaker Gustavo Albertti discussed the history of arnis in the Philippines and its relevance to Filipino women throughout history. He emphasized the benefits of women learning martial arts, noting that sports are typically considered a male-dominated space. The self-defense session consisted of an introduction to arnis and self-defense techniques.

Mr. Albertti is Argentina’s representative to Modern Arnis de Mano Kombatan - Presas Style of Grand Master Ernesto Amador Presas and the International Philippine Martial Arts Federation (IPMAF).

The 18-day campaign to end violence against women is observed annually in accordance with Proclamation 1172 s. 2006. This year’s theme, “United for a VAW-Free Philippines,” highlights the importance of individual efforts towards a collective thrust towards a VAW-free Philippines.

For more information, visit http://buenosairespe.dfa.gov.ph   or https://www.facebook.com/PHinArgentina/.   END