Gender and Development (GAD) Corner

The DOST-Philippine Science High School System (PSHS) System marked a strong and meaningful start to the 2026 National Women's Month Celebration (NWMC), clinching the Ms. Babaylan 2026 title during the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Women's Month Kick-Off held on March 3, 2026, at the DOST Grounds in Taguig City.

Representing Pisay, Ms. Clarisse Laine V. Muli, Biology Faculty of PSHS-Central Luzon Campus in Clark Freeport Zone, was crowned Ms. Babaylan 2026, besting fellow candidates from across the DOST system. The Babaylan symbolizes strength, wisdom, and leadership qualities that teacher Clarisse embodied throughout the competition.

During the question-and-answer segment, she delivered a compelling message. Her response resonated with both the judges and the audience.

As an educator, Ms. Muli has always viewed the journey of learning as a constant dialogue between success and failure. She tells her students that to truly learn, one must first experience mistakes, because those errors are the very building blocks of growth.

She carries this philosophy into the world of science, where she believes innovation depends on the environment we build around ourselves. For women leaders, it isn't enough to simply find a community that celebrates their successes; they must find — or create — a space that allows them the freedom to make mistakes.

She finds the perfect metaphor for this in her work as a biologist. Just as our own DNA contains introns that allow tolerance of replication errors, she believes women in leadership should be granted that same "biological" allowance for error. To Ms. Muli, these setbacks are not signs of weakness, but are often the hallmarks of the world's greatest discoveries.

Even before the systemwide celebration at DOST, the Office of the Executive Director (OED) formally kicked off its National Women's Month activities on March 2, 2026, at the PSHS System Administrative and Training Center in Diliman, Quezon City. The internal kick-off gathered officials and employees in reaffirming the agency's commitment to gender equality, safe workspaces, and sustained Gender and Development (GAD) initiatives across the system's 16 campuses.

Another major highlight of the March 3 celebration was the Mass Oath-Taking Ceremony of officers of Men Opposed to Violence Against Women Everywhere (MOVE) chapters across the DOST system, in line with the memorandum issued by Renato U. Solidum Jr.

For the DOST-PSHS System, the MOVE Chapter is led by Finance and Administrative Division Chief, Mr. Ed Herpert Briones, as Chairperson, and Knowledge Innovation Division Chief, Mr. Martin Joseph Simbulan, as Vice-Chairperson.

The chapter is composed of male employees from the OED who committed to championing zero tolerance for violence against women, supporting GAD programs, and promoting gender-sensitive and respectful workplace practices. MOVE will serve as a network of male advocates working alongside women to eliminate all forms of violence against women (VAW) and advance gender equality in government institutions and communities.

In a show of inter-agency solidarity, select OED employees also traveled to Taguig City to cheer and celebrate Women's Month together with female employees from other DOST attached agencies which reinforced camaraderie and collective commitment to women's empowerment across the DOST system.

#DOSTWomensMonth2026 #WomenOfPisay #MOVEforEquality #OneDOST4U

Quezon City — The DOST-Philippine Science High School System transformed its Main Campus in Diliman into a vibrant hub of scientific exploration and empowerment on 11 February 2026, as it hosted a special forum in celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

With the theme "From Vision to Impact: Redefining STEM by Closing the Gender Gap," the event gathered women leaders in science, educators, policymakers, and hundreds of students from various high schools in Quezon City. Female students, accompanied by their teachers, filled the campus gymnasium and multipurpose hall to participate in a day dedicated to innovation, inclusion, and impact.

Organized in partnership with the DOST Gender and Development Unit, the DOST-Science Education Institute, and the DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute, the hybrid forum featured distinguished speakers who shared their journeys and insights on advancing gender-responsive STEM ecosystems.

Among the resource speakers were:

• Dr. Diana L. Ignacio, Assistant Secretary for Administrative and Legal Affairs and DOST-wide GAD Focal Person
• Ms. Ermelita V. Valdeavilla, Chairperson, Philippine Commission on Women
• Ms. Chieko Yokota, Gender Specialist, Asian Development Bank
• Dr. Catherine Judith Challen, Senior Lecturer, QUT (Queensland University of Technology)
• Dr. Maria Asuncion A. Silvestre, President, Kalusugan ng Mag-Ina, Inc.

The lecture series lined-up today echoed the System's commitment to the 18-day advocacy, highlighting the important policies and mechanisms to combat against violence against women. At the end of the 18-day campaign against VAW, December 12, the technical working group organized the Masculinity and Engaging Men in Ending Violence Against Women and Children and Safe Space Act (Bawal Bastos Law) in-person seminar for the Philippine Science High School System-Office of the Executive Director employees at ASTB AVR of the PSHS-Main Campus in Quezon City.

Ending VAW

The held in-person seminar on "Engaging Men and Women in Ending Violence against Women and Children" invited Ma. Aurora Lolita M. Lomibao, PhD, Associate Dean, College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines. She contextualizes Republic Act 9262 Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act in support of the 18-day campaign to end VAW. According to her, violence against women or VAW has intensified in many countries during the pandemic. Philippines is no exception. The community lockdowns and extended stay-at-home orders left victims trapped with their abusers.

Expanding the VAW-free community

The second resource speaker, Atty. Tranquillino Cagurangan, explained Republic Act 7877 – Sexual Harassment Act and Republic Act 11313 – Safe Spaces Act or "Bawal Bastos Law" during the seminar on violence against women attended by employees of PSHS System – Office of the Executive Director.

Question: What can Pisay do to campaign against VAW?

In the Philippine Science High School System, we strive to fully implement the Magna Carta of Women, a move imperative to eliminate discrimination. In fact, the Office of the Executive Director (OED-Central) is composed of 53% women. For School Year 2022-2023, we are supporting a total of 9,990 scholars in 16 campuses with an overall gender ratio of almost 50:50. These are part of Pisay's grassroot initiatives in achieving equal representation and gender balance within the organization.

Moreover, the System has set up the Committee on Decorum and Investigation on Sexual Harassment cases for the workforce and Guidance Counselling for the students, as well as child-minding facilities and safe spaces open for everyone. The management, faculty, technical and administrative personnel both men and women are all empowered to be GAD advocates and involved in this participatory process, actively spearheading advocacy activities such as this seminar.

The Philippine Science High School System-Office of the Executive Director joins the observance of the 18-day campaign to end Violence Against Women (VAW). After the Flag Ceremony, all staff wearing their VAW-free shirts began their Monday morning exercises through the beat of "Kumilos Ka, Kalalakihan", a music for women empowerment. At the lobby, a 4-minute shadow play video on how we can achieve a #VAWfreePH also inspired the employees to #VowToEndVAW and make collective efforts in elevating women's self-worth as well as contribute to the safety of the community. Come 12 December, on a seminar, the PSHS System OED employees will learn about how they can engage men in creating safe spaces for women and children.

#RaiseYourVoice #Pisay #OneDOST4U #VAWFreePhilippines