Women Protection and Crime Prevention Seminar launched at San Rafael NHS

By Mrs. Ma. Jane L. Avila

Last November 30, 2022 San Rafael National High School (SRNHS) in cooperation with Goa Martial Arts Center (GMAC) conducted a One-Day Free Women Protection and Crime Prevention Orientation/Seminar held at the SRNHS Covered Court. The activity participated by more than 70 female students was aligned with the Department of Education (DepED) Order No. 32, S. 2017 Re: Gender-Responsive Basic Education Policy in support of the Gender and Development (GAD) mandate stipulated in Republic Act (9710), otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women’s Right Act of 2009.

RA 9710 defines GAD as the development perspective and process that is participatory and empowering, equitable, sustainable free from violence, respectful of human rights supportive of self-determination and actualization of human potentials.

In a patriarchal society like the Philippines, there is a disturbing perception that women are weaker and is generally, vulnerable. Early on taught we are taught that the women are always inferior to the male species. Even with passing of laws like the RA 9710 and RA 6725 (Gender Equality Law of 2021), discrimination and violence against women is still a painful and frightful reality in our country. According to studies women battery and sexual assaults are two of the most common dangers faced by the Filipino women regardless of age and status in life.

The recent rape-slay of an 18 year old Ateneo de Naga University senior high school student more than speaks the horrors of this reality. The incident prompted the SRNHS Administration through Mr. Joel B. Dela Vega, Principal III to initiate the Seminar/Orientation.

While practical self-defence techniques were shared during the activity, of greater importance are lectures on the GMAC X-SIST Program (X represents the female chromosomes) which focused on the importance of promoting Awareness on common crimes being perpetrated against women; Alertness on various dangerous environmental and situational circumstances; Avoidance techniques to effectively and safely get out of dangerous situations; and Appropriate Actions to be undertaken when avoidance is no longer an option. Integral part of the presentation are crime statistics on women and demystifying common myths about women aggression among others being sexually assaulted has something with the clothes they wear, that rape only happens by chance, that being assaulted is their fault, that rapists are solely motivated by sex. It is the objective of these lectures to raise the level of consciousness of the participants regarding real-life danger situations and to help psycho-emotionally empower them through the simulation drills covering verbal and physical assaults, knife and short fire arm assaults, mounted and un-mounted sexual assaults.

More importantly by identifying and discussing the common type of crimes committed against women and how to properly react to them, the participants were able to realize that they do not have to easily give up and surrender to the criminal or endure it. Up until the last second before the crime actually occurs, women usually still have the power to make decisions that can profoundly affect the outcome of the situation in their favor.

GMAC instructors LD Joseph B. Miraña, a 5th Degree Blackbelt in Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate and SRNHS PHEM teacher together with Macelle D. Alfonso, Sensei, a 3rd Degree Blackbelt in Aikijujitsu and licensed aviation and security instructor served as resource persons during the event.