WAC Invigorated Marist Women

By: Marites Lopez


Aiming to respond to various problems concerning women in the campus, the Women Advocacy Center (WAC) headed by Sr. Andy Solar, OND, holds General Assembly on July 5, and 12, August 16 and 23, 2008 at NDMU campus.

To revitalize women concern, the program was convened with the objectives to wit: orient participants with the WAC programs and guidelines, become aware of the local and national situation of women in the Philippines, become conscious of their rights and privileges, elect set of officers and form a group session by ‘barkada’.

Deepening the WAC programs and guidelines, Sr. Andy discussed the following WAC general objectives: to have adequate awareness or critical consciousness on women issues; provide venue for empowerment, participation, solidarity and networking among the female students in the campus as well as with other women sectors outside campus; impart to the female students the virtues of Mary (the model of women humble yet confident, simple yet creative, modest yet empowered); and reinforce structures in the deepening of our understanding and manifestation of the Marist core values through the different activities of the WAC.

Sr. Lalyn Macahilo, OND, the Oblates of Notre Dame Women Ministry in-charge, stood as the keynote speaker of the said activity.
She discussed various abuses and violence encountered by women today such as physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, and economic abuses.

“Even exposing the bodies of women in beauty contests is considered as abuse,” Sr. Lalyn said as she relates abuses to women today. “Ngaa lawas ang gamiton?,” she questioned.

The keynote speaker let the participants viewed the film entitled Sex Trafficking We’re so Syndicated Ma’am” in which women in these days were compared to business, with chicken as the sole product.

After which, the participants were clustered by barkada for a small group session entitled “Kamustahanay,” where members will spend time sharing with Sr. Andy Solar the issues/concern affecting them as Notre Demeans, how to help one another in responding to their specified issues, so as their reflection.

The said activity was participated by NDMU students particularly women. “Not only women are obliged to participate, men as well are encourage to join the program,” said Sr. Andy.

The success of the activity was aided by the group of Social Work students and volunteers from other colleges who are willing to help in the WAC Center, where it serve as a venue to expose themselves in reaching out to those in need.