UGDO Bulletin - May to December 2024

University Gender and Development (GAD)  Focal Point Committee

University GAD Focal Point Committee Meeting

Last May 2024, the University Gender and Development Office met with the Loyola Schools Gender Focal Point Committee to discuss the office and committee's development and accomplishments. The meeting also highlighted the restructuring of the University GAD Focal Point Committee following the issuance of the Gender Policy Statement to cover all higher education units. 

The proposed restructuring of the University GAD Focal Point is to have one representative for each school because each school has particular needs and contexts. For the Basic Education Cluster,  there would be a new assignment every year based on the appointments of the principal’s committee and head of the committee of the GFP in the AJHS, ASHS, and AGS should be the representatives to the University. 

New Members and Structure of the University GAD Focal Point Committee

The Office of the President released a memo last 4 September 2024 on the appointments of the new members of the restructured GAD Focal Point committee. The following are the new members of the University GAD Focal Point committee effective from September 2024 to July 2026:

1. Mrs Niña Ann S Ajon - Ateneo de Manila Grade School
2. Ms Eveth Ella-Balce - Ateneo de Manila Graduate School of Business
3. Mr Carlo Carlon - Ateneo de Manila Junior High School
4. Dr Michelle Pia Eustaquio - School of Science and Engineering
5. Atty Catherine Gonzales - John Gokongwei School of Management
6. Dr Maria Elissa J Lao - ex-officio
7. Dr Cristina Liamzon - Ateneo School of Government
8. Ms Isabel Consuelo Nazareno - School of Social Sciences, Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design
9. Atty Patricia Cervantes-Poco - Ateneo Law School
10. Dr Rachel Joyce Marie O Sanchez - School of Humanities
11. Ms Jerlita O Sianda - Ateneo de Manila Senior High School
12. Dr Florentina Villanueva - Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health

The University Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Committee is a vital component of the University’s GAD Focal Point System, established to comply with CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 1-2015 on Policies and Guidelines on GAD in CHED and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This mandate is rooted in the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (RA 7877). The Committee works closely with the President’s Council and reports directly to the University President. Its key responsibilities include formulating GAD policies and programs, preparing the annual Gender Plan and Budget for submission to CHED, overseeing the implementation of the GAD Plan, and ensuring compliance with CMO No. 1-2015 and related laws.

As outlined in Section 24.1 of the Code of Decorum and Administrative Rules on Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Sexual Misconduct, and Inappropriate Behavior, the University Gender and Development Office serves as the coordinator of the Committee. Under this designation, Dr. Maria Elissa J. Lao, Director of the University Gender and Development Office, leads the Committee as its Chair, guiding in advancing the University’s GAD initiatives.

For the full copy of the memo, please visit this link https://www.ateneo.edu/sites/default/files/2024-09/U2425-032%20GAD%20Focal%20Point%20Committee.pdf

Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) and Onboarding

Update on the Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) and Onboarding Online Module

Following the release of the Mandatory completion of the GST and Onboarding Online Module last December 2023, the University Gender and Development Office sent out a GST compliance report to Vice Presidents and Cluster Heads, School Heads, and Heads of Offices right before the start of SY 2024-2025. 

The monitoring and compliance reports acted as a precursor for onsite GST and Onboarding on the following offices and schools:

UGDO will release another GST compliance report to Cluster Heads and School Heads by the end of the SY 2024-2025.

Presentation of the Code and Rules Audit Report 2023

The University Gender and Development Office invited key stakeholders of UDIS to the presentation of the key findings of the audit of the Code of Decorum and Administrative Rules on Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Misconduct, and Inappropriate Behavior (Code and Rules).  The audit was conducted by the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO) in SY 2023-24 as stipulated by Section 26 of the Code and Rules.  The presentation was held on 24 May 2024 at the SOSS Dean’s Conference Room.

In addition, the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO) on 6 December 2024 also presented and discussed the key results and findings of the Code and Rules to members of UDIS and partner student organizations—Sanggunian Commission on Anti-sexual Misconduct and Violence, Sanggunian Commission on Gender Equality, and Council of Organizations of the Ateneo - Manila Inclusive Spaces Coordinators. The group also discussed ways forward and next steps for the revision of the Code and Rules in 2025. 

