The Women and Gender Institute (WAGI) is Miriam College’s specialized center for research, training, and advocacy on women’s rights, gender equality and non-sexist learning in support of the leadership of young women and students.

WAGI is a Filipino word, which means “win” in English and “sister” in Ibanag. The term epitomizes the long term objective of MC-WAGI, which is to achieve women’s empowerment and gender equality in society as this will, in the end, result in a win-win situation for both women and men.

VISION

WAGI charts the direction for the school's women and gender programs through initiatives in gender-fair education, feminist research, and advocacy on women's empowerment.

GOAL

The goals of WAGI are tied to the goals of Miriam College. WAGI supports Miriam College in the goal of creating a gender-responsive school environment within MC for all its students and employees. It also integrates Miriam Spirituality in its advocacy, inspired by the Maryknoll legacy of mission, communion, and service; and embodies the core values of truth, justice, peace, and integrity of creation.

Just as the word "WAGI" means "to win" in English, it epitomizes the institution's long-term, broader goals of women's empowerment, gender equality, and social inclusion as a win-win for people of all genders.

OUR ORGANIZATION

WAGI is composed of diverse individuals with extensive backgrounds in GAD. It is led by an Executive Director, while its various programs are headed by Senior Faculty Associates. The Faculty Associates of WAGI provide direction, supervision, and expertise to their respective programs. A relatively young Administrative Staff provides technical and logistical support to the programs.

Only three members of the team hold plantilla positions, namely: a part-time Executive Director, one part-time Faculty Associate, and one full-time Technical Assistant. The rest of the team works on a project basis. The Executive Director serves a term of three years, renewable for another term. The Faculty Associate and Technical Assistant are appointed by the WAGI Executive Director.

WAGI also has a Gender Mainstreaming Committee (GMCOM), which is composed of representatives from various units of the institution, namely: Miriam College Grade School (MCGS), Miriam College High School (MCHS), Skills Development and Technical Education Center (formerly Miriam Adult Education & Southeast Asian Institute for the Deaf), and MC-Nuvali. These unit representatives serve as focal points for promoting the mission, vision, and goals of WAGI within the institution.

WAGI is further enriched by an interdisciplinary, inter-school, and inter-agency pool of resource speakers, scholars, and practitioners from within and outside the institution.

OUR HISTORY

Maryknoll College, now Miriam College, is a pioneer of women's studies in the Philipines, having introduced a course on women and society as early as 1970. In the early 1980s, the school, along with leading institutions in Metro Manila, organized the Metro Manila Women's Studies Consortium, the predecessor of the Women's Studies Association of the Philippines (WSAP).

In 1987, MC established the Women's Resource Research Center (WRRC) to respond to the integrative needs of women towards social transformation. The WRRC was later replaced with the Women and Gender Institute (WAGI), which was established in 1998, under the leadership of the former Miriam College President Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan.

Since its establishment, WAGI has been a strong voice for gender equality and women's empowerment. WAGI actively networks with strategic organizations and institutions at the national, regional and international levels to bring gender issues to the forefront - the center runs training sessions, women's leadership programs and fora on gender in education, human rights, peace and security, economic development, public service, and more.

Activities for Students

Young Women’s Leadership Program

To prepare today’s young women to become tomorrow’s leaders, the YWL program conducts leadership seminars and workshops for young women, by young women. The program traverses class, ethnic, political and religious boundaries to bring young women together. Collectively they envision, create, and collaborate as social change agents, encouraged to build their own feminist paradigms that uphold gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Young Women’s Leadership Training

The Women and Gender Institute, in partnership with the HEU Office of Student Affairs conducts an annual leadership training for student leaders. Various activities and learning sessions are conducted during the training to help the students hone their feminist leadership.

Young Women’s Leadership Conference

WAGI brings together young women from different colleges and universities to discuss issues of young women today. This conference aims to encourage leadership skills, hone feminist lenses, and build networks among young women.

Women's Month

In celebration of the International Women’s Month, WAGI in partnership with the Miriam College community holds a series of events such as webinars, training sessions, and conversations on pressing gender issues.

These are some activities for students conducted during Women’s Month:

In celebration of this year's International Women's Day, Miriam College - Women and Gender Institute - WAGI in partnership with the Human Resource Division, MC HEU Office for Student Affairs and the Marketing and Communications Office organized a Dance Mob: "EmpowerHer Rythm: Accelerating Progress on Gender Equality Amidst Multiple Crises."

WATCH HERE

The Wildflower Collection

The Wildflower Club in coordination with the Women and Gender Institute (WAGI) published the FIRST issue of the Wildflower Collection, a digital mini-zine created to honor the voices of women survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and supporters of the advocacy to end Violence Against Women (VAW).

The Wildflower Club is a group of 4th year Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Global Affairs & Diplomacy students. The mini-zine is in compliance with their final requirement for the GEE-3.1 course, “Peace and Justice in the Church and Society,” under Ms. Guadalupe "Addie" Isidro.

We would like to congratulate the Wildflower club and its contributors in providing a safe space as well as sharing their stories, poetry, art, and experiences that shed light on resilience, womanhood, and championing the end of Violence Against Women (VAW).

You may read access the digital mini-zine HERE.

PROGRAMS

Gender Fair Education (GFE) Program

Building a culture of gender fairness in our schools is one of WAGI’s top priorities. The GFE program develops the capacity of educators and school administrators in gender-fair learning, non-sexist language, feminist research methodologies, among other gender-fair pedagogical approaches. By integrating perspectives, values and strategies related to the mainstreaming of women’s rights, and gender equality and inclusion in all aspects of education, WAGI works with schools to create pillars for a gender-fair society.

Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) Program

Recognizing the voices of women in conflict and post-conflict situations is essential to building just and lasting peace. The GPS program seeks to do exactly this by highlighting the gender dimensions in war, militarism, conflict, peace and security. The program articulates an alternative security paradigm that is gender-responsive and inclusive of women's initiatives to end war and contributions to peace building.

Gender and Development (GAD) Program

In helping to build a democratic and equitable society for women and people of all genders, the GAD program collaborates with government agencies, private institutions, civil society organizations, and academic institutions to hold interactive gender training activities. Through these collaborations WAGI promotes critical gender awareness, equal opportunity policies, and socially inclusive practices be it in the workplace, school campuses, or household.

Young Women's Leadership (YWL) Program

To prepare today’s young women to become tomorrow’s leaders, the YWLD program conducts leadership seminars and workshops for young women, by young women. The program traverses class, ethnic, political and religious boundaries to bring young women together. Collectively they envision, create, and collaborate as social change agents, encouraged to build their own feminist paradigms that uphold gender equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Mid-Year Training Institute

The Midyear Training Institute is WAGI’s commitment to teaching and life-long learning of gender related theories and practices. The WAGI Training Institute targets schools, government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector, offering week-long intensive courses on topics such as Gender-Fair Education (GFE), International Women’s Human Rights and Governance (IWHRG), Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting (GRPB) and Gender, Sexuality and Student Youth Well-Being (GSSYW). All courses are certified by the Philippine Commission on Women.

The Gigi Francisco Research and Scholarship Fund

The Gigi Francisco Research and Scholarship Fund is a tribute to WAGI’s first Executive Director. The face of southern feminism would not be what it is today if it were not for Prof. Gigi Francisco’s valiant efforts and perseverance. She was at the forefront of the women’s movements in the Philippines and has co-founded various organizations such as the Women and Gender Institute (WAGI).

The Gigi Francisco Research and Scholarship Fund is committed to supporting research and training primarily in the area of gender, development, and economic globalization.

This program is a collaborative project of WAGI and the MC Department of International Studies.

Internship and Volunteer Program

WAGI is proud to have a set of volunteers providing assistance to the center. Some of these volunteers, also known as WAGIRLS, have become part of the WAGI family because of their commitment and determination. They are empowered young women (and men), who are always ready when called upon. They do not shy away from any task that is given to them. Whether it be to dance, assist high-profile individuals, or gather students together in a campaign, these young people will ensure the task is done.

We need vibrant, creative, and empowered individuals who can stand up and speak out on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment! The tasks students or individuals are given range from assisting in our Annual Mid-Year Training Programs to organizing events, research, pub mats, and administrative responsibilities. The volunteers and interns of WAGI have become a close-knit group and are a part of the WAGI family. Our veterans have learned to be empowered rise to the occasion, and offer their talents and services when called. Skills and lessons they learn from WAGI are most often useful after they graduate.

Email at <wagi@mc.edu.ph> & <wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph> and attach a copy of your resume and cover letter addressed to our Executive Director, Ms. Melanie Reyes, DSD.

Resource Materials

Safe Spaces Act Primer

Unpacking Rape Culture

Other Training Services

WAGI offers training and research services for government, private sectors, NGOs, academe, etc. locally and globally. WAGI works in hyflex. Training sessions can be conducted online or in person. Some of the topics we offer include:

Gender Fair Education [includes training on gender fair language and safe online education]
International Women’s Human Rights and Governance
Migration and Development
Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting
Gender, Sexuality, and Student Youth Wellbeing
Research on Women ang Gender

OUR PARTNERS

WAGI also has a number of notable networks at the national and regional levels. Some of these include the Women's and Gender Studies Association of the Philippines (WSAP), Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Southeast Asia Women's Watch (SEAWWatch), Asia Pacific Women's Watch (APWW), Women Engaged in Action on 1325 (WEACT 1325), and the Southeast Asian Human Rights Studies Network (SEAHRN). WAGI is also part of the CHED Technical Panel on Gender and Women's Studies (TPGWS) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), serving as part of the technical team that prepares the Philippine National Action Plan 2023-2033. WAGI also partners with the Philippine Commission on Women for its GAD training programs.

Staff

Melanie Reyes, DSD
Executive Director
mmreyes@mc.edu.ph
wagi@mc.edu.ph
wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph

Aurora Javate-de Dios
Senior Project Director
oyiededios65@gmail.com
wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph

Frances Therese G. Zabala
Project Coordinator
fzabala@mc.edu.ph
wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph

Susan Albao
Finance Admin
salbao@mc.edu.ph
wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph

Trixia Mae Garrido
Technical Assistant
tgarrido@mc.edu.ph
wagi-ga@mc-knoller.edu.ph

Links

Connect with us!

WAGI Website:
www.mc.edu.ph/wagi

WAGI Email:
wagi@mc.edu.ph

WAGI Facebook: www.facebook.com/MCWAGI

WAGI Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/mcwagi

WAGI LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/miriam-college-women-and-gender-institute

Office Hours

Monday to Friday

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

1st floor, ESI Building, Miriam College, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, 1108

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