Zumba dance tilt caps Women’s Month celebration in Dumalinao town

By Alma L. Tingcang

DUMALINAO, Zamboanga del Sur - Over a thousand women from the 30 barangays of this town gathered at Dumalinao Regional Pilot School (DRPS) gymnasium to celebrate Women’s Month on Saturday, March 14, 2015.

This year’s theme, “Juana, Desisyon Mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa, Ikaw Na,” recognizes the role of women in nation-building and their contribution to our economy.

The celebration started with a mass after which a parade around the town’s major streets winded up at Dumalinao Regional Pilot School gymnasium for the program.

“Every day we celebrate women’s day because they are our inspiration. They raise our children well and guide them to the right path. She is the light of every home. We find women in politics, the armed forces, banking and finance, technology and other fields which we thought only men would fit in,” Mayor Ace William E. Cerilles said in his inspirational message.

He quoted the words of former US Secretary of State  Madeleine K. Albright, who was the first woman to hold the position, “Women’s empowerment is gaining ground because so many brave women have been unwilling to accept anything less. Our collective experience has shown that when women have the power to make their own choices, good things happen.”

Receiving the loudest applause was the Zumba competition among 7 groups which was the highlight of the celebration with mothers sweating it out for the first prize of P5,000 bagged by Barangay Sumadat ; second prize went to Barangay Pag-asa - P3,000; and 3^rd prize – Barangay Sebucao winning P2,000. A consolation prize of P500 each was also given to participating barangays.

Capping the celebration was the free medical check-up and feeding for children by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, a forum on women’s rights, health and other issues.

Prizes were given to lucky participants such as: 24” LED TV, sofa bed, cherry mobile phone, 1 sack of rice and 20 packs of 10 kilos rice. The Juanas could not contain their excitement and fun during the whole day activity.

In closing, Ms. Junaflor S. Cerilles, the town first lady and president of the Women Empowerment Movement-Rural Improvement Club (WEM-RIC) Zamboanga del Sur Federated president said, “To all Juanas, let us continue to be counted upon in nation-building and economic growth. We have a great responsibility on our shoulders. Let us live up to the highest ideals because our children look up to us as role models.”