Reforming education
By Sofia LogartaDuring the monthly Kapihan of the Cebu Women’s Network we discussed K to 12, the ongoing change in basic education. Ma’m Ginnie Vamenta told me to discuss this in my column.
During the monthly Kapihan of the Cebu Women’s Network we discussed K to 12, the ongoing change in basic education. Ma’m Ginnie Vamenta told me to discuss this in my column.
We are blessed because with UP Cebu’s coming centennial we have Madz’ “A Blast from the Past”— its brief history and we joined Gabii sa Kabilin. The centerpiece of our participation was the UP Cebu administration building which in December 2, 2010 was declared a heritage site; but the group led by Mads, Gaying, and Palme arranged stations to unfold the history of UP Cebu. The spread was entitled UP in the History of Cebu and the Nation.
It was heartening to observe young females involved with Vote Good. Females did not get the right to vote or be elected automatically; they had to fight for it.
The family of the late Justice German Lee, Jr. and Lourdes Vilma Cornejo-Lee arranged a very unique Earth Day Celebration; in fact there was a Green Festival. The invitation called: “Come and join us with other Cebuanos who are decidedly friends “Friends of the Earth” and share our vision and quest for a Green Sustainable future together.”
In UP High School we all exert a great deal of effort to prepare for Recognition Day and Graduation. These are all with the hope that the moments of joy and sense of triumph will be energizers for the next phase of the students’ life journey.
Easter has been really special this year. Pope Francis has brought us great hope and a sense that the Catholic Church will become the religious community as described by the Gospels. Upon his election he was described as living among the people and reaching out to them.
The Sidlak (Region VII Gender Resource Center) gathering was meant to be special. We invited partners from government agencies, NGOs and the academe to a roundtable discussion, a sharing of experiences and reflections on the theme of this year’s women’s month celebration which we interpreted as women’s role in transformative politics.
Why do we have to dedicate a month for women? “It’s a man’s world!” it has been said. Women were less visible in the past, limited to the home, the private sphere while men dominated the public sphere. In the writing of histories focusing on the rise and fall of kingdoms with wars as the main events, females had limited exposure. Only in cultures where women’s work was considered of great value to the economy as in the case in pre-colonial America, were women recognized. Misconceptions about females like the beliefs that they had smaller brains or had no soul also marginalized them.
The UP Forum with its slogan “shaping minds that shape the nation” is actually a very helpful publication. Through it we share the findings of researches and reflect on the positions taken from faculty and staff from all over the UP system. Since we just recently had Migrant Workers Sunday, let me share the interesting points in the issue, Labor Migration.
Legal Alternatives for Women Center (LAW, INC.) had its usual reunion with its members, beneficiaries, and partners on the day of the procession of the Sto. Niño. Former students of Dr. Esther Velasquez came to surprise her amd serenade her with classic love songs and Cebuano favorites like Rosas Pandan. Everyone enjoyed her inspirational talk. She narrated the significant role of the Sto. Niño as she began as a teacher. Like most of us, Ma’m Esther prayed to the Sto Niño for her first job. Her first job was at the Colegio Sto. Nino. After being rejected in other schools (in one for being married), she was warmly accepted here. It turned out that they had difficulty retaining a teacher for a class of mischievous students but she successfully managed the young people. She treated them with respect, boosted their morale, and even improved their relationship with their parents.
February 14, Valentine’s Day, this year, we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the decision to end violence against women. We celebrate through “One Billion Rising”. The campaign is about solidarity. OBR is a joyous celebration that invites all, the entire planet, to creatively express disapproval of violence against women. The whole world will rise up in joyous celebratory dancing to declare the demand to end violence.
I invited reflections on the very inspiring life of Atty. Cheryl Cabutihan; she was such a loving person who was gentle and enthusiastic. I felt I had just to “tell the world” of her loving life through these generous sharing.
Dolores Tidor a very thoughtful and generous friend of my brother, Dongie and sister in-law, Lilu gave them Simple Abundance during their wedding anniversary in the last week of December; Lilu kindly shared it with me. This is a book to read at the beginning of the year; especially if we hope to have a really “new” year.
