Echoes of Empowerment: Abante Babae Forum Ignites Dialogue on Feminism, Gender Equity

By Bea Faye Eumague


To empower, educate, and advocate for women’s rights as well as spark critical discussions on gender equality and social change, the Kataas-taasang Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral (KASAMA), in partnership with the Political Science Society (PSS) and Office of Student Development Services (OSDS), conducted the “Abante Babae: A Forum on the Rise of Femininity in Advancing Gender Equity” in celebration of International Women’s Month on Wednesday, March 5.


Guest speakers Nikko Shane Dar and Assoc. Prof. Yasmira Moner, from the MSU-IIT Gender and Development Center (GADC), led thought-provoking discussions on femininity’s evolving nature and its role in defying societal norms.


Dar explored the changing nature of womanhood and femininity based on great thinkers and cultural icons. Citing Simone de Beauvoir’s statement that “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman,” he underscored that femininity is not an absolute but a dynamic, constantly evolving identity influenced by culture, history, and individual experience.


Quoting feminist figures like Virginia Woolf, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Janet Mock, Dar pointed out how femininity goes beyond conventional expectations of womanhood, embodying power, creativity, and transformation.


Likening women to nature—with their capacity to create, nourish, and transform—he stressed that feminism is not about campaigning for one unified narrative but about amplifying women’s diverse experiences across race, class, and identity. “That is how we fight and challenge oppression,” he declared, stating further that honoring Women's Month is an essential weapon in the push for gender equality.


“Femininity is not a constraint but a developing strength,” Dar asserted, urging the audience to reject limiting definitions of womanhood and instead embrace its fluid, multifaceted nature.


Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof. Yasmira Moner gave an inspiring speech on reclaiming values, making informed choices, and promoting gender equality. She called upon the youth to practice self-protection while maintaining diversity, inclusion, and equity.


“We all have free will, but we also need to be responsible for our actions and their outcomes,” she said.


She challenged the stereotype of women in revolutions as merely sympathizers. “Women have always been part of the fight,” she asserted, citing Commander Dayang-Dayang, who led guerrillas against Japanese forces in 1942.


Discussing Philippine feminist movements, Assoc. Prof. Moner attributed Concepcion Felix de Calderon with founding the nation’s first feminist organization and highlighted major milestones, such as women’s suffrage in 1937. She stressed that “Filipino feminism is deeply rooted in our history and struggles, not merely borrowed from the West.”


She also emphasized legislative achievements driven by women’s movements such as the Anti-Mail Order Bride Law, maternity benefit laws, and gender representation policies. She lauded the CHED Memorandum Order of 2015 for integrating gender equality into higher education, stating, “The Philippines took the lead in enacting such policies, demonstrating our advancement in gender equality.”


Highlighting the importance of gender budgeting, Assoc. Prof. Moner explained that 5% of the country’s budget goes towards gender and development programs. “This is not about aid; it is about long-term equity,” she said.


“The struggle for gender equality is by no means won, but we have made fantastic progress,” she emphasized, encouraging students to keep pushing for change.


The event concluded with a unity walk around the campus, where attendees marched with placards and flags, chanting “Abante, babae!” Their voices echoed through the campus, symbolizing a collective call for gender equality and women’s empowerment.