NGO Shoutout

Here are some feminist organizations in the Philippines that you can support and follow to further promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, both in and out of the arts.

Gabriela Philippines

Founded in 1984, GABRIELA organizes Filipino women, primarily from marginalized sectors of society, and helps educate and empower them to fight for their rights and interests through collective action.

GABRIELA provides direct services to marginalized women including counseling services to women survivors of VAW, medical missions, free clinics, relief and rehabilitation in times of disaster and capability building trainings on women’s health and women’s rights.

GABRIELA builds networks and links with other local and international women’s organizations and institutions for cooperation and mutual support as well as with other people’s organizations in the Philippines and in other countries.

GABRIELA aspire for a sovereign society free from foreign domination and intervention with a self-reliant economy geared towards the people’s needs and gives equal value to the role of women in production; where land belongs to the tillers and recognizes women’s equal right to own land; a democratic government where the people’s rights – including women’s rights – are upheld, respected and guaranteed and women’s political participation is ensured and; a socio-cultural system that is devoid of patriarchal values, gender oppression, discrimination, and violence.

Women's Legal and Human Rights Bureau

The idea for the first consciously feminist legal organization advocating feminist legal advocacy as a strategy for the promotion and defense of women’s human rights was started in 1989 by three feminist students, and was legally established a year later under its former name, “Women’s Legal Bureau”.

A significant point in the herstory of the women’s movement in the Philippines, WLB worked to empower women through the use of and engagement with the law and its institutions.

WLB has contributed in shaping Philippine jurisprudence and legal landscape by handling cases with the use of the Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) as basis for self-defense; and drafting of some of the bills that now form part of the body of Philippine laws that strengthen protections for women against violence and discrimination. In 2006, WLB led the historical gathering of around one hundred women’s rights organizations and advocates in submitting the Philippine Shadow Report under the Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

As the organization expanded its mandate to include other areas and platforms in seeking fulfillment of women’s rights, WLB renamed itself as “Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau” in 2009.

HABI: The Philippine Textile Council

Established in 2009, HABI: The Philippine Textile Council is a non-governmental organization that emphasizes the value and singularity of our cultural identity by striving to preserve understanding of, and know-how on, our indigenous textiles, while at the same time modernizing the local textile industry.

HABI; The Philippine Textile Council is tasked to preserve, promote, and enhance Philippine textiles through education, communication, and research using public and private resources.

In 2018, HABI began working initially with farmers in Ilocos Norte and Iloilo, as well as with the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, with the goal in mind of increasing the number of cotton farms in the country.

HABI’s annual textile market fairs provide weavers with a venue to showcase and sell their handwoven textiles and new product designs and connect them with the international market.

HABI regularly conducts webinars and lectures on relevant and timely topics, such as the importance of reviving the Philippine textile industry, the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern design, and the issue of cultural appropriation, as a way of educating both the local and international public.

The Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran (SPARK!)

SPARK! or Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran is a SEC-registered NGO composed of empowered women and women champions committed to the development of women and women’s organizations as full partners in national development.

Their goals include working towards enhanced access to resources and active involvement in programs and initiatives aimed at creating a nation where women are economically empowered and politically engaged. They also strive for inclusive policies and practices that demonstrate a gender-responsive financial and political commitment to uphold and advance women's rights. Building stronger connections, partnerships, and networks among various women's groups and organizations in the country is another key objective. Additionally, mentoring the next generation of Filipino women and involving men in advocating for and supporting women's issues are crucial aspects of their mission.

Kasuso: Philippine Foundation for Breast Cancer

In the year 2000, due to the growing number of breast cancer patients of East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), the Department of Surgery, then chaired by Dr Florentino C. Doble, established the first breast care centre in the Philippines. The Breast Care Center (BCC) needed staff and resources that the hospital could not provide. Ms Pearl L. Imperial, a nurse and survivor, joined Dr Doble’s team of surgeons to establish a foundation to serve as BCC’s support group.

Philippine Foundation for Breast Care Inc. (PFBCI), a non-profit, volunteer-based organization, was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2001. Dedicated to serving mostly indigent patients by sourcing financial assistance and providing emotional support, PFBCI is the only donee institution accredited by the Philippine Council for NFO Certification for breast cancer.

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