An initial presentation was made to the President's Council in January 2024 with the recommendation to present the results to key stakeholders to gather feedback towards strengthening our institution's commitment to preventing sexual harassment and fostering a safe and respectful environment for members of the University community. 

Consultations with Mayari ASHS

The University Decorum and Investigation System (UDIS)—University Gender and Development Office (UGDO),  University Decorum and Investigation Office (UDI), and the University Gender Hub—held a meeting consultation to discuss proposals to strengthen safe spaces in the SHS  with the members and moderators of ASHS Mayari together with the ASHS GAD Focal Point and Strand coordinators. 

Recipient of the Research Grant on Women and Gender

In its inaugural year, the Research Grant on Women and Gender was awarded to Nadine Janica Ismael, a Master of Arts in Political Science student. Her research examines how historical shifts in welfare state development, shaped by evolving political and social contexts, have influenced feminist reconciliation policies through a comparative analysis of gendered principles and work-family policies in Nordic and East Asian welfare systems.

The second call for applications for the Research Grant on Women and Gender will be announced at the end of SY 2024-2025.

One Big Pride 2024 Activities 

In October 2024, Ateneo de Manila University celebrated Pride Month with the theme "Embracing Everyone: Equality, Justice, and Freedom for All," highlighting the University’s commitment to fostering a gender-inclusive community. The celebration provided spaces for dialogue, recognized the diversity of lived experiences, and emphasized collective efforts toward equality and meaningful change.

InTACT Gender Conversation

As part of this year’s Pride Month activities, the INTACT program, in partnership with the University Decorum and Investigation System, held the second iteration of Gender Conversations. This initiative, now conducted during the 1st Semester, aims to onboard first-year students early on with the University’s Gender and Safe Spaces policies.

For this year’s session, INTACT cohorts proposed and selected discussion topics from their classes. On October 2 and 5, six (6) thematic discussions were conducted in Leong Hall Auditorium and Escaler Hall. 

1.  Being an Ally, The Transgender Community, and Intersectionality
2. Critical Masculinity, SOGIE 101, and Intersectionality
3. Consent and Boundaries in Everyday Life
4. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and its Effects, Being an Active Bystander and Responding to Disclosures of SGBV
5. Advocating for Gender Equality and Inclusivity​​​
6. Feminism in the Every day: Young Women's Bodies and Sexualities.

For this year's gender conversations, the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO) headed the sessions on Advocating for Gender Equality and Inclusivity. This session focused on gender equality and inclusivity in sports, STEM, and student organizations within the Ateneo de Manila University context. UGDO has invited student leaders from partner organizations and student-athletes to share their experiences in creating equitable and inclusive spaces in their teams, academic fields, organizations, and classrooms. 

Queer Creativity II:  Visualizing Sapphic Romances with the creators and editors of Gigil

The Ateneo Library of Women’s Writing (ALiWW), in collaboration with the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO), hosted a conversation with the editor and creators of Gigil, a queer sapphic comics anthology. The discussion explored how sapphic love and identity are visualized, the boundaries of representation, and the creative approaches employed by the Gigil team. The panel featured Ezjae Zemana, Sunny and Rita from Astigmata Studio, Caia, and Thirdy de Guzman—contributors and creators of the anthology.

This event marked the second installment of the Queer Creativity Talks, an initiative aimed at raising awareness of Filipino queer comics and illustrations while inspiring queer creativity and expression among students. The session delved into artists' inspirations for crafting queer stories, their motivations for creating queer imagery and narratives, and the technical aspects of building compelling stories and visuals for comics with queerness at the forefront.

Mass of Welcome

The Department of Theology, in collaboration with the Office of Campus Ministry and the University Decorum and Investigation System (UDIS), hosted a Mass of Welcome presided over by Fr. Francis Alvarez SJ. The event aimed to demonstrate the Catholic faith’s commitment to gender justice, with LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies invited to serve as lectors, commentators, altar servers, and choir members. This continuing initiative of the Department of Theology is to create a space where students feel included in the Church, embodying Jesus's table fellowship and radical inclusion, and to encourage LGBTQIA+ persons to take a more active role in the liturgy. Following the Mass, a fellowship gathering provided a safe space for students to connect and build community.

