The University Library (UL) Staff Training and Development Committee, chaired by Pius Murillo, collaborated with the UPLB Gender Center to conduct a 2-day training on Gender and Development (GAD) with the theme “Promoting Safe Spaces, Gender Equality, and Women’s Empowerment in the Workplace: GAD Capacity Building for University Library Staff.”

The training workshop aimed to enhance awareness and understanding of gender inclusiveness and sensitivity among participants through a comprehensive training workshop, fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful library environment.

Eighty-one staff members from the main library and unit/college libraries participated in the GAD training held on April 1-2, 2024 at the Filipiniana and Serials Section on the second floor of the Main Library, Bienvenido M. Gonzales Hall. 

Dr. Charina Banaay, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs, in her welcome remarks, affirmed that this training is an excellent opportunity to reinforce UPLB’s gender and development framework.

She further emphasized the importance of this training not just in the workplace but in our everyday lives, as she said,  “By participating in this activity, we all work towards a more just and kind society.”

On the first day, Sairah Mae R. Saipudin, a university research associate at the Gender Center, discussed gender sensitivity and stressed the importance of addressing the person properly and using pronouns that they would like to be identified with. 

Saipudin gathered and presented the participants’ initial thoughts on sex, gender, SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Sex Characteristics), and LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual) as an onboarding activity before she began her lecture. 

She emphasized that knowing the different concepts such as sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and gender roles is necessary for having a gender-sensitive society. 

On the second day, she talked about RA 11313, or the “Safe Spaces Act,” emphasizing the need to make the library a #SafeSpace for everyone.  

Jullie-Ann C. Reyes, also a researcher at the Gender Center, discussed gender-fair language and underscored its role in removing gender biases and promoting inclusivity and gender equality. 

She highlighted how media and public communication affect people’s daily lives such as images and portrayals that lead to stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination. 

Participants learned how to avoid gender-discriminatory or sexist language and used gender-neutral and gender-sensitive language. They applied their learnings through songs, by replacing some of the lyrics of the songs to make them non-sexist and gender-inclusive. 

Genesis Giselle T. Baseleres, another researcher at the Gender Center, discussed gender mainstreaming and gender analysis. She emphasized that gender and development focus on providing equitable access and opportunities for all. 

She further raised the call to challenge the status quo and break away from the traditional gender roles and stereotyping by mainstreaming GAD. 

As part of the learning activity, participants used their gender lens in creating a Filipino family profile and planned their 24-hour activity. 

Renato D. Dumagco, Jr. of the Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment discussed sexual harassment laws and the UP Anti-Sexual Harassment Code. He explained the procedures for filing complaints and the types of offenses. 

Furthermore, he also talked about RA 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004.   

As the icebreaker of the program, participants enjoined in the Infomercial/Ads/Campaign contest to show their ideas and thoughts about the contest’s theme “UPLB Library is Giving an IDEAL [Inclusive, Diversity, Equitable, Accessible, Library] Environment for Learning” through print, digital, or skit performance.

All entries received will be played on the official social media accounts of the library, as part of

the UPLB Library’s campaign to promote GAD. The winning entry’s short story AVP aligns with the theme through the slogan “ The library is open… for all”.

The training concluded with the closing remarks given by Director Roselle V. Collado of the Gender Center. She expressed confidence that the participants will be their partners in promoting and mainstreaming GAD advocacies and said that she looks forward to more collaborations with the UL staff. (Maria Victoria R. Altiche)