Bicol University Center for Gender and Development

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐒 🏳️‍🌈

𝗜𝗻 𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟰, a prominent movement led by a handful of advocates in Manila made headlines- what was later dubbed as the 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, not only in the Philippines, but in Asia. Back then, they demanded an end to discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and for the promotion of the sector’s rights, and also opposed the burdensome Value Added Tax (VAT), rising oil and commodity prices. Through this initiative, the call for equality, dignity, and human rights for LGBTQIA+ communities were amplified. More than three decades later, these calls remain relevant.

Here at Bicol University, we loudly reaffirm our 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 through our GAD policies and initiatives which promote respect, equity and belonging.

As we celebrate this year’s 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵, we look back and honor those who came before us, recognize the work that remains, and encourage everyone to become allies in building a more inclusive future.

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟒 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰!

𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀:
Metropolitan Community Church, UP Babaylan Archive Project, 2018 Marikina Pride March

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗚𝗔𝗗 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 📢

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed such proactive interest in our GAD Webinar Series and to those who were especially looking forward to our originally announced topic on the Enhanced Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF). Your enthusiasm for gender and development initiatives are deeply appreciated!

We're excited to share that GAD Webinar 2 will now be shifting to:

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐭, 𝐆𝐀𝐃!: 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐆𝐃𝐆

This webinar will provide an in-depth orientation on the Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG). Participants can look forward to exploring its core concepts, guiding principles, and practical step-by-step application in making programs and projects truly gender-responsive.

Registration opens on June 3, 2:00 PM.

Mark your calendars and watch this space for the registration link! For more information on the 2026 GAD Webinar Series, visit pcw.gov.ph/2026-gad-webinar-series/.

PCW may still hold a webinar on GMEF on a later date, so stay tuned for future announcements.

FRIDAY GANAP: Sa pagpapatuloy ng IWS Trainer’s Training on Feminism and Education Work with Women (TrTr for Women), pinadaloy ni Atty. Maria Cleofe Gettie C. Sandoval ang mahalagang sesyon sa Gender and the Law.

Bilang legal consultant na naging bahagi ng pagbalangkas ng Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) at Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313), ibinahagi ni Atty. Sandoval ang malalim na pag-unawa sa batas bilang larangan ng proteksyon, pananagutan, at feministang pagkilos.

Tinalakay sa sesyon ang ugnayan ng kasarian, karapatan, karahasan, access to justice, at legal remedies—lalo na sa mga usaping kinakaharap ng kababaihan at iba pang sektor na nasa laylayan. Mahalaga ang pag-unawang ito upang makita na ang batas ay hindi lamang teksto sa papel; ito ay dapat maging buhay na sandigan para sa dignidad, kaligtasan, at katarungan.

Sa TrTr for Women, ang pag-aaral ng batas ay nagiging bahagi ng mas malawak na gawain ng pagpapalaya: ang pag-alam sa karapatan, paghamon sa karahasan, at pagtataguyod ng mga ligtas at makatarungang espasyo para sa lahat.

The Bicol University Graduate School – Students Alliance for Gender Equality (BUGS-SAGE) conducted a productive meeting for the compilation of accomplishment reports and planning of activities for the next semester.
Exciting programs and meaningful initiatives are coming your way!
stay tuned as we continue to advocate for gender equality and inclusivity! 💜💙
-SAGE

Celebrating Labor Day is not just about recognizing paid labor. The work that built our societies was cooked, carried, harvested, delivered mostly by women whose names do not appear in the histories we inherited.

Decolonizing labor means recognizing what was never counted as work, and who was never counted as a worker.

: On April 30, 1937, Filipino women won the right of suffrage through a herstoric national plebiscite, with 447,725 (90%) voting “Yes,” surpassing the required 300,000 votes.

To honor this milestone and sustain its democratic spirit, a day was set aside for Filipino women to renew their advocacy and commitment to clean, honest, and free elections and to pursue these efforts with greater zeal. In 1984, Proclamation No. 2346 declared April 30 of every year as Woman Suffrage Day to encourage continued advocacy for electoral integrity.

As we mark the 89th anniversary of this milestone, we are reminded that while women have gained the right to vote, the work toward true gender equality continues—especially in ensuring more women are empowered and represented in decision-making spaces. There can be no full democracy if half of the population remains underrepresented.

To all Filipino voters, especially women: our foremothers fought for and won this right—let us continue to use it responsibly. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲. Let us choose leaders who are guided by competence, integrity, and a strong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Let us exercise this right freely, wisely, and meaningfully.

📣 Registration is now open for the Mid-Year Training Institute (MYTI) 2026!

This June–July, WAGI offers a series of short courses designed to strengthen gender-responsive practice across education, governance, and development. Open to participants from government, civil society, the private sector, and the academe, these programs provide practical, interdisciplinary learning grounded in gender equality and inclusive development.

📅 Course Offerings:
June 29 to July 2 (36 hours)
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗚𝗥𝗣𝗕) — ₱14,000
Learn how GAD budgeting supports programs that advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. Ideal for government agencies, LGUs, NGOs, and development practitioners.
July 6 to 10 (40 hours)
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗚𝗙𝗘) — ₱12,500
Explore foundational gender concepts and how they shape teaching, learning, and human relations across educational settings.
July 13 to 17 (40 hours)
𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗜𝗪𝗛𝗥𝗚) — ₱12,500
Examine how identity and social factors shape human rights experiences, and how governance can advance justice and equity.
July 20 to 23 (36 hours)
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝗦𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗚𝗦𝗦𝗬𝗪) — ₱11,000
Focus on the wellbeing of young people across diverse gender identities at the intersection of gender and sexuality. Designed for educators, counselors, and youth-serving organizations.
*All training programs are certified by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

📝 Register here: bit.ly/MYTI2026
📩 For inquiries:
[email protected] | [email protected]

✨ POST EVENT HIGHLIGHTS ✨

The SAGE-BUG community came together to celebrate the day! 💜 From meaningful discussions during our 2nd General Assembly to the exciting challenges of our GADventure: Campus-wide Gender Equality Hunt, every moment was filled with learning, teamwork, and purpose.

The event was also made brighter by the happy moments, genuine smiles, and laughter shared during the games, reminding us that advocacy and fun can go hand in hand, and each interaction strengthened our bond as one SAGE-BUG family.

We also proudly celebrate and extend our full support to the newly elected set of officers! Your leadership marks the beginning of another empowering chapter for the organization. We witnessed unity in action, voices being heard, and passion ignited as members and officers worked together to promote a more inclusive and equal campus environment.

Together, we didn’t just chase equality, we embraced it. 🫂💜

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐘 𝐆𝐀𝐃-𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐃

The Bicol University Center for Gender & Development (CGAD) proudly introduces its 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗚𝗔𝗗 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿—your accessible hub for resources, latest news and updates, and relevant GAD materials.

The Online GAD Corner includes information and updates on the following:
- GAD News
- BU GAD Focal Point System & Secretariat
- BU GAD Policies
- GAD Accomplishment Reports
- GAD Plan and Budget
- GAD Programs, Activities, and Projects
- Estado ni Juana 2025
- GAD Knowledge Management System
- GBSH/GBSV Reporting Mechanism
- And more!

Explore, learn, stay connected, and 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗚𝗔𝗗𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 as we continue to promote gender awareness and inclusivity in the BU community.

For easy access, scan the QR code on this poster—also available at the Physical GAD Corner located at the BU CGAD Office.

This initiative would not have been possible without the active support of the 𝗕𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲, to whom we extend our sincere appreciation.

Link to Online GAD Corner: https://bicol-u.edu.ph/bu-center-for-gender-and-development