Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
In a concerted effort to foster gender sensitivity and awareness within the university community, Central Mindanao University (CMU), through the Center for Gender and Development (CGAD), successfully conducted a SOGIE Bill Orientation on May 9, 2025, at the CGAD Hall.
The orientation, held in compliance with Memorandum Circular No. 2024-04 of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), aimed to raise awareness and deepen the understanding of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE) among students, guidance counselors, and gender advocates across the University.
Serving as the resource speaker was Dr. Bryan Lee D. Celeste, a faculty member from the Department of Behavioral Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences. His lecture helped participants unpack key provisions of the SOGIE Bill.
The orientation aimed to enhance the participants’ understanding of the basic concepts of SOGIE and their relevance in society, while also familiarizing them with the key provisions of the SOGIE Equality Bill and its legislative status in the Philippines. It provided an avenue to dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding the bill and the LGBTQIA+ community, and to promote awareness and appreciation of diversity in gender and sexuality as part of human rights and dignity.
Additionally, the orientation encouraged respectful dialogue and inclusive practices in schools, workplaces, communities, and institutions. Ultimately, it sought to empower participants to become active advocates of gender equality and non-discrimination.
In an interview, Dr. Hazel Marie R. Boloron, Director of UCGAD, emphasized the importance of understanding the SOGIE Bill:
“A deeper understanding of SOGIE allows us to appreciate people’s behavior and why they act that way. We need to accept the reality that there exist individuals like these, and we just have to respect them, as we all deserve respect.”
Around 40 participants attended the orientation, including the GAD Focal Persons (Technical Working Group), College Gender Student Coordinators, and College Guidance Coordinators.
The SOGIE Bill Orientation is part of CMU’s ongoing commitment to cultivating a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environment for all, reinforcing its advocacy for gender equality. [Iyren Dalipe Neri]
