UGDO Bulletin - January - May 2025

University Gender and Development (GAD)  Focal Point Committee Meeting

On 26 February 2025, the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO) met with the newly restructured University GAD Focal Point Committee, composed of representatives from each school in the Basic Education and Higher Education. The meeting centered on drafting separate GAD Plans for Basic Education and Higher Education, recognizing each sector's distinct needs and contexts. Developing unit-specific GAD Plans allows for more responsive, relevant, and needs-based gender programs and strategies. The meeting also served as an avenue to discuss the situation and the support needed for the current implementation of co-education in Junior High School and Grade School.

In line with the meeting, UGDO also presented updates on compliance with local, national, and international policies relating to gender and development in educational settings and creating safe spaces. Lastly, the committee was consulted for the upcoming Gender Diversity and Safety Climate Research Survey for Higher Education. 
 

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Compliance

Following the series of consultations and workshops with UNICEF in 2024, the University was granted full capacity by UNICEF for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) on 9 March 2025.  As part of the compliance measures, Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ, signed Memo # U2425-076 (Addendum to the Code of Decorum and Administrative Rules on Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Sexual Misconduct and Inappropriate Behavior (Code and Rules) last 21 February 2025.

For the full copy of the memo, please visit this link: https://www.ateneo.edu/document/memorandum/2025/02/21/addendum-code-decorum-administrative-rules-sexual-harassment-other 

Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) and Onboarding 

The University Decorum and Investigation System continued offering Gender and Sensitivity Training and Onboarding sessions upon the requests of various offices and committees as part of the mandatory requirement of the University policies and the Philippine laws and policy issuances, and the commitment to building a Gender Inclusive, Gender Responsive, and Gender Safe Community.

Onsite Sessions

Women’s Month 2025 Celebration

In March and April 2025, the Ateneo de Manila University celebrated Women’s Month with the theme “Right, Equality, and Empowerment for All Women and Girls: In celebration of BPfA + 30”, highlighting women's and girls’ rights, gender equality, and empowerment through inclusive spaces and opportunities for women and girls. The celebration provided space for creative narratives, innovative activities, and constant opportunities for dialogue to pursue inclusivity, equality, and safe spaces for all.

Below are the activities and programs supported, sponsored, and organized by the University Gender and Development Office. 
 

March of Women 2025 Opening Event: Fun Run

The 2nd March of Women Fun Run was held on  9 March 2025 by co-organizers the Commission against Sexual Misconduct and Violence (CASMV), the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE), and Spaces for Women’s Art and Narratives (SWAN).  The event signalled the start of the Women’s Month celebration in the university. This year’s run featured almost 500 runners from the different members of the university community, alumni, and guests who participated in either the 3 km or 5 km categories.

The proceeds from the fun run were donated to the chosen women's organizations of each winner. This event is in collaboration with the University Gender and Development Office and the University Gender Hub. 
 

Women’s Mass

The Department of Theology, in collaboration with the Office of the Campus Ministry (OCM) and the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO), organized and dedicated the Friday Masses throughout March to honor women. These Masses were held every Friday at 12:00 NN at the College Chapel.

This initiative aims to create a sacred space where women’s voices, prayers, and reflections are centered in the liturgical celebration. These Eucharistic celebrations affirm women’s deep faith, struggles, and contributions, taking a step toward a more inclusive and just faith community. In line with this, the organizing committee invited women to share their experiences. The guest sharers were Dr. Kristine Meneses, a queer theologian from the Department of Theology, Ms. Istra Therese dela Cruz, Student from AB Interdisciplinary Studies, Ms. Norma Dollaga, Deaconess at the United Methodist Church, Ms. Latrell Felix, a Transwoman from the University of the Philippines. The masses were presided over by Fr. Jojo Fung, SJ. 

Exhibits by ALIWW with  INK, SWAN, and the IS Department

Two exhibits were held by the Ateneo Library of Women’s Writings with artist’s collective  Illustrador ng Kabataan (INK) and student group SWAN (Spaces for Women’s Art and Narratives).  SWAN’s exhibit “Mulat: With Open Eyes” ran from March 17 to 28 at the Old Rizal Library Gallery Space and showcased “curated pieces of varying mediums  and providing various female perspectives intended to draw its audience into unfiltered expressions of womanhood.”

ALIWW also hosted the Paz Marquez Benitez Exhibit for Soledad S. Reyes: "Woman of Note" also ran from March 7-21 at the ALIWW reading room and INK’s “Storied Lives” which runs until the end of March, featuring portraits of Women in the ALIWW collection.   
 

Women’s Watch and lecture on Gender Methodologies by  Andrea Fleschenberg

The 2nd Women Watch Lecture Series on Lived Experiences of Women’s Power was co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science and the Women’s and Gender Studies Association of the Philippines (WSAP) with support from the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO) and the Introduction to Ateneo Culture and Tradition (InTACT) Program. The lecture, held last 12 March 2025, was attended by around 1000 Ateneo de Manila 1st Year Students and featured intergenerational conversations between speakers Sabrina Gacad (Lunas Collective), Ani Almario (The Raya School), Pia Ranada (Rappler) Filomena Cinco (Community leader), and Cymbelline Bontogon (Sanggunian Commission on Gender Equality).

The Department of Political Science also hosted Dr. Andrea Fleschenberg dos Ramos Pinéu, Associate Professor of Humboldt University, who discussed Researching Gender in Asia last 11 March 2024 at Escaler Hall. 

Baka Naman Pwede Women's Month Special Series 

The Institute of Philippine Culture (IPC), in collaboration with the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO), organized a month-long Women's Month special episodes of the Institute's radio program "Baka Naman Pwede," which aired every Thursday at 2:00 PM. The special episodes featured discussions with women of diverse SOGIE, women in the Catholic Church, young women leaders, and women with disabilities. 

For more information on the Women's Month 2025 events and activities, please visit https://www.ateneo.edu/news/2025/03/03/ugdo-bulletin-womens-month-2025-rights-equality-empowerment-all-women-girls
 

Launch of the Research Grant on Women and Gender for SY 2025-2026

The call for applicants of the Research Grant on Women and Gender for SY 2025-26 was launched last  14 April 2025 with announcements on Blueboard, the Ateneo website, and through posters distributed to the different Ateneo Schools through the Offices of the Deans. The Research Grant was established in 2024, with support from the 1997 Ateneo de Manila Alumnae Women and Gender Studies Professorial Chair of the Ateneo College of Arts and Sciences. 

For more information, please visit https://www.ateneo.edu/news/2025/03/20/research-grant-women-gender-tuition-fieldwork-subsidy-sy-2025-2026