DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Dec. 28 (PIA) -- The Negros Oriental Provincial Commission on Women (PCW) honored three exemplary women for their community work that helped uplift socio-economic conditions of other women in their area.

The PCW gave recognition to Mariles Escoro of Canlaon City for winning first place in the 2022 Search for Babayeng Garbo sa Katilingban during the Garbo Awards held Dec. 12 at the Provincial Convention Center, this city. 

Winning second and third place in this provincial search are Imelda Patlingrao and Maricel Colegio, respectively, both from Guihulngan City.

The Babayeng Garbo Award is given to women who have made an impact in their community by offering voluntary work which benefitted other members of the community especially women.

The nominees are usually endorsed by their respective local government units (LGUs).

Escoro is active in community development being the president of the Unified Women’s Organization of Canlaon City.

Part of their programs for women include cattle-raising which provided livelihood for their 24 members.

“Ako na sila gi-tudlian na dili lang ta magpabilin  sa ingon nga kana bang magdawat mi og mga incentives. Naa mi timeframe na three years from now, naa tay kaugalingon baka mismo gumikan sa atong ginansya (I told them that we should not be dependent on incentives. We have set a time frame that we will be able to raise cows based on our profit and resources),” Escoro said.

Escoro brought home a plaque of recognition from the PCW and a cash prize worth P25,000 from the provincial government. 

Officials who handed the award include PCW Deputy Chair Phoebe Tan, Provincial Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Person Josefina Columna, Dr. Henry Sojor, an official from the Provincial Governor’s Office, and Provincial Board Member Carlo Degamo.

On the other hand, Patlingrao and Colegio also received plaques and cash prizes amounting to P15,000 and P10,000 for winning second and third place, respectively.

Patlingrao serves the community as the president of their people’s organization in Guihulngan City.

Some of the projects they have undertaken include coastal clean-ups.

For now, they are pushing for hog-raising as a mode of livelihood for their members.

Aside from this, she also signed up to be an interventionist for drug surrenderees in Guihulngan City.

Currently, she and other interventionists are crafting programs to help drug surrenderees become more productive while undergoing their community rehabilitation program.

When asked what drives her to do voluntary service to the community, she said “Sa akoang prinsipyo, ang pagpuyo dinhi sa kalibutan dili lamang sa atong kaugalingon uban sa atong pamilya kon dili sa komunidad na imo gipuy-an. Naa gud kay partisipasyon diha kay usa man ka sa nagpuyo. Kutob sa mahimo na makatabang ko sa komunidad ako gud siya himoon (The principle I follow in life is that you are not here to live for yourself or your family but you also have something to do for the community. You have to participate in the community being one of its residents. I’ll do whatever I can to help my community),” Patlingrao said.

Meanwhile, Colegio has been active in advocating against Violence Against Women (VAW) in her community.

Colegio admitted she was once a victim of VAW, but she eventually broke free from it and her experiences had made her a staunch advocate against VAW in her barangay.

Part of her community work include looking after the victims of abuse and referral to proper agencies that can provide proper interventions for VAW victims.

Colegio shared an advice for women who are facing the same struggle.

“Fight lang! Laban lang. Ask help ni papa God kay motabang gyud na siya. Di gud mahitabo na iya ka pasagdaan ug naa kay tawo na pwede nimo ma-sheran na imo kasaligan pwede nimo i-open basin matabangan pod ka (Continue to fight and ask help from God because He will definitely help you. He will not desert you. If you have also someone who you trust and can share your problems then talk to them. They may be able to help you),” Colegio said. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)