For  the other activities and information about Pride Month 2024, please visit https://www.ateneo.edu/news/2024/09/23/ugdo-bulletin-pride-month-2024-embracing-everyone-equality-justice-freedom-all

2024 Campaign to End Gender-based Sexual Harassment 

Ending this year’s campaign activities on Gender and Development and promoting safe and inclusive spaces in the University, the Ateneo de Manila University through the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO) supported the yearly campaign to End Gender-based Sexual Harassment (GBSH) under this year's theme "Gaining Ground: Consolidating University Sectors towards Safe and Proactive Spaces to End Gender-based Sexual Harassment (GBSH)." The activities seek to strengthen existing institutions and networks towards safer and more responsive spaces in our Campuses. 

Inclusivity Talks - Bridging Cultural Divides in the University Space: Interrogating Bias, Understanding Inclusion and Advancing Equity and Wellbeing

In partnership with the Department of Political Science, the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO) hosted the inaugural Inclusivity Talk on Bridging Cultural Divides in the University Space on 7 November 2024 at Escaler Hall. This talk is the first in a series designed to deepen the University community’s understanding of the Strategic Plan’s thrust: “bridging cultural divides.”

The event featured Dr. Erika Lorenzana Del Villar and Mr. Christian Ylagan, both alumni of AB Political Science and recognized experts in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Their discussion explored the influence of unconscious bias on academic and professional environments, emphasized the importance of equity in dismantling exclusionary barriers, and provided a starting point for fostering inclusivity in university spaces. They also connected these themes to strategies and model programs aimed at enhancing well-being and advancing equity within the context of both work and student life at the University.

For  the other activities and information about the campaign, please visit https://www.ateneo.edu/news/2024/11/03/ugdo-bulletin-campaign-end-gbsh-gaining-ground-consolidating-university-sectors

Launch of the Ateneo Gender Diversity and Safety Climate Research

Building on the findings of the “Mainstreaming Gender and Diversity in the Loyola Schools: Perspectives, Practices, and Prospects” study, the University Decorum and Investigation System, in partnership with the Institute of Philippine Culture, is embarking on a new research initiative. The project aims to collect and analyze gender-disaggregated data, assess stakeholder perceptions and familiarity with University policies and procedures on sexual misconduct, and evaluate the effectiveness of these mechanisms.

This research seeks to inform future initiatives aimed at creating a more inclusive and secure campus environment. A key goal is to develop context-specific indicators tailored to the University’s unique realities, designed to monitor and evaluate its policies, programs, and activities in fostering an inclusive, gender-responsive, safe, and supportive community.

External Linkages

• Adamson University invited Dr. Maria Elissa J. Lao, Director of UGDO, to discuss “Gender Equality and Inclusivity” held at the Co Po Ty AudioVisual Hall, Adamson University, Manila. April 29, 2024
   
• Xavier Nuvali and San Juan invited UDIS to deliver Gender and Sensitivity Training (GST) to Faculty and Staff on 10 May 2024 at Xavier School Nuvali and on 16 May 2024 at Xavier School San Juan.  
   

  

• Dr. Maria Elissa J. Lao joined the annual Women and Gender Studies (WSAP) Conference from 13-15 November 2024 at Southern Luzon State University. Dr. Lao together with Dr. Czarina Saloma-Akpedonu, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, is contributing a BPfA+30 Chapter on Education.
   

  

• UGDO and UDI joined a UNICEF training and workshop on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) on 5 December 2024 at Joy Nostalg Hotel, Mandaluyong City.
   

  

• UGDO also attended the Gospel of Nonviolence and a Laudato Si’ Future organized by the CEAP Subcommittees on Justice and Peace, Ecological Integrity, and Gender Equality  on September 17, 2024 at Henry Sy Innovation Center, Miriam College.
   

  

• UGDO also participated in a roundtable discussion on an external stakeholders’ Consultation Meeting for the Development of the Philippine Normal University (PNU) GAD Research Thrust 2024-2026 on 10 December 2024.