SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) — Embracing women’s capacity to empower society, 47 different government agencies from the Ilocos Region joined together to commence the celebration of the 2025 National Women’s Month on March 5.
The event, anchored on this year’s theme “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas” (Women across all sectors will rise in the New Philippines), is a reinforcement of the national government’s advocacy for gender equality and women empowerment across different sectors.
Organized by the Region 1 Advocates for Gender Equality (RAGE 1), the event is in partnership with the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO-1), which hosted the event at Camp Oscar M Florendo in Barangay Parian of this city.
Brig. Gen. Lou Evangelista, director OF PRO-1, recognized the contributions of women and emphasized their contributions to society.
“The theme of this celebration mirrors not only the strength and abilities of women in all levels of life, but also their important role in forming a bright future for the Philippines,” said Evangelista.
Wearing different shades of purple and carrying props of the same color, attendees walked in a parade for Gender and Development (GAD), which started at Pennsylvania Avenue in Barangay Madayegdeg, heading to the venue of the program.
The wearing of purple is part of the Philippine Commission on Women’s (PCW) call to illuminate offices, landmarks, and public spaces with purple elements every Wednesday in March, as stated in Memorandum Circular No. 2025-01.
Upon arriving at the venue, the attendees also participated in a zumba dance exercise to promote health and fitness led by staff from the Ilocos Training Regional Medical Center (ITRMC).
Coinciding with this year’s observance of Ash Wednesday, the opening program included a thanksgiving mass that highlighted the important role that women play in society, not just in the family.
Booths exhibiting agencies’ services and products and GAD-related materials were also set up as part of the event.
In the Best Booth contest, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) emerged as the champion, followed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) as the first runner-up, while the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of Tourism (DOT) shared the second runner-up title.
Keynote speaker Mikaela Karita Ortega, former Ilocos Sur board member and GAD advocate, emphasized that embracing change is essential for progress, specifically change for women.
“As advocates, this is not the future we long for. We want to rise above, not just above the struggles, not just where inequality limits equality or exclusivity meets inclusivity,” she said.
The event also witnessed the induction of the new RAGE 1 officers, who pledged to champion women’s rights and gender equality.
The new set of officers includes the following:
President: Ma. Patricia Rimando (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency)
Vice-President: Cherrie Bayuga (Civil Service Commission)
Secretary: Cathleen Lezette Ofilas-Keith (National Police Commission)
Treasurer: Ethel Jularbal (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas)
Auditor: Jara Acoon-Hadji Nasif (Department of Science and Technology)
P.R.O.: Rocky Bautista (Philippine Information Agency)
Rubylyn Munar of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Welfare Office 1 expressed her office’s dedication to advancing women’s empowerment and gender equality.
“This is a good opportunity for us in OWWA to express that we are one in the advocacy for women’s empowerment and gender equality, and I hope everyone who joined today feels the same,” she said.
With the unwavering dedication of these agencies and advocates, the celebration not only marked the start of Women’s Month but also reinforced the collective commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women for a brighter future. (AMB/REB/ABN, PIA Region 1)
