Santiago PE officers and personnel pose with Filipino community leaders and members with the

We Make Change for Women banner

(Santiago, 19 March 2022) – The Philippine Embassy in Santiago, Chile, successfully completed its main GAD activity to commemorate the March Women’s Month under the theme: Agenda ng Kababaihan Tungo Sa Kaunlaran (#WomenMakeChange) at the PHL Chancery on 19 March 2022.  The event was attended by twenty (20) women leaders and members of the Filipino community and was the largest physical FilCom event so far held at the Embassy since COVID-19 crowd limitations were put in place by Chile’s MINSAL (Ministry of Health) back in 2020. 

In his opening remarks, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Jim Tito B. San Agustin underlined the importance of celebrating Women’s Month and of attaining nationwide gender and development (GAD) and women empowerment targets.  He also highlighted the Philippines’ consistently high ratings and continuing yearly improvements in the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Report and other key gender parity indices by UNESCO and other international institutions. 

Finance Officer Ms. Vanessa I. Arevalo conducted a financial literacy seminar centered on saving and investing vs. spending and borrowing.  She also played two PITAKA – Pinansyal na Talino at Kaalaman videos sponsored by BDO, BSP and OWWA which were a big hit with attendees.  The Embassy’s Alternate GAD Focal Person Ms. Josefina S. Abenoja spoke on Combating Sexual Harassment, particularly in the context of the work environment of female HSWs in Chile.  She also played a poetry video on women empowerment entitled Dear Young Woman and other visual aids to support her message.

Aside from the above GAD-centered activities led by Santiago PE’s female staff-members, Consul Mr. Dennis John C. Briones, Consular and ATN Assistant Jay A. Alere, and Cultural and Information Officer Jeffry D. Aranda also briefed the participants on the new DFA Global Online Appointment System (GOAS) for passports, provided basic consular and ATN reminders, and outlined postal voting procedures for the upcoming 2022 PHL Presidential Elections.

The Embassy followed the said talks by serving classic Filipino dishes: lumpiang shanghai, pancit and baked chicken, prepared by Cultural Officer Aranda, and capped the afternoon with a raffle draw for five lucky winners of kits containing COVID-19 safety products, alarm clocks, room air fresheners, coffee mugs and more. END