2010 WOMEN’S MONTH CELEBRATION IN OLONGAPO

The Olongapo City Women’s Council under the chairmanship of Olongapo City First Lady and Zambales Vice-Gov. Anne Marie Gordon has laid out different activities for the celebration of International Women’s Month on March.

In a meeting led and facilitated by Council Vice Chair and City Councilor Ellen Dabu and Council Chair Secretariat and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Gene Eclarino at the Conference Room, Annex Building of the City Hall on February 25, 2010, the activities for the women in Olongapo was set.

On March 1 at 7 o’clock in the morning, the kick-off of the month-long celebration will start with a motorcade around the seventeen (17) barangays to increase the level of awareness of Olongapeños regarding Women’s Month as directed by Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. to the Women’s Council.

On the same day, at 8 am, a march of three thousand (3,000) women will unite as a show of force to all the women in the world. The march will start at Marikit Park and will end at the Rizal Triangle Covered Court.

There will be a Women’s Health Consultation which will be conducted by the doctors from the City Health Office (CHO) at the Population Commission Office (POPCOM) of the City Hall. Breast examinations, cervical examinations and Pap smear tests are just some of the free services available for women.

There will also be medical and dental missions, mobile birth certificate registration, free haircut, seated massage, foot spa, face painting seminar, women sing-along contest, job fair and awarding of the Livelihood Capital Assistance (LCA) courtesy of Mayor Bong Gordon and First Lady Anne Gordon.

Meanwhile, also in connection with the International Women’s Month with the theme “Babae, Tagumpay ka ng Bayan,” the Rizal Triangle Covered Court will turn violet, the women’s motif, on March 8.

On March 18 at the FMA Hall of the City Hall, a “Buntis Party” is set for pregnant women in their second and third trimester. Pregnant women, especially first time mothers, will be taught about the importance of new born screening and maternal and child care.

Finally, the month-long celebration will end with a fund raising concert entitled “Voices! Concert for Women” which will be held on March 29 where local Olongapo-grown talents will show off their talents in singing, dancing and acting.