29/03/2025
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๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ | ๐๐ฎ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ
In a nation where the spirit of women has fueled and shaped communities, honoring their legacy is a celebration and reminder of a shared responsibility. From fearless heroines of fiction to the dedicated teachers shaping young minds, their resilience echoes through time, woven into the fabric of progress.
But honoring these women goes beyond remembrance. Itโs about ensuring that the next generation carries this torch, lighting the way for a more just and inclusive society. This yearโs closing program at Bicol Regional Science High School placed youth at the forefront of this advocacy.
Through student-driven initiatives, heartfelt performances, and hands-on workshops, the celebration highlighted that the future of gender equality rests in the hands of empowered youth.
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Melbeth Ventura, the Araling Panlipunan (AP) Club President, opened the program with her welcoming remarks, setting the tone for a meaningful celebration. She shared that the club carefully planned diverse activities to ensure that students fully understood the importance of Womenโs Month.
Planning came with challenges, as Ventura managed time constraints and scheduling conflicts by coordinating with teachers and adjusting to last-minute changes. Despite this, she shared that the most rewarding part for her and the AP Club was inspiring students to speak up and advocate for gender equality.
โA test of leadership, patience, and teamwork, but also a rewarding experience that strengthened my passion for advocacy,โ said Ventura.
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To engage students, Ventura and the AP Club incorporated diverse performances, insightful speakers, and interactive activities. They also ensured that guests and speakers were accommodated properly, creating a smooth and welcoming environment.
While they aimed to involve all students in the workshops, the limited number of resource persons from the Albay Provincial Office meant only a select group could participate. What began as simple intermission numbers became an opportunity for Grade 7 and 8 students to showcase their talents while deepening their understanding of Womenโs Month.
These performances allowed students to reflect on the issues that hinder progress for women, nurturing a deeper commitment to being part of the change. By embodying these stories, they demonstrated that awareness and advocacy go hand in hand.
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The event also featured speakers who brought valuable insights to the celebration. Linda P. Gonzalez, President of the National Federation of Womenโs Clubs of the Philippines, emphasized the importance of leadership rooted in integrity and service. Professor Ramona Ines Bustamante-Raneses, a former Professor VI at Bicol University, inspired students by stating that โempowerment is not just a concept, but a call to action.โ
Workshops on Taekwondo and Arnis were led by Police Corporals Sharmane H. Granatin and Jhomile Revilla Renolayan from the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company. Granatin, a decorated Taekwondo athlete, emphasized discipline and self-defense as forms of empowerment.
We are at an age where the next generation isnโt just standing by and waiting for change but are also actively leading it. Through young leaders like Melbeth Ventura, we witness the powerful impact of standing at the vanguard of advocacy for women in our nation.
โ๏ธ | Andrea Layug
๐ท | Eugenio Muella, Ysabella Faye Andrade, Dave Pregonero
๐จโ๐ป | Eugenio Muella
