By Karren Jay G. Asgar
Participants gather for a photo opportunity during the 2025 National Women’s Month observance, which featured seminars on the ‘Duties and Responsibilities of Parents’ and ‘Programs and Services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),’ held on March 14, 2025, at the CPUGAD TBI Co-Working Space.
Central Philippine University (CPU), dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering communities, has been actively observing the 2025 National Women’s Month in support of the Philippine Commission on Women. Recently, the university hosted seminars on the “Duties and Responsibilities of Parents” and the “Programs and Services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),” as part of the “Women and Development Program 2: Empowering Women Through Livelihood Rehabilitation and Holistic Development.” The event took place on March 14, 2025, at the CPUGAD TBI Co-Working Space.
Organized by the CPU Gender and Development Committee in collaboration with the Community Engagement and Service-Learning (CESL) Center and the Review, Continuing Education, and Consultancy Center (RCECC), seminars attracted a diverse group of participants, including students, faculty, staff, parents, and local community leaders. This year’s national women’s month celebration carries the sub-theme: “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas.”
The event began with a registration process led by the RCECC, followed by an opening prayer from a GAD Committee member. Dr. Dimpna C. Castigador, Director of the Office for Institutional Advancement, delivered her welcome remarks. The introduction of the resource speaker was then conducted by Dr. Myrna T. Luceño, a GAD Committee member.
The topic on the “Lecture-Discussion Seminars on Duties and Responsibilities of Parents” was insightfully delivered by Ms. Leonore Ravena-Enriquez, RSW, Social Welfare Officer I, VAW-C & Solo Parent Focal from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Molo, Iloilo City. In her presentation, Ms. Ravena-Enriquez emphasized the critical role parents play in shaping the future of their children and the importance of a supportive, loving, and disciplined environment for their overall development.
Additionally, she also discussed another topic entitled “Lecture-Discussion Seminars on Programs and Services of DSWD.” In this session, Ms. Ravena-Enriquez provided an in-depth overview of the various programs and services offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that are designed to assist families, women, and vulnerable sectors of society.
An open forum for questions and clarifications was held at the end of each session, providing participants with the opportunity to engage directly with the resource speaker. Afterward, a certificate and a token of appreciation were presented to the resource speaker for her valuable contributions to making the seminar a success.
The event ended with closing remarks delivered by Dr. Lenny P. Mucho, Director of Review, Continuing Education, and Consultancy Center (RCECC).