DAVAO ORIENTAL— As part of recognizing the significant role of women in peace building, uniformed personnel from the different national agencies have been pampered in a fun-filled one-day activity in celebration of the International Women’s Month on Friday.

Women from the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and Armed Forces of the Philippines, were joined by the Provincial Capitol Employees in a Law Enforcement Summit and Women Advocacy Forum held at the Capitol’s Covered Court.

Aside from the series of inspiring speeches, the participants indulged in the free beauty and wellness services by different companies. Representatives from the famous cosmetic product line, Mary Kay, offered free facial and pampering session while Krystelle’s Salon Academie, Inc. rendered free make-up and demonstration for Tupperware products. Classique Herbs Corporation displayed samples of therapeutic products. Also, Avon, one of the country’s biggest company for women, offered free make-up and rendered free registration to interested dealers of their products.

Moreover, USANA rendered free Blood Pressure test, Random Glucose Test, and orientation of health benefits of their products.

Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, as well as different business establishment in the City of Mati, sponsored exciting raffle prizes to participants in the effort to treat working women a moment of relaxation.

Provincial Social Welfare Head Sarah Gudes, in her welcome remarks, said that the strong women here deserved a one-day pampering as a reward of their hard work in helping maintaining peace in the province. She said that it is the first time that the women law enforcers have been recognized in their peace building effort.

“The Philippine Commission on Women is looking forward for empowering us by shifting our paradigm as women not only on our domestic role at home but rather with a broader perspective of being a productive for local and national development,” she said.

Also speaking about “Making Change Work for Women”, the bannering theme for the said event, is DILG Provincial Director Yvette Sunga. In her speech, she laid emphasis on building trust within each other as a headstart in empowering one’s selves.

“With the current administration, we are really espousing real change. But as women, we should be at the forefront. As mentioned, women still are considered vulnerable and marginalized. Let us start to build trust within ourselves and consider ourselves as empowered not a vulnerable and marginalized sector because we can do so much as women. That’s the first start of transforming our mindset and really reforming how society perceives us. We are not weak. We play a vital role not only in our family, in our organization, but in nation building,” PD Sunga said.

Other empowered women, such as Manay Municipal Administrator Jan Mae Llavore, also spoke during the event tackling advancing women’s economic empowerment.

CSC Regional Director III Marilyn Dujali served as the keynote speaker of the event.

Meanwhile, proceeds of the “preloved” items on sale as well as part of the registration fee of the participants will be donated to women inmates in the Provincial Jail. Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan