13 March 2017 BERNE- Ambassador Joselito Jimeno is joined by the Embassy’s officers and staff in celebrating the National Women’s Month. During the flag raising ceremony on 06 March 2017, the Embassy used the Lupang Hinirang music video with an all-women cast to commemorate Filipina women’s contributions in our country. The ceremony was followed by the reading of the statement of the Philippine Government on the commemoration of National Women’s Month.

Flag Raising Ceremony and announcement of activities for the National Women’s Month Celebration

On 08 March (International Women’s Day), the Embassy provided “Serbisyo Para Kay Juana”- special lanes for women passport applicants and distributed brochures on R.A. 9710 also known as the Magna Carta of Women to all passport applicants. A mini photo booth was also prepared for applicants to enjoy and participate in raising awareness about this year’s theme: “WE Make Change Work for Women”.

Photos: Women of the Philippine Embassy and Passport Applicants pose to help raise awareness on

this year’s theme: WE Make Change Work for Women

The Philippine Embassy in Berne also celebrated Women’s Week on Friday, 10 March 2017 with women leaders of the Filipino community. The celebration kicked off with a brief lecture on the history of International Women’s Day and why women’s month is celebrated across the globe and in the Philippines, whose national theme, Partnership for Change and Full Implementation of the Magna Carta of Women, is anchored in the commitment of President Duterte’s administration theme, Malasakit at Pagbabago. The theme aims to not only inform and engage women in the Philippines, but also inspire and empower them by creating opportunities for them to become productive members of society. 

Photos: (Top) Lecture conducted by the Embassy’s GAD Focal Person, Minister and Consul General Tess Lazaro;

(Bottom) Madame Jimeno with the ladies of the Filipino Community

The Embassy also informed the women leaders of its activities geared towards the empowerment of women under its Gender and Development (GAD) program. These activities include conduct of seminars on psychosocial and legal services; seminars on intercultural marriages; briefing for consular clients; periodic dialogue with leaders of the Filipino community. The Embassy also actively engages concerned agencies in Switzerland and conducts periodic consultations with them on issues affecting au pairs and trainees, most of whom are women.

Some trivia on comparative status of women in the Philippines and Switzerland were also shared by the Embassy to women leaders to make them more aware on how their motherland and adopted country have been doing in advancing the cause of women. Of the 120 Filipino organizations registered with the Embassy, 94 have women leaders/presidents. END