The OVCAA GAD Committee of AY 2023-2024, in partnership with Lunas Collective, conducted the Kalusugan ng Empleyado: A collective care session with and for OVCAA Employees last May 30, 2024. This one-day program was designed specifically for non-academic staff under the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs. It carried on a similar objective as the traditional “Kalusugan ng …” series that aims to educate and train participants on specific gender and wellness-related topics. Previous program series focused on health and well-being topics for male, female, and LGBTQIA+ individuals.
The one-day program aimed to facilitate an exchange of views & insights on bodily autonomy; to cultivate a deeper understanding of pleasure and consent; and for participants to recognize non-pleasurable acts and its connection with gender-based violence.
The OVCAA employees participated in one or two activities facilitated by Lunas Collective – Expressive Arts Support Group Activity and Body Movement Session. Both activities have morning and afternoon sessions.
The Expressive Arts Support Group Activity (12 participants per session) was a visual arts session wherein facilitators, Teacher Liz Rañola and Ma’am Ross Tiu guided participants on a creative activity aimed to explore care, autonomy and well-being.
The Body Movement Session (15 participants per session) was a meditative exercise facilitated by Asst. Prof. Inna Gacad. The goal of this activity was for the participants to feel more attuned with their bodies, minds, and soul, while establishing boundaries and drawing the lines on non-pleasures that oftentimes lead to gender-based violence.
The OVCAA GAD Committee started the “Kalusugan ng…” series in 2019 and had previously conducted 4 sessions:
- Kalusugan ng Kababaihan: A Seminar on Empowering and Caring for Women, 22 March 2019, 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN, NEC
- Kalusugan ng Kalalakihan, 28 April 2021, 1PM – 4PM, Zoom and FB Livestream
- Kalusugan ng Kababaihan: Pagbasag sa mga Maling Kaalaman sa Reproduktibong Kalusugan at Edukasyong Sekswalidad, 28 March 2022, 1PM – 4:30 PM, Zoom and Livestream
- Kalusugan ng LGBTQIA+: Pagtawid sa Makulay na Bukas, 24 June 2022, 1PM – 4PM, via Zoom and FB Livestream
Author: Ms Adel Intervalo
