SU OCESL, partner groups celebrate Women’s Month 2026

The Silliman University (SU) Office of Community Engagement and Service-Learning (OCESL), in partnership with the Center for Gender Studies and Development (CGSD) and the Social Work Department, celebrated Women’s Month with its three partner local women’s organizations on March 7, 2026 at the Silliman University Audio-Visual Theatre.

The Boloc-Boloc Women’s Association, Libjo Women’s Self-Help Group (LIBWOS), and the Nagkahugpong nga mga Kababayen-an sa Barangay Palinpinon (NAKAPA) celebrated the event with OCESL under the theme “WE for Gender Equality: United Women, Empowering Communities.”

The month-long celebration also carries the sub-theme “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas.”

According to Asst. Prof. Novee E. Maestrecampo Jr., OCESL director, this is the second year that OCESL has celebrated Women’s Month together with its partner women’s organizations.

“Dako kaayo kong kalipay nga nagtapok kita sa bulan sa Marso, bulan nga espesyal nga gipahinungod alang sa mga kababayen-an (I’m so happy we’re all gathered here this month of March, a special month dedicated to all women),” Maestrecampo said during his message.

He lauded the women present—many of whom are mothers and community leaders—for their perseverance despite life’s challenges.

“Kamo ang inspirasyon og ngano kita nagtapok diri karong adlawa (You’re all inspirations why we’re gathered today),” he added, emphasizing that service to the community goes beyond duty.

“Ang pag-alagad sa komunidad dili lang trabaho kung dili usa ka misyon (Serving the community is not just work; it’s a mission),” he said.

Dr. Myraluz V. Waddington, CGSD coordinator, also spoke at the event and underscored the deeper significance of Women’s Month.

She reminded participants that the observance is not merely an event in the calendar but a reflection of the shared struggles and victories of women across generations and communities.

Waddington also provided a brief historical background of the global women’s movement, citing key issues that shaped the campaign for gender equality such as fair wages, equal rights, and women’s suffrage.

“As we celebrate Women’s Month, i-celebrate nato ni siya pagreflect, pag-acknowledge nga naay mga challenges. Kini nga mga challenges gapadayon, ang uban mas bug-at nga mga challenges (let’s celebrate this by reflecting, acknowledging that challenges exist. These challenges continue, some harder than others),” she explained.

Meanwhile, McCann emphasized that empowering women across various sectors contributes directly to national development.

According to her, when women rise in every sector—education, governance, science, business, church, and community—the nation rises with them, and added that gender equality is not solely a women’s concern but also a development and nation-building issue.

“When women across all sectors rise, the future rises with them. When we stand united—women and everybody—we build empowered communities. And in doing so, we help shape the hopeful, just, and inclusive Bagong Pilipinas we all long for,” McCann shared.

In the afternoon, OCESL also offered free health services to the women participants through the Silliman University Medical School, College of Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics Department, and the Institute of Clinical Laboratory Sciences. The services included medical consultation, blood pressure monitoring, nutrition counseling, and blood screening.