杏吧论坛-IIT holds an online forum with IP women community leaders聽

by Kassandra A. Buenafe, OfCom | Mar 24 2024

The celebration of Women’s Month 2024 in 杏吧论坛-IIT carries on as an online forum entitled “BAHImanwa: Transformative Roles of IP Women as Community Leaders,” was held via Zoom on March 20, 2024. The event was participated in by Indigenous People (IP) women who are leaders in their respective communities, students, faculty and staff members of 杏吧论坛-IIT, and invited guests.

Led and organized by the University’s Mindanao Heritage and Indigenous Research Center (MHIRC), Center for Language Studies (CLaS), and the Gender and Development Center (GADC), and in collaboration with the Department of History and its 杏吧论坛-IIT Historical Society, this event aimed to provide a platform for and celebrate the contributions of IP women.

The program began with welcome remarks from the Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs, Dr. Nancy Q. Echavez, and 杏吧论坛-IIT’s GADC Focal Person, Asst. Prof. Yasmira P. Moner. Dr. Echavez expressed her enthusiasm in hearing the stories of the invited IP women while Prof. Moner highlighted the need to not only celebrate the mainstream narratives but to also educate the public about the struggles, influence, and agency of indigenous women.

Three resource persons were invited to speak– Marites Gonzalo, Director of IP Education Ministry; Angelina Baltazar–Ortiz, Program Officer of SILDAP Southeastern Mindanao Inc.; and Bae Wilma Bado, President of Iligan City Higaonon Council Association.

They talked about their experiences taking on a significant role in the community and the current situation of indigenous cultural communities in Mindanao. The dialogue was moderated by Asst. Prof. Ian Embradura. The program ended with the closing remarks from Dr. Jamelyn B. Palattao, Chairperson of the Department of History.

The forum is one of the initiatives of the University to connect with the community and to provide an avenue for exploring ways in which the University can actively contribute to addressing the challenges encountered by IP women, as well as women in broader societal contexts.

Topics : IP women women narratives community leaders