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MAKILALA, COTABATO— In recognition of women’s pivotal roles in society during Women’s Month, the University of Southern Mindanao-Extension Services Office (USM-ESO), in collaboration with the Department of Development Communication, conducted a Gender Sensitivity and Awareness Training for 23 Bagobo-Tagabawa women at the IP Kasunayan Village, Brgy. San Vicente, on March 27, 2026.
Titled “Gender Sensitivity and Awareness Training for the Bagobo-Tagabawa IP Community,” the session is a key output of Component 1 of the extension project, “Empowering Indigenous Voices: Building a Sustainable Community Through Local Initiatives,” led by project leader Prof. Anamarie B. Uyangurin.
The training featured an interactive series of lectures and workshops facilitated by Prof. Sarrah Jane C. Guerrero from the Department of Development Communication. Prof. Guerrero opened the session by discussing the complexities of sex and gender roles specifically within the Filipino household context. These discussions deepened into the Gender Division of Labor and the identification of systemic Gender Biases.
To transition from theory to practice, the lecture sessions were supported by interactive workshops. Participants mapped out the specific roles and responsibilities assigned to men and women within their village, sparking a dialogue on the weight of domestic labor.
“Kaming mga babae talaga ‘yung oras namin sa isang araw nauubos sa pag-aalaga namin sa mga anak namin, sa paghuhugas, at pagluluto samantalang ‘yung mga asawa namin ay naghahanap-buhay,” participant Jea Rubo expressed.
Ultimately, the training served as a vital platform for Bagobo-Tagabawa women to reclaim their narratives and recognize the immense value of their contributions to both the home and the wider community. By bridging the gap between academic gender concepts and the lived realities of the IP Kasunayan Village, the initiative empowered participants to envision a future where labor is shared and traditional biases are dismantled.
As the session concluded, the evident sense of solidarity among the participants underscored the University of Southern Mindanao’s commitment to fostering inclusive development—ensuring that no voice, especially those from indigenous communities, is left behind in the pursuit of gender equality.
