PH Embassy in Brunei Darussalam Inaugurates Women's Room

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 01 April 2024 – In commemoration of Women’s Month and in a significant move to support and empower the Filipino women community in Brunei Darussalam, the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam inaugurated its Women's Room on 27 March 2024 at the Consular Wing of the Chancery. This initiative marks a tangible effort by the Embassy to offer a sanctuary that addresses the diverse needs of Filipino women.

The inauguration was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam Chargé d'Affaires Jacqueline L. Ong. A signing ceremony of the Covenant of Cooperation ensued between the Embassy and various socio-civic groups in Brunei such as the Project Women Brunei, the Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society, RespectMe, and Bleed Safely, as well as the Filipino community including Brunei’s only Filipino lawyer Atty. Czar Cabading Calabarzon. Lastly, participants were welcomed to write on a freedom wall of their commitments to ensure a safe haven for Filipino women. These activities demonstrate the Embassy’s dedication in advocating the welfare and rights of Filipino migrant women and the collaborative ethos behind the project of the Philippine Embassy.

Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Igncaio, in her message read by Chargé d' Affaires Ong, envisions the Women’s Room as a “haven to grow and be the best of who they can be, where they can know, embrace and respect themselves, to have space where they can speak and be heard, to give them a refuge where they can heal and blossom, and to cultivate a community where they can learn and support each other.”

The Women’s Room aims to foster a culture of care, providing a dynamic space for learning, relaxation, and empowerment. It is a progressive step in the Embassy’s gender-responsive initiatives, following through from last year’s declaration of the Embassy as a Safe Space for Women and the inauguration of the Breastfeeding and Diaper Changing Station and Children’s Lounge. Managed by the Gender and Development Unit in collaboration with the Assistance to Nationals Section, the Women’s Room is set to become a fundamental aspect of community engagement and support and a facility for women, by women, and with women, reinforcing the Embassy’s mission to create an inclusive, nurturing and supportive environment for all women. END

For more information, visit https://www.bruneipe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassybrunei.org, or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBrunei/, https://twitter.com/PHinBrunei, or https://www.instagram.com/phinbrunei/.