NATCCO Network's International Women's Day Celebration March 7, 2025
NATCCO Network's GAD Committee, together with the Sister Society Philippine Chapter spearheaded this year's celebration of International Women's Day (IWD), conducted online on March 7th, 2025, by the NATCCO Network, closely aligned with the international theme, "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment," while at the same time concentrating on the Network's specific sub-theme: #AccelerateAction. It was attended by 200 participants from 65 cooperatives nationwide.
https://www.facebook.com/share/14PnDDxWC44/ The occasion went beyond a simple celebration; it served as a powerful catalyst for integrated leadership formation, acknowledging the inseparable connection of spiritual health, effective leadership, and loving service in empowering women. The day started with a formal opening ceremony, professionally hosted by Dr. Loralie Cabrera, the GAD Committee Visayas Representative. The GAD Committee Mindanao Representative, Atty. Blue Ventosa, led the opening prayer which provided a solemn tone, preceded by the National Anthem and Cooperative Pledge. Our Women Representative to the Board of Directors and GAD Committee Chairperson, Dir. Hermes Vergara, welcomed everyone with a speech which placed the event's relevance in the overall context of women empowerment. Our GAD Focal Person, Ms. Whia Nangpi, gave meaningful context on IWD, mentioning historical events, key issues that confront women today, why it is essential to take collective action, and why invest in bringing a more equal world. Dr. Annabelle Mota, GAD Committee Luzon Representative, introduced the speaker. A very well-received talk was presented by Ms. Angelica De Vera, one that probed into the complexity of spirituality and its healing potential in women's lives.
Ms. De Vera's three-point presentation hit home with the audience: The Inherent Spirituality of All: She passionately made the case that spirituality is not limited to religious practice but is a fundamental aspect of human life, underscoring that an active spiritual life is within reach of everyone, no matter background or belief system. The Significance of an Enthusiastic Spirituality: Ms. De Vera discussed how the strength of one's spirituality can give women the ability to survive life's issues and make a real impact on their communities. She noted that the strength from within has limitations and that a woman needs to derive strength from a higher force. The metaphor of "running on an empty tank," a symbol for the weight women inevitably bear, resonated especially strongly. Developing a Thriving Spirituality: The talk provided concrete advice for developing a robust spiritual life, including the need to reflect on one's own limitations, seek help from others, and assert personal boundaries. A Lectio Divina exercise gave participants an experiential lesson in these principles. The open discussion that ensued facilitated a rich sharing of ideas and experiences. The activity also included the declaration of the best entry in the NATCCO Network's Gender Mainstreaming Manual Cover Art Contest, an added creative flair to the proceedings for the day, which was presented by Ms. Lasalette Gumban. Atty. Cecille Galleros, current president of the Sister Society Philippine Chapter, made closing remarks full of insights, reiterating the event's key message. The celebration directly addressed the global IWD sub-themes: the call for a digital revolution, the fight against violence, the eradication of poverty, the pursuit of peace and security, the empowerment of women in decision-making roles, and the achievement of climate justice.
The theme of the event, one of spiritual service and leadership, offered a very strong and innovative frame for observing these urgent matters, eventually driving participants to act as forces for positive change both within and beyond their own communities. The celebration of IWD by the NATCCO Network was not an ordinary commemoration but a mighty call to action, an assertion of the resolve of the group to empower women as a whole.
