Around 500 residents and members of various women’s advocacy groups in Pasig City held a “unity walk” on Monday, March 7, and a bike ride on Sunday, March 6 as part of the city’s activities in celebration of National Women’s Month.
The 2022 National Women’s Month is celebrated under the theme, “We Make Change Work for Women: Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran.”
The unity walk served as a ceremony to welcome the month wherein the city government aims to highlight projects for women empowerment and awareness of women’s issues.
The event, with the theme “Lakad ng Pagkakaisa para kay Juana,” was organized by the Pasig City Police Station (CPS), the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD), and the City Gender and Development Office (GAD).
The groups that participated were the Community Anti-Crime Group Pasig Chapter, the Women’s Unity of Pasig, and the organizations of different barangays in the city such as the Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) and Violence Against Women and Children Office (VAWC) of San Antonio, and the Samahan ng mga Solo Parents of San Miguel.
The 300 participants, mostly in white and purple shirts and carrying balloons of the same colors, traversed Plaza Rizal, IP Burgos, San Jose, and Caruncho Avenue starting at 6 a.m. on Monday.
At the Plaza Rizal, the groups discussed the roles and contributions of women in society in a short program. They also danced in a Zumba session led by women's group Prime Ladies.
On Sunday, March 6, more than 200 bikers all over the city participated in the “Padyak ng Pag-asa” bike ride led by the Pasig City GAD.
The 5-km bike ride was done to raise awareness on violence against women and breaking the silence of abuse towards women.
The event was made in partnership with the Bikers United Movement (BUM), the Philippine Council for Women (PCW), Safe Spaces for Women,
The short bike ride began at 6:30 a.m. within the vicinity of the city hall.
Zumba sessions at the Plaza Bonifacio, Freedom Park led by 36 physical fitness instructors in the city were held simultaneously with the bike ride.
During the flag raising ceremony on Monday, March 7, at the City Hall, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto stressed the need to continue building awareness on women’s issues, as he cited the increase in cases of domestic abuse and violence against women and children during the pandemic.