The Women’s Month is celebrated every March to spread awareness about women’s issues and encourage active participation in promoting empowerment and inclusion. Guided discussions and campaigns highlight embracing differences in race, age, ability, faith, body image, and gender identity. Each year, SDEAS aligns its events with the International Women’s Day theme, advocating for women’s rights and recognizing the intersectionality of gender and deafness. This year, SDEAS is celebrating the 18th Women’s Month with the theme, “Inspire Inclusion, Be Inclusive” following the International Women’s Month Celebration theme. The campaign on inclusion emphasizes the importance of openly embracing individual differences in race, age, ability, faith, body image, and how they identify.
Thanksgiving Celebration and Opening Program (March 4, 2024)
The celebration started with a Eucharistic celebration and an opening program at the Chapel of the Resurrection, Benilde Taft Campus to formally start and introduce Women’s Month and this year’s theme. The Sir John Xandre Baliza gave an opening remarks followed by our SDEAS Dean, Ms. Marian Patricia Bea U. Francisco, PHD to formally open the celebration and explain the Women’s Month Celebration Theme.
The opening program was adorned by the Silent Steps’ Performance choreographed by Ms. Myra Medrana. The performance was an interpretative dance about women’s struggles in the workplace, primarily due to gender bias and the “double burden” of professional and domestic responsibilities. The performance emphasized women’s burdens that imapct their mental and physical health, and overall well-being.
Herstory: Women’s Month History and Inclusivity (March 4, 2024)
To start the celebration was a seminar on “Herstory: Women’s Month History and Inclusivity” aimed to awaken the women’s supportive instinct. This discussion shared how the advocacy started and the role of female activists in advancing women’s rights. This awakening talk opened interesting insights from the students and stirred their inner desire to continuously talk about equality and inclusion, and fight for advocacy.
To deepen the Deaf student’s awareness on the deeply rooted history of why we celebrate Women’s Month, Ms. May Flor Artagame discussed stories of opression towards women and why it is important to celebrate and acknowledge all the struggles and continue to fight for women’s rights. Ms. Joyce Camille Domingues also shared the current issues on women’s rights and equality.
Mental Health Awareness (March 5, 2024)
In the aims of making everyone feel accepted, loved, and supported, this workshop aims to build awareness and empathy towards persons with depression and how we can help them in their journey. Br. Emmanuel Sia, FSC shared several coping mechanisms and supportive approaches during the event.
SPED 101: Women with Abilities (March 6, 2024)
This is a seminar facilitated by Ms. Angelika Ambal that discussed basic principles of inclusion, manifestations of common disabilities, their challenges or concerns, and examples of inspirational women with disability. It allowed students to have an open discussion on how to deal with various needs. They were thrilled knowing that there are inspiring women with disabilities who were able to advocate and lobby for accessibility and inclusion in various fields.
Self-Love: Make-Up Workshop (March 7, 2024)
This is a seminar on building the student’s self-esteem by accepting their flaws and improving the way they look through a make-up workshop. The students enjoyed learning self-love concepts and make-up techniques. Even male students who attended and supported their female classmates learned and enjoyed the activity. This workshop aims to not only teach make-up but to also learn how to love yourself by transforming your flaws to empowering stories to share.
Body Positivity: Dress-Up Day (March 7, 2024)
The students and associates were encouraged to be what they want to be by wearing whatever they want to wear for the day. Aside from expressing themselves through their outfits, the students were encouraged to promote affirmative comments to promote body positivity and safe spaces. Photobooth and prizes were provided to grace this activity.
Let’s Talk Inclusivity: Deaf Awareness and Basic Filipino Sign Language (FSL) – Women’s Month Edition (March 8, 2024)
The goal of this Deaf Awareness Orientation and Basic FSL – Women’s Edition is to teach ways on how to approach Deaf individuals and learn basic signs while advocating for women’s rights. Words that were taught in FSL focused on protecting women during distressed situations like rape, violence, trauma, abuse and other words related to women struggles and injustices. They hearing audience were also taught words that empower women and enforce gender equality such as beautiful, worthy, protect, support, inclusive, and empower.
Culminating Activity: Art Competition (March 8, 2024)
To celebrate Women’s Month, an exciting art competition was done to express the creativity and talent of Deaf women artists to promote inclusion. With the theme “Inspire Inclusion, Be Inclusive,” this competition aims to showcase the diverse perspectives and artistic prowess within the Deaf community, emphasizing the importance of fostering a more inclusive society. The winners of the art competition were Aiesha Triz Galicia and Romulo Porral III which was posted in the exhibit our partner Benildean Arts Management (BeAM) and Center for Social Action (CSA). Through this art competition and exhibit, various artists noticed the keen attention for detail and unique art expressions of the Deaf showcasing women empowerment.
