UP Cebu warmly opens the Women's Month Celebration

Dr. Rhodora Bucoy and Mrs. Portia Dacalos led the
Opening Parade last March 3.

March is Women’s Month, and the University of the Philippines Cebu joins in on the celebration by holding a program organized by the Gender and Development Office in coordination with the Philippines Commission on Women and SIDLAK GRC-7. 

The weather was cloudy and gloomy, but that did not stop students and faculty alike from attending the event at the Oblation Square on the afternoon of March 3. The motif was pink and violet, the colors of Women’s Month.

Atty. Liza Corro, Dean of the University of the Philippines Cebu, was the first speaker. Among the many speakers that afternoon included the Gender and Development Coordinator Dr. Rhodora Bucoy.

Fine Arts student Charice Fortunato presented a song number, I am Beautiful. 

UP Serenata, UP Cebu’s very own choir, presented an intermission number. They sang Wind Beneath My Wings, Can’t Smile Without You, and Anak, along with an interpretative dance by UP High students.

Professor Kaira Alburo explains the situation of women in disasters

The University of the Philippines Cebu held a forum that addressed issues and concerns regarding women as a part of the month-long celebration of the Women's Month.

Ms. Kaira Alburo-Canete, a UP Cebu professor, talked about gender-based violence in terms of disaster. In the first part of her talk she showed demographics regarding women exploitation then explained disaster risk, management and preparedness.

Professor Alburo showed a video titled “Sex for Food”. The video talks about women selling themselves for food. The video focused on how African women sold their body in exchange of daily rations of beans, soya, salt and corn during disasters. Women exploited themselves in order to satisfy their basic needs. 

The speaker also tackled the “Baby Boom”, again from Africa. In the so called "Baby Boom", 5% of the total affected population are pregnant women. Men in the said evacuation camps abuse their condition where everyone sleeps almost right next to each other, thus many women became victims of rape and sexual abuse.

She presented possible solutions such as providing more police officers in evacuation camps with a population of more than 50,000 people. Alburo also said that although this may be a possible solution, gender-based violence will always be present in camps. 

Professor Alburo emphasized that one of the most efficient solutions is the enlightenment and empowerment of women.