Utzurrum: International Women’s Month

ZONTA Club of Cebu 2 looks forward with great interest and anticipation to March as International Women’s Month, having for its major advocacy the respect and protection of women, as well as shielding them from all kinds of violence. It also promotes empowerment of women worldwide.

GROUP photo of club members with students and teachers of Childlink.
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One of the activities to be held at the Women and Children’s Friendly Center (Pink Center) at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) on March 8 (tomorrow) is a wellness program. The speakers are Dr. Flor Miel and Marilou Canizares, both Zontians, and Paz Turla. The session will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those who will attend can avail themselves of a massage, reflex therapy and hilot, all for wellness’ sake!

Over at the Ayala Center it’s “I Am Woman” event, also tomorrow, an activity that provides an excellent opportunity to honor the various facets of being a woman. The mall’s campaign will highlight woman’s power, strength, awareness and influence in their respective fields.

A simple ribbon-cutting ceremony will open the event with the mall acting as host to various programs relevant to empowerment and how to inspire other women to do likewise.

The month-long activity will be in collaboration with other women’s organizations like Inner Wheel Clubs of Cebu, Quota Clubs of Cebu, Mandaue, Zonta Clubs of Cebu, etc.

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What are the Z and Golden Z Clubs of Zonta International?

They are one of Zonta International’s longest-running programs to help high school (Z Club) and college and university students (Golden Z) develop leadership skills, promote career exploration and encourage members to participate in community, school, and international service projects.

The Zonta Club of Cebu 2 recently inked a memorandum of agreement with Childlink Learning Center, making it a Z Club member.

One of the initial activities at the center was an “On-The-Spot Collage Making Contest,” with the theme, “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World.” Zontian Wi Suan Tiu explained the rationale and mechanics to the students, who were ready, willing and able to get to work with whatever materials they had.

Materials ranged from old news, clippings, plastics, cork, yarn, ribbons, old photographs, buttons, eggshells, seashells, etc. Anything and everything for creativity!

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In response to the urgent call, “Fight Against Violence Towards Women and Children,” the Zontians embarked on its forum “Dangoyngoy sa Kahilum (Part 2)” at the streamlined and ultra-modern Joseph Baumgartner Learning Resource Center of the University of San Carlos, Talamban Campus.

Designed for librarians and guidance counselors from different schools, the attendees included the Zontians themselves, with a total attendance of close to 115.

Three eloquent speakers touched on sensitive issues, like “Bullying” by Dr. Purie Oñate; “Drugs” by Chester Y. Dagus; and “Child Abuse” by Dr. Consuelo Malaga.

By the end of the successful, fruitful and informative forum, project chairman Zontian Cynthia Dagus was receiving handshakes, not only for a job well done, but also for having such a gifted son, speaker Chester Dagus. More power! Go Zonta!