Participants, along with ATI Bicol Center Director Elsa A. Parot, the Activity Management Team, and the Resource Speaker, come together to celebrate the 2025 National Women’s Month with a group photo.

PILI,  Camarines Sur – In celebration of the 2025 National Women’s Month, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center V (ATI Bicol) hosted a seminar titled “Advancing Gender Equality Awareness: Empowering Sectoral Women.” Held on March 26, 2025, at the ATI Bicol in San Agustin, Pili, the event gathered 60 farmer leaders to promote gender equality and strengthen women’s roles across various sectors.

With the 2025 NWMC sub-theme, “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas,” the seminar underscored the importance of gender awareness in building an inclusive and progressive society.

The Isarog Hall, adorned in vibrant purple to symbolize women’s unity and strength, became a venue for insightful discussions led by Ms. Maristela Santy, an Independent Gender and Development (GAD) Consultant. Her presentation covered key concepts of gender equality and GAD, providing participants with a deeper understanding of women’s rights and the importance of inclusivity in the agricultural sector.

Ms. Santy’s session encouraged open dialogue, allowing participants to share their perspectives and raise questions about gender-related challenges. To foster engagement, interactive activities were incorporated, including trivia questions on Women’s Month, where participants who answered correctly received purple-packaged chocolates as tokens of appreciation.

The seminar not only enhanced participants’ awareness of gender equality but also reinforced ATI Bicol’s commitment to empowering women in agriculture and beyond.