Mindanao State University (MSU)-Main Campus officially joined the national observance of International Women’s Month this morning, March 2, 2026, launching a month-long program dedicated to the university’s commitment to gender equality. Held immediately following the flag-raising ceremony at the Antonio Isidro Building Ground, the event set an introspective and action-oriented tone for the weeks ahead. The university’s observance is anchored in the national theme for 2023–2028, “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society – Every Woman Leads, EveryJuan Supports.” This theme serves as a guiding mandate for the MSU Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Point System and the Center for Women Studies, underscoring a collective effort to foster an environment where inclusivity, innovation, and impact are lived realities.
The morning’s proceedings began with opening remarks and a synthesis of the Magna Carta of Women by Prof. Melba M. Angni, the MSU GAD Focal, followed by an inspirational message from Dr. Alma E. Berowa, former Vice President for Academic Affairs and a foundational figure in the development of the university’s GAD framework. A pivotal moment of the program was the introduction of the “MSU Purple Leadership Scarf” by Dr. Lei May A. Dalaten, GAD Secretariat Extension Specialist. Dr. Dalaten articulated that the scarf signifies dignity, justice, and transformation—emblems of an inclusive academic university where leadership is recognized in every woman and championed by the entire community. She emphasized that the scarf stands as a visible reminder that equality is not a mere symbolic gesture, but a practice that must be actively lived, upheld, and supported by all.
MSU System President Atty. Paisalin P.D. Tago, CPA was represented by Executive Vice President Prof. Abdulcader M. Ayo, PhD, ShL, JD. EVP Ayo commended the community’s active participation and offered a profound reflection on the intersection of faith and gender equity. He stated that women’s empowerment in Islam is rooted in spiritual equality, legal rights, and social participation. Islam affirms that men and women are equal before Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alayhi wa Sallam. He further noted that women have the right to own property, inherit, seek education, work, and participate in society, emphasizing that the faith holds dignity, justice, and the protection of women’s rights as paramount values.
To sustain this advocacy throughout March, the university has prepared a robust calendar of month-long activities. These include Purple Wednesdays, which mandate that the campus community wear purple as a visible sign that dignity, justice, and solidarity are core values within the university. Additionally, the university will host a weekly Women Lecture Series designed to facilitate academic discourse regarding critical gender issues, as well as a Women’s Spotlight Series that highlights the achievements and contributions of women within the MSU community. The month will also feature a Financial Literacy Seminar, a Song Women Recognition Ceremony, and a Women’s Research and Extension Forum, among other initiatives.
The ceremony also marked an intellectual contribution to the institution with the formal turnover of GAD-related literature and academic materials to the University Library, which were received by Library Director Dr. Hasmin M. Abdulhalim. In her closing remarks, Bai Theresa Sophia M. Macarambon, GAD Secretariat Finance Specialist, synthesized the event’s purpose, highlighting that gender equality is not the responsibility of a single societal sector, but a shared commitment. She encouraged the community to create an environment where leadership thrives through mutual respect, collaboration, and collective accountability. The program was facilitated by emcee Prof. Nico A. Caballes.
Ultimately, this launch serves as a reaffirmation of Mindanao State University’s enduring pledge to cultivate an academic environment where gender equality is foundational. By integrating these values into its institutional framework, the university ensures that its pursuit of academic excellence remains inseparable from its dedication to social justice, ensuring that the principles of equality, innovation, and impact resonate throughout the campus and the broader community it serves.
