ESSU's Gender and Development (GAD) office successfully wrapped up the 18 Days Campaign to End Violence Against Women & Children with a culminating activity today, December 12, 2024, at the Teatro Ibabawnon of the Main Campus.
The entire campaign has been marked by a series of lectures and seminars across all ESSU campuses that brought in various experts from the concerned agencies and entities with the entire ESSU Community as end-users, both the students and employees.
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Aris A. Lapada, opened the program with a message calling on the students to join in the fight to end violence against women and children and encouraged them to speak up if they witness violence of such nature, whether committed against themselves or other people they know. Similarly, GAD Director Atty. Dulce Lyn B. Payod firmly reminded the audience that in the fight against violence against women and children, the collective resolve of all stakeholders is very crucial. She further expressed that many of the instances of such violence can be thwarted if victims are empowered to speak up. As a society, we must change the perception so that shame is placed on the perpetrators and not on the victims.
The culminating activity also brought together GAD focal persons from the different colleges of the University and recognized the most active college during the entire campaign, the College of Nursing & Allied Sciences (CONAS), represented by its focal, Ms. Rosario B. Montallana. The organizers also acknowledged resource speaker Atty. Jon Anthony R. Mutia for sharing his expertise in the series of activities.
Additionally, the winning students for the digital poster-making contest were also recognized and received cash prizes from generous donors, namely Atty. Donn Ferdinand E. Picardal; Provincial Administrator, Nelson Cortez; Mrs. Nathalie Jean C. Bertos; DPWH-PIO, Engr. Jayson G. Espeso; and Miss Imari L. Plana, CPA.
