ASCOT GAD sponsored a Gender Sensitivity Training-Workshop on Module Preparation, held on August 25, 2020 at the Accreditation Hall, Dr. Juan C. Angara Building, ASCOT Zabali Campus, Baler, Aurora. Participants of the program included all GAD Coordinators and Members of the GAD Technical Working Group (TWG). Mr. John Claufer Malapitan acted as overall facilitator.

In the GAD Director, Malou C. Angara’s opening remarks, she mentioned that the present situation brought about by the pandemic should not limit one’s desire to pursue his/her advocacy. She reiterated the need of giving Gender Sensitivity training to everyone, particularly to the newly hired members of the faculty and that instead of having a face-to-face training, a modular GST is an alternative measure to adopt.

College President, Dr. Eutiquio L. Rotaquio, Jr. delivered an inspirational message wherein he encouraged everyone to continue their advocacies and hoped that in the pursuit of such, it will eventually open the minds of those who refuse to understand and make change. Likewise, the president administered the awarding of the winners in the brochure making competition that the GAD office has initiated among themselves. Winners were: Joshua Dela Cruz and Lara Tereza Arcillas for their entry “End Rape Culture Now” and Jomer Mangawang and Raiza Kate Ico for “Bawal Ang Bastos: Safe Space Act”. Other entries were: “Stop Bullying” by Regina Candelario and Melissa Garace Nacino; “Mental Health Awareness” by Amparo Roberta A. Espinosa and Joh Claufer Malapitan; and “Adolescent Pregnancy” by Jeffrey G. Susada and Malou C. Angara.

For the GAD advocates, it was a humbling experience when the president spared the team his precious time for a casual table talk/discussion.

At the start of the training proper, TWG Member Jomer Mangawang provided the participants an overview of the training by mentioning the following topics – Family Planning, SOGIE Bill and Magna Carta for Women among others. Then, Ms. Malou Angara introduced the invited resource person, Mr. Kevin Lawrence G. Romas, a video editor from Tripzilla Philippines, Southeast Asia’s leading culture and travel digital media platform that reaches over 25 million users monthly. Mr. Romas discussed the topic on Policy on Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Making and presented the different applications available for use in making brochures, booklets and other IEC materials. He also focused on graphic design and layout and emphasized the use of fonts, colors, and space in designing. At one point in the workshop, the participants were grouped in pairs and were assigned topics for brochure making such as: Malou C. Angara and Melissa Grace Nacino on Magna Carta for Women; Joshua Dela Cruz and Amparo Roberta A. Espinosa on Reproductive Health and Responsible Parenthood; Regina Candelario and Marlon Linggon on Drugs; Raiza Kate Ico and Sandy Bitong on Gender Fair Language; James Matthew Viernes and John Claufer Malapitan on SOGIE Bill; and Jomer Mangawang and Jeffrey Susada on Human Trafficking. It was followed by the presentation of outputs which were collected by the GAD director after the workshop.

The training-workshop ended with the awarding of certificates to the participants.