In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Antipolo City National Science and Technology High School (ACNSTHS) grade ten students held their Gender and Development (GAD) seminar, focusing on the issues and problems of gender inequality and bias in the school community. 

In line with the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RA 10354), GAD seminar commenced to address concerns regarding gender inequality and bias within the school system.

Mr. John Jayson Cainlang, the Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG) adviser, and Mr. Rufino Idanan III, Junior High School (JHS) coordinator, opened the GAD kick-off, highlighting the importance of gender equality and creating a more inclusive environment in the Antipolo Science (AnSci) campus through an opening speech.

Grade 10 students also presented their project proposals after the video presentations, some focused on providing solutions to the inequalities faced by AnScians while others focused on the broader issues faced outside the AnSci community. 

“In my perspective, I believe that we can do it naman because we are in the age of dapat nagbabago na yung ugali and pakikitungo natin sa iba. However, it's a long way too ago—especially if there are certain students na nakahawla pa rin sa societal norms,” said Hazel Tuling, a fellow grade ten student on the progression of gender equality in AnSci. 

In an interview with Mr. Idanan, he also added that the purpose of the seminar is to target students to be informed on discrimination and promote the basic sex education among students.

“Valentine’s Day is one of the [reasons] why there is so many problems in increasing of population and premarital sex,” he added, wanting to enlighten students to avoid these practices that can harm their adolescence.