Baguio City, Philippines

A Men’s Summit was Save Our Women’s culminating event for the City’s 18-Day Campaign to End Violence against Women.  Last Saturday, December 12, twenty-four men from different professions and walks of life (and a sprinkling of women) gathered at the CRC Hall of Bishop’s House to seriously discuss “how men can help end men’s violence against women (VAW), especially domestic and intimate-relationship violence (DIV)”.  An inspirational talk which focused on the important qualities of a good male partner and why even happily-married men (and women) must be concerned about the growing incidence of DIV in our midst was given by Engr. Bonifacio I. Dela Peña, well-known geo-technical engineer and dean of the SLU College of Engineering and Architecture.  Mr. Jeremy Lee L. Dela Cruz, proud male member of Save Our Women and a guidance counselor at SLU explained in layman’s terms the technicalities of gender sensitivity and “Why Men Hurt Women”, while guest lecturer Atty. Hilario V. Belmes of University of Baguio and Camp John Hay Development Corporation spoke on the basics of Republic Act 9262 or the “Anti-Violence against Women and their Children” Act of 2004.  Mr. Jim Ward, another Save member and Baguio-based business entrepreneur spoke on the organization’s White Ribbon Campaign, the international movement of men helping to end VAW.  Acting as emcee and moderator of the event was Save member Marvin P. Gaddang, a firefighter in private life.

An open forum ensued after the lectures, with notable strong reactions from Dr. Mark Noel Ventura, Punong-Barangay Michael Karl Flores, Jail Officer Eduardo Solang Jr., Mr. Rafael Wasan, Imam Bedejim Abdullah, Mr. Abet Quilala and college students Rey Fegsar and Darwin Pablo.  The Philippine National Police was also represented by five officers from the BCPO and one from Camp Dangwa, while several mediamen and journalists were also on hand to cover the event.  Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda of the Gender Equality and Development (GEAD) Council dropped in during the open forum to commend the participants for joining the first summit of its kind against VAW in Baguio City.  All of those who attended heartily congratulated Save Our Women for spearheading the event and were in agreement that a second Men’s Summit must materialize in order to make even more men aware of their responsibilities to end violence against women.

On the other hand, Save Our Women’s third annual White Ribbon and signature campaign in the City of Baguio, with the theme “A Pledge: To Never Commit, Condone or Remain Silent about Violence against Women”, garnered 6,118 signatures by the end of the 18-Day Campaign that begun on November 25.  Supported by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the Baguio City Police Office’s Women and Children Protection Center (BCPO-WCPC), BGH-MC’s Women and Children Protection Unit (WCPU), KALIPI Women’s Federation, the POSD team and other local agencies in Baguio, Save Our Women’s members and volunteers (mostly from the University of the Cordilleras), gave out white ribbons for free as symbols of non-violence and asked men, women and the youth to sign the pledge in the hope that more people would become aware of the realities and prevalence of domestic and intimate-relationship violence and stand up against it.  –---  by Patti Gallardo