Pioneer Network Conference 2011
WeDpro Founder to be Honored with BAYI Centennial Award
Aida Santos-Maranan, founding member of Women’s Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization (WeDpro), will be awarded with The Bayi Centennial Award on March 31, 2011 for her valuable contribution to the promotion, protection and development of women’s rights in the Philippines.
Conferred biennially by the Institute of Politics and Governance (IPG) and the Barangay Bayan Governance Consortium (BBGC), the prestigious award is given to women leaders from different fields of expertise and experience who consistently and selflessly work to empower women and to inspire more women and girls to take leadership roles.
As one of WeDpro’s founders, Santos-Maranan was the moving force behind the feminist collective’s gender responsive development programs, projects and activities that sought to improve and address the marginalized conditions of women in the country. WeDpro’s recent projects include addressing domestic violence and trafficking in the urban poor communities and “red light districts” of Angeles City and Olongapo City, developing an entrepreneurship program for urban poor communities and survivors of violence and trafficking, facilitating a workshop for abused women and youth to break their silence and tell their stories through digital media, among many others.
A women’s rights advocate since the early 1980s, she is also affiliated with the internationally-based Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) and the Gender Resource Network (GRN), a national network of gender advocates and consultants. Her extensive experience covers a wide range of international and local organizations working on gender and development mainstreaming, governance issues, legislative advocacy/legal reforms, sex trafficking and women’s rights, peace and security issues, and many others.
With 2011 as the Global Centenary Year of the International Women’s Day, this year’s The Bayi Citation celebrates the women’s movement in the Philippines by paying tribute to its pioneers and leaders whose contributions and sacrifices brought women to politics and governance. Aside from Santos-Maranan, other awardees of The Bayi Centennial Awards include Leticia Ramos-Shahani, Princess Nemenzo, Santanina Rasul, Nelia Sancho, Girlie Villariba, Helena Z. Benitez, Carol Sobritchea, Maita Gomez and Junice Melgar.
In addition, The Bayi Citation will be conferred to: CheChe Lazaro (Media), Julie Lluch (Arts and Culture), Edith Magos-Regalado (Women and Public Health), Maria Isabelle ‘Beng’ Climaco (Legislative Advocacy), Heidie Mendoza (Anti-Corruption/Good Governance), Maria Cecilia Claire ‘Jeng’ Reyes (Good Local Governance), Bai Era Espina (Indigenous Peoples’ Governance), Tessie Fernandez (Community Leadership), Maria Ruiz Bunghug (Barangay Governance) and Leonor ‘Liling” Briones (Government Service). Past Bayi awardees include Atty. Haydee Yorac (2005), Sec. Emilia Boncodin (2005), Vice Governor Mimiette Bagulaya (2005), Gov. Grace Padaca (2005), CHR Chairperson Etta Rosales (2005), Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto (2007), Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel (2007), Mayor Myrna Scheurs (2007), Bayang Barrios (2007), Sec. Leila De Lima (2009), Pres. Corazon C. Aquino (2009) and Sr. Mary John Mananzan (2009).
For more information about Aida Santos-Maranan and WeDpro, visit www.wedprophils.org.
About the Author
About WeDpro: Women’s Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization (WeDpro) is a SEC-registered non-profit collective in the Philippines that works for the promotion and protection of human rights of women, youth and communities through gender responsive development programs, projects and activities. Founded in 1989, we build partnerships with government institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector.
