Women’s group to launch series of talks on women’s rights

THE Women and Gender Commission of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (WGC-AMRSP) is set to launch a series of educational activities this year as part of its advocacies upholding the rights of women.

A training seminar on the topic of Violence against Women and Children is slated on June 20 to be held at WGC office at 1348 Quintos St., cor. Maria Clara, Sampaloc Manila.

The seminar aims to give an update on the current situation of violence committed against women and children, and to provide a clear understanding of the law called R.A. 9262.

Resource persons include Miss Janet de Leon of Women Crisis Center who will talk on the experiences of handling cases of R.A. 9262, and Atty. Irish Fe Aguilar of Saligan who will give the legal aspect and the implementation of R.A. 9262.

R.A. 9262, also known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 refers to any act or series of acts inflicted by a person against a woman that result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse.

Both speakers are experts on the issue of violence committed against women and children.

Expected participants include religious men and women and mission partners.

8 delegates from RP to attend World Biblical Assembly

EIGHT delegates from the Philippines will participate in a worldwide gathering of Biblical scholars in Dar Es Salaam, Africa on June 22 for the 7th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF).

Bishop Arturo Bastes, SVD, Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on the Biblical Apostolate (ECBA), also the moderator of the Executive Committee of the CBF and president of Philippine Bible Society leads the group of RP delegates.

The roster of participants include Bishop Renato Mayugba, DD (Lingayen-Dagupan), Chairman of John Paul I Regional Biblical Center of Northern Luzon and Cordillera, Fr. Dominador Ramos, SVD, president of Divine Word College, Urdaneta and former Director of John Paul I Biblical Center, Sr. Miriam Alejandrino, OSB (exegete), Miss Mary Almonte (Mother of Life), Sr. Antonia Anas SIHM (BA Director SIHM), Miss Estrella del Mar (Cebu Lay Formation Center) and Fr. Oscar Alunday (ECBA).

The Plenary Assembly with a registered number of 230 delegates is considered to be the most attended ever in its history. The theme is "God's Word, Source of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace."

Significant worldwide issues are set to be tackled during the Assembly which will give impetus to the upcoming African Synod that will take place three months before the Bishops' Synod on the Word of God in Rome on October 2008. It will contribute to the preparation of the unique World Church event.

Likewise, it will offer the delegates a rare opportunity to meet, exchange, plan and celebrate together once again as a worldwide Federation.