on the Women's Day Celebration in Calbayog

(As I have reported last Monday, a good number women in Calbayog celebrated Women's Day. Here are some details of the said celebration as reported by Ms. Nimfa Quirante of PIA Samar. This report appears in today's edition of the Leyte Samar Daily Express)

Women pampered during Women's Day celebration

CALBAYOG CITY — Close to a thousand women were pampered during the recently concluded celebration of Women’s Month in this city.

Women’s groups led by Calbayog City officials, other government agencies and organizations, non-government organizations, other women’s groups down to the barangay, rganized a Multi-Services Fair where women were treated to various services for free.

The Julio Cardinal Rosales Plaza was teeming with several women and a few men eyeing the several booths put up there.

The Ophthalmology booth had the most number of patients. A limited edition of frames and lenses were given to indigent patients.

PIA also spotted a Reproductive Health booth where the women were given lectures on the topic.

Three dentist volunteers grappled with scores of women for their oral health problems while some women had their BP taken, submitted to fasting blood sugar test and even urinalysis test for those suspected of having renal failure.

In another nook, the City Nutrition booth took pride in their cooking demonstration with lessons on malunggay based recipes featuring malunggay polvoron and malunggay lumpia.

A legal service booth was also installed to draft affidavits for the numerous concerns of women regarding legal matters.

The Bantay-Abuso Network (BAN), through Western Samar Development Foundation (WESADEF) Inc., a group composed of government advocates on anti-violence against women and children also installed their booth to give information as to where women could seek help in case of domestic violence.

Women here are also taught livelihood skills to empower them and thus help the family in its economic aspect.

Aside from all these seemingly serious services for women, they also received pampering from foot reflexology, body massages, manicure, pedicure and haircut.

One such patron, Emma Calesa, indulged in a free manicure service. She said she belonged to an organization called Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina from Tinambacan District.

Some women were also drawn by the crowd in beauty products where they were taught to put on make up and sell the beauty products.

The whole day had the women (for a day) experience booth hopping, if only to see what a women should be getting not only on Women’s Day.

Although it was Hon. Regina Rabuya who penned the invitation, Eleen Lim from DYOG who served as emcee, credited all donors, patrons and organizers including the two top government officials Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Rep. Reynaldo Uy who supported the Multi-Services Fair for the women even if only for a day. (Ninfa B Quirante)