The National Women’s Month Celebration officially opened at the P.E. Academic Building of Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology (NMSCST) with the theme "𝘞𝘌 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘎𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺." Following the Lenten Season Mass, students, faculty, and staff gathered to honor women and recognize their vital contributions to the community.

This year’s program drew inspiration from Babaylan culture under the banner “𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘴,” emphasizing women’s leadership as an integral part of Filipino identity. Dr. Rowena Jaber, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Services, underscored the significance of the celebration, stating: “𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴—𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦—𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵, 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.”

Dr. Sonnylyn Alave, Extension and Community Development Director, also delivered an inspiring message: “𝘉𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵. 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵.” The event featured performances from the Bughaw Dance Troupe and the NMSCST Chorale, while Dr. Alave highlighted the Five Babaylan Principles, particularly “Grounded Identity – Know Your Roots,” encouraging the community to embrace resilient and compassionate leadership.

 

Written By Bea Luz Pahang

Proofread by Zylie Lee Evangelista

Photo by Jemuel Neri, Francis Prince Bangod

Photo Edited by Jhopersie Cartajenas