PH Embassy in Brunei Launches Breastfeeding Station and Children's Lounge to Commemorate National Women's Month

Ambassador Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio (center), Consul General Pete Raymond V. Delfin (left), and Vice Consul Jaybee B. Arguillas (right) inaugurate the Breastfeeding Station and Children's Lounge at the Consular Section on International Women’s Day. (Brunei PE photo by Philip Adrian Fernandez)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 15 March 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam launched a Breastfeeding Station and Children's Lounge to mark the word-wide celebration of International Women’s Day on 08 March 2023. It forms part of a series of activities to commemorate National Women’s Month in March with the theme of “WE for gender equality and inclusive society.”

The Breastfeeding Station and Children's Lounge was established at the Consular Section for the benefit of mothers and their children who avail of embassy services. The Breastfeeding Station was complemented by a small reading corner with books on women while the Children’s Lounge included toys, books, games for toddlers and a Changing Station for infants.

The launch began with a flag raising ceremony dedicated to women where Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio highlighted the Embassy’s focus on the relationship between gender and health. “Our hope is to inspire and empower women to empower themselves to make informed decisions that promote their health and well-being through health promoting behaviors” said the Ambassador.

The Philippine Embassy kicked off its commemoration on 01 March 2023 with the #PurpleWednesdays campaign. The campaign encourages the wearing of purple, a symbol of justice and dignity, during Wednesdays in March in support of the Philippine Government’s women empowerment advocacy. Embassy personnel also gave themselves hugs to highlight the International Women’s Day 2023 global campaign theme of #Embrace Equity. 

To cap off the month-long celebration, the Embassy will hold “Music to Heal: A Music and Wellness Workshop to Promote Women’s Health” on 18 March 2023. The workshop will promote the wellbeing of women by teaching wellness techniques and strategies through music. 

The Embassy also established a GAD microsite for overseas Filipinos where they can access online and download materials on the Women’s Month Celebration such as brochures including information on relevant Philippine laws on women’s rights as well as digital campaign materials. 

The Embassy also continued into its second year the “Health Corner 4 All”, a pioneering initiative that aims to empower Filipinos to care for their health by providing them free use of basic medical equipment while the public avail of consular services.  “Health Corner 4 All” is a collaboration of the Philippine Embassy with the Philippine Nurses Association - Brunei Chapter (PNA-Brunei). It was launched to commemorate National Women’s Month 2022.

The Embassy regularly conducts Gender and Development (GAD) activities that promote gender and development issues for the benefit of Filipinos in Brunei, particularly for their empowerment and enhanced productivity. END

Philippine Embassy personnel during the Flag Raising Ceremony to commemorate International Women’s Day and National Women’s Month. (Brunei PE photo by Philip Adrian Fernandez)

Ambassador Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio speaks on the importance of embracing equity and forging an inclusive society during the Flag Raising Ceremony to mark International Women’s Day. (Brunei PE photo by Philip Adrian Fernandez)

Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio, Consul General Pete Raymond V. Delfin and Acting Welfare Officer Cristina B. Mallare view the newly inaugurated Breastfeeding Station and Children's Lounge at the Consular Section. The Breastfeeding Station and Children’s Lounge includes a changing station for infants and a library on women’s literature for mothers. (Brunei PE photo by Philip Adrian Fernandez)

Children rest, learn, and play at the newly launched Children’s Lounge. (Brunei PE photo by Philip Adrian Fernandez)

The women of the Philippine Embassy led by Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio (center) strike a pose at the inauguration of the Breastfeeding Station and Children's Lounge. (Brunei PE photo by Philip Adrian Fernandez)

The Philippine Embassy in Brunei led by Ambassador Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio (center) hug themselves in their purple shirts to highlight the global campaign theme of #EmbraceEquity.