{"id":25553,"date":"2026-09-28T08:45:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T00:45:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/?p=25553"},"modified":"2026-09-30T22:53:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T14:53:21","slug":"womens-dialogue-highlights-the-babaylan-spirit-of-leadership-and-gender-responsive-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pcaf.da.gov.ph\/index.php\/2026\/09\/28\/womens-dialogue-highlights-the-babaylan-spirit-of-leadership-and-gender-responsive-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Women\u2019s Dialogue highlights the babaylan spirit of leadership and gender-responsive action"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Women leaders and stakeholders in agriculture and fisheries came together in Tagaytay City on September 22\u201324 for the 2026 Women\u2019s Dialogue, using the spirit of the babaylan<\/em> to examine the challenges women face and identify ways to strengthen their participation and leadership in the sector.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The three-day activity, organized by the PCAF Gender and Development Focal Point System (GAD-FPS), brought together representatives from PCAF\u2019s Agricultural and Fishery Councils (AFCs), National Sectoral Committees (NSCs), government, civil society, academe, and the private sector. DA Undersecretary for High Value Crops Cheryl Natividad-Caballero and PCAF Executive Director Bernadette B. De Los Santos also joined the discussions.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the theme \u201cLead Like the Babaylan<\/em>: Inspiring Women, Transforming Agriculture and Fisheries Communities,\u201d the dialogue looked at women\u2019s contributions, the barriers that continue to limit their participation, and the practical steps that institutions and stakeholders can take to address them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Awakening the Babaylan<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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PCAF Planning, Monitoring and Knowledge Management Division Chief and GAD-FPS Vice Chairperson Floreliz Avellana emphasized that the strength, wisdom, and leadership associated with the babaylan<\/em> continue to exist among women today.<\/span><\/p>\n

She described the babaylan<\/em> not simply as a historical figure, but as a symbol of the knowledge, courage, compassion, and leadership that women continue to bring to their communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHindi nawawala ang babaylan, natutulog lang siya sa dugo natin, naghihintay gisingin<\/em>,\u201d Avellana said.<\/span><\/p>\n

PCAF Partnership Development Division Chief Catherine Viray presented the rationale of the activity, noting that while women make significant contributions to agriculture and fisheries, their experiences, knowledge, and perspectives are not always equally visible in leadership and decision-making spaces.<\/span><\/p>\n

From participation to action<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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De Los Santos, who also chairs the PCAF GAD-FPS, highlighted the babaylan<\/em> as a keeper of knowledge, mediator, and community leader who brought people together and contributed to community well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

She recognized the barriers many women continue to face in accessing resources and opportunities. She emphasized the need for responsive institutions and gender-responsive systems that provide equitable opportunities for women to participate and lead.<\/span><\/p>\n

De Los Santos encouraged participants to translate the dialogue into continuing GAD initiatives, knowledge exchange, stronger partnerships, and sustained opportunities for women farmers and fisherfolk.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Undersecretary Caballero highlighted women as community builders, citing the experiences of the Rural Improvement Clubs and Gulayan sa Bayan initiatives. She also discussed the economic contribution of women and the importance of government support mechanisms in sustaining gender-responsive interventions. She suggested developing a policy checklist or similar mechanism to help ensure that gender mainstreaming is consistently integrated into interventions and programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learning, confronting barriers, and building solutions<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Resource persons Pacita Juan, Chairperson of the Philippine Coffee Board and regular member of the PCAF National Sectoral Committee on Coffee, and Atty. Anna Liza Mones of the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Ligal provided perspectives on women\u2019s contributions and the barriers affecting their participation.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Juan highlighted women\u2019s experiential knowledge in agricultural work and encouraged participants to maximize government programs and services. Mones discussed gender-based barriers including marginalization, subordination, stereotyping, multiple burdens, harmful norms, and violence against women, as well as legal and policy mechanisms protecting women\u2019s rights, including the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) and GAD Focal Point Systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

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On the second day, participants examined the experiences of marginalized or \u201cunheard\u201d women, including smallholder farmers, fisherfolk, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, farmers in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, solo parents, and women-led organizations. Through legislative theater, they also dramatized real-life situations illustrating gender-based barriers and explored possible responses.<\/span><\/p>\n

The discussions generated recommendations for PCAF and its partners focused on five key areas:<\/span><\/p>\n