The HUGYAW: The 2023 ARSO Days was a celebration for student leaders anchored on the theme “Celebrating CMUan Excellence; Advancing CMUan Leadership.” It was to provide a platform for all student leaders to showcase their talents, skills, and creativity.

In an interview, Mr. Anthony Ceasar N. Jabla, ARSO President, said that HUGYAW: The 2023 ARSO Days was for the student leaders at Central Mindanao University to participate in sports and other recreational and entertainment activities.

The said event aimed to nurture camaraderie, sportsmanship, and teamwork among student leaders and allow them to enjoy the week-long activity. “…for them to practice or to have camaraderie among other student leaders and, of course, to acquaint themselves with other officers and different organizations,” he added.

Moreover, the HUGYAW: The 2023 ARSO Days aimed to equip the student leaders to become champions for gender equality and gender empowerment; “hopefully, we could have a gender and development committee in all of the organizations here at CMU,” Mr. Jabla asserted.

As part of championing gender equality, ARSO plans to implement gender-related activities in the next ARSO Days. This was discussed during the ARSO Congress, where all the chairpersons of the organizations gathered to look for ways to embed gender and development among the student leaders.

Furthermore, ARSO approved the proposal for the institutionalization of the gender and development committees for all members of the organizations. Mr. Jabla further explained that the committee would serve as a gender and development focal person to represent the students and provide activities for the students in terms of gender and development.

The event’s activities included Floral Parade, Mass Dance Competition, Friendship Games, the ARSO Congress, Seminar on Urinary Tract Infection, a Symposium on Teenage Pregnancy and Reproductive Health, Premarital Sex among first-year students, and the Search for Drag Superstar.

One thousand eight hundred student leaders from different organizations participated in the HUGYAW: The 2023 ARSO Days. _{[Mary Jane D. Bravo]}

The morning session was dedicated to discussion, followed by a workshop session in the afternoon to test the participants’ understanding of the topic. The participants were tasked to portray five existing gender issues in the community.

One of the participants, Mr. Reno Richard C. Ramirez from the College of Nursing shared his realizations about the workshop, saying, “Ang bana angayan jud mutabang sa asawa, maski pag unsa ka busy sa bana.” (Despite his busy schedule, the husband must make time to assist his wife.) He also encourages his co-participants to teach these lessons to their children at home.

Also, Mr. Jasper Paolo E. Derije, a participant from the Security Services Unit, urged his co-trainees by expressing his personal experience to treat their partners well and end violence against women in response to the workshop.

After the workshop, the resource speaker expounded on how to address gender biases and issues, including marginalization, subordination, multiple burdens, stereotyping, and violence against women.

Moreover, Prof. Rocelito A. Duropan, one of the speakers, emphasized in his discussion the importance of GST to society. He shared about the impact of GST in decreasing violence against women cases in the country.

Prof. Duropan challenged the participants to be responsible for addressing these five gender biases and issues by introducing GST to the community.

Two representatives from the participants responded by sharing their impressions of the training. “This is an eye opener… mas na inspire pa gyud mi ug ayo ky CMU has this program,” says Mr. Reno Richard C. Ramirez. He concluded that gender sensitivity is something to be proud of and that it needs to begin with every person and family before spreading throughout the community.

Ms. Lesley C. Manapsal of the Security Services Unit was thankful on behalf of the participants for allowing them to join the training, “Salamat kaayo sa opportunity nga naka-apil mi karon,” (Thank you very much for the opportunity that we were able participate), she expressed.

Moreover, the officer in charge of HRMO, Mr. Marcelino F. Duay III, conveyed an insightful message in his closing remarks. He said, “Indeed, breaking gender stereotypes means that we need to allow all members of society the freedom to choose the roles most suited to them.”

The GST was participated by the selected employees from the Security Services Unit, College of Agriculture, Office of the University Registrar, College of Nursing, Techno-Demo Services Unit, Supply and Property Management Unit, and Human Resource Management Office._{[MJDBravo & Iyren Dalipe-Neri]}