Posted on

by Kenrick P. Buduan

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) GAD Committee has won the Gawad Kasarian award this 2022 for the various projects and activities they have implemented, such as the Kalusugan ng Kalalakihan and Gender Fair Communication webinar, as well as the needs assessment research project. The award was conferred in a virtual ceremony held by the UP Diliman Gender Office (DGO) last March 31, 2022.

In a short video, Kris Tarca — chair of the committee — highlighted the participation of OVCAA GAD Committee on various advocacies by DGO such as Women’s Month and Pride Month. He also mentioned that the committee participated in crafting the Protocol for Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response which was launched just last year.

“Ang tagumpay at pagkilala pong ito ay overwhelming para sa pakiramdam, kung tutuusin. Ngunit, sa kabila noo’y magsisilbi po itong inspirasyon para sa aming lahat na ipagpapatuloy ang pagsulong ng sound and needs-based projects ng OVCAA GAD Committee na makasipat lagi’t-lagi sa malaya at mapagpalayang lipunang malayo sa misimpormasyon at iba’t-ibang porma ng diskriminasyon at karahasang sekswal na base sa kasarian,” said Kris in Filipino while receiving the award.

The OVCAA GAD Committee was composed of Czarina Duka, Adel Intervalo, Kenrick Buduan, Aura Carbonilla, Carina Merin, Carlos Noel Gacutan, Catherine Joie Tagaban, Dee Dela Cruz, Gabbie Caburnay, Jessica Pagaduan, and Hassey Lyn Trinidad. They received a trophy and a plaque for winning the award. The trophy has a design featuring Lakapati, the deity of bountiful harvest.

Aside from Gawad Kasarian, DGO also handed out 5 separate awards. Kerima Lorena Tariman, a poet and a revolutionary, won the award for natatanging indibidwal. The award for natatanging institusyon was received by the UP School of Statistics. Meanwhile, the University Student Council (USC) got the award for natatanging organisasyon. Both the USC and School of Statistics received an award for the breakthrough activity.

Gawad Kasarian recognizes GAD committees within UP Diliman which pushed advocacies and projects for gender equality and rights. It started last 2021 at the end of Women’s Month. Last year also, the OVCAA GAD Committee received a first prize for the projects started under the leadership of Czarina Duka.