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More than 50 Filipino women who have sought protection for various reasons in shelters located on both sides of Victoria Harbor, including one run by the Philippine government, gathered for a one-day lecture workshop organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong on 23 November 2018.

The event, entitled “Babae, Natatangi 4” (Woman, You Are Special), was opened by Acting Head of Post Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan for the former migrant workers who fell into especially difficult circumstances at the Consulate Chancery’s Public Area in observance of the official 18-day “Campaign to End Violence against Women” from 25 November to 12 December).

This year, the Consulate partnered with the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation (HKBCF) and Enrich Hong Kong to conduct the event with the 54 shelter residents and five supervisors from seven government-, church- and NGO-run shelters located on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

The project, now on its fourth year this year, employed orange as its color theme in support of the campaign to end violence against women.

Sharing a poem by late American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou entitled “Woman Work,” which talks about the many responsibilities of a woman and on finding solace in rest and nature, Acting Head of Post Aguilar-Usudan expressed gratitude to the residents, shelters and the partner agencies for making the project possible.

Representatives of the Consulate, including its attached agencies, then presented their respective offices’ services relevant to the shelter residents, and discussed the project’s rationale, particularly it implements official legal obligations like Republic Act 9710, also known as the Magna Carta of Women, and the annual Campaign to End Violence Against Women.

HKBCF Senior Health Service Office Grace Chung kicked off the workshop proper with a talk on breast health. Enrich Hong Kong Trainer/Outreach Assistant Katrina Eeyan Villamarin then lectured on financial literacy and management, instructing the residents how to determine their wants and needs while stressing that greater financial independence means less vulnerability.

EOC Corporate Communications Officer Devi Novianti gave a lecture on sexual harassment and in particular, gave tips on empowering the shelter residents on how to take a stand in case of sexual harassment.

HKBCF also conducted breast exam sessions and referred several shelter residents for free mammogram services, while Enrich Hong Kong provided one-on-one financial counseling.

To further liven the event, Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) representatives, led by Assistant Labor Attaché Angelica M. Sunga held games to help the participants take to heart the terms and conditions and their rights under employment.

Vice Consul Robert D. Quintin serenaded the shelter residents with Filipino hit songs, and led the community singing, to the residents’ delight and to cap off the event.

“Babae, Natatangi 4” was held under the auspices of the Consulate’s Gender and Development (GAD) program and is the Consulate’s initial project in observance of the Campaign to End Violence against Women.

Acting Head of Post Germinia V. Aguilar-Usudan delivers welcome remarks at “Babae, Natatangi 4” (Woman, You Are Special) event for Filipino women in various shelters in Hong Kong held on 23 November 2018 at the Philippine Consulate General’s Public Area.

 

Representatives from the Philippine Consulate General’s attached agencies make presentations with partners from Hong Kong government and civil society to Filipino women in shelters at the one-day during “Babae, Natatangi 4” (Woman, You Are Special) event for Filipino women in various shelters in Hong Kong held on 23 November 2018 at the Philippine Consulate General’s Public Area. In particular (top row, from left to right) Welfare Officer Virsie B. Tamayao, Social Welfare Attaché Elizabeth L. Dy, Social Security System Head Lester Paul S. Mata and Pag-IBIG Fund Head Raymond Francis L. Ramos presented their respective offices’ services relevant to the shelter residents. Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation (HKBCF) Senior Health Service Office Grace Chung, Enrich Hong Kong Trainer/Outreach Assistant Katrina Eeyan Villamarin and Equal Opportunities Commission’s Devi Novianti (bottom row, from left to right) gave talks on, respectively, breast health, financial literacy and management, and addressing sexual harassment.

 

Snapshots from the activities held for the one-day “Babae, Natatangi 4” (Woman, You Are Special) event for Filipino women in various shelters in Hong Kong held on 23 November 2018 at the Philippine Consulate General’s Public Area – (top row from left to right) Philippine Overseas Labor Office and Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration representatives, led by Assistant Labor Attaché Angelica M. Sunga hold games on terms and conditions and rights under employment (photo 1 and 2); and Consulate’s Gender and Development Team ready to hand out token gifts to shelter residents (photo 3); (bottom row from left to right) Enrich Hong Kong provides one-on-one financial counseling; Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation officials conduct breast exam sessions and refer several shelter residents for free mammogram services; and Vice Consul Robert D. Quintin serenades the shelter residents with Filipino hit songs, and leads the community singing, to the residents’ delight and to cap off the event.