π„π¦π©π¨π°πžπ«π’π§π  π’π­π¨π«π’πžπ¬ 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐒𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐑𝐞 π–π¨π¦πžπ§ π‡πžπšππ¬, π‚π‘π’πžπŸπ¬ 𝐨𝐟 π‚πšπ­π’π”

Category : Gender and Development Services | Sub Category : GAD Posted on 2022-04-07 16:08:32

π„π¦π©π¨π°πžπ«π’π§π  π’π­π¨π«π’πžπ¬ 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐒𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐑𝐞 π–π¨π¦πžπ§ π‡πžπšππ¬, π‚π‘π’πžπŸπ¬ 𝐨𝐟 π‚πšπ­π’π”

March 31, 2022. The Catanduanes State University concluded the Women’s Month with a β€˜Symposium on Women Empowerment’ for them at ARDCI Function Hall in Virac, Catanduanes in recognition of the extraordinary roles its β€˜Juana’ heads and chiefs of unit and offices play as elevating the University to its current stature.

The said symposium served as an avenue for the 22 participants to relax, listen, and be inspired by the success stories of the three leading female movers of their time.

Engr. Luzviminda T. Oropesa is a geologist who thrived in a male-dominated field. She served as the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Officer of a mining company in Leyte before finally settling down in her hometown in Baras. Dr. Nenita T. Taraya was known to be a stern school principal who served the Department of Education-Catanduanes Division before moving to the then-Catanduanes State Colleges Laboratory High School. Lastly, Dr. Geraldine Balmadrid-Rojas is the current President of the Catanduanes Medical Society, which has been great instrumental in protecting the island folks from the ravages of the covid-19 pandemic.

So empowered are these women, they waste not their potential to help the province. Engr. Oropesa occupies a seat in the Board of Regents of CatSU representing the private sector while also staying active in agriculture-related activities. She organized in 2012 the Happy Farmers Producers Integrated and Livelihood Association Inc. (HAFPILA) and devotedly helped its 37 members/farmers, 30 of whom were women. Dr. Taraya being the Barangay Captain of Cabugao in Bato at 80 years old, is also sharply leading the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in Catanduanes as its president.

Earlier in the program, the participants also openly joined the β€œIntimate Revelations”. It was a part in the program that became a platform for the participants to share their unique individual stories as a woman, a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a boss in the University. These stories are a valuable knowledge to the organizers and a boss in the University. These stories are a valuable knowledge to the organizers and a guide to each one present, as the participants freely narrated their past and present difficulties and successes.

By the end of the program, CatSU President Dr. Patrick Alain T. Azanza declared, β€œIf you have noticed, I chose more women leaders for CatSU because they say that whatever is given to a woman, she multiplies.” Referring to a common joke, the President explained that he believes that women can make a significant impact in rehabilitating the University. As of March this year, the Human Resource Office counts that fifty-six percent (56%) of the University’s key positions are occupied by women.

Dr. Maria Edna R. IΓ±igo, the Vice-President for Administrative and Financial Affairs, the one who conceptualized and pushed for holding this symposium, closed the program with a message, β€œI thank the Juana’s of CatSU. They have done a great job for the University and they deserve to be recognized.”-  GMMS Focal Person