Zürich – The Philippine Embassy in Berne organized an event entitled “Women and Resilience: A talk to Inspire and Empower Women” on 24 March 2018 in celebration of the National Women’s Month.
Five (5) Filipino women migrants of different backgrounds and professions were invited to share their perspectives and experiences with the aim of inspiring other women migrants to stay positive and focused on the reason for the actions and decisions they take in life, in particular, leaving the Philippines and migrating to Switzerland.
Swiss-based Philippine artist Pamela Gotangco shared her different perspectives on women from the lens of an artist. She showed some of her artworks and explained what inspired her depictions of women in her work.
Ms. Pamela Gotangco shows her artworks to the participants while explaining the rationale of her designs
Mesdames Anny Hefti, Lenny Bugayong (on behalf of Ms. Alice Javier), Wenny Gamboa and Lina Emert, contributors to the book, “Bending without Breaking”, shared their stories of struggles, adjustment, survival, and integration into the Swiss society. The book is a compilation of stories of thirteen (13) Filipino women migrants in Switzerland. It is a story of hope, survival and endurance of thousands of Filipino women migrants who left the Philippines for one reason or another.
Embassy GAD Focal Officers Minister and Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro (leftmost) and
Ms. Elizabeth Joanne Tecson (rightmost) with the guest speakers at the event
Participants take time for a photo after the event
During the open forum, participants freely discussed and shared their experiences particularly upon arrival in Switzerland and their adjustments to their new environment, the challenges they faced in a new country, living with a foreign family, etc.
The event was organized by the Gender and Development (GAD) Section of the Philippine Embassy, Berne on the occasion of the National Women’s month, and was aimed at inspiring listeners, through the experiences shared by the speakers. END
