By Nicole Trisha Panganiban
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde launches GAD Initiative with inaugural Learning Session and Agenda Formulation Writeshop through the “Starting the GAD Journey: Learning Session on Relevant GAD Topics and the Formulation of the Benilde GAD Agenda” on March 20-22, 2025 in Balay Indang.
In its continued commitment to fostering inclusive, equitable, and gender-responsive learning spaces, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) successfully launched its inaugural Gender and Development (GAD) learning session and writeshop, “Starting the GAD Journey: Learning Session on Relevant GAD Topics and the Formulation of the Benilde GAD Agenda” on March 20–22, 2025.
This milestone three-day event, held at Balay Indang, served as a foundational initiative to formally integrate GAD principles into the college’s operations and culture. The program was spearheaded by Ms. Nicky Templo Perez, Vice President for Lasallian Mission and Student Life and designated GAD Focal Person of the College.
According to Ms. Nicky, the learning session is part of a broader institutional endeavor to strengthen DLS-CSB’s advocacy for inclusivity and its compliance with national mandates such as RA 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act. This law aims to combat gender-based sexual harassment in schools, workplaces, and public spaces—an area the College is proactively addressing through education, policy development, and stakeholder engagement.
At the heart of the learning session was newly appointed GAD Specialist Nicole Trisha F. Panganiban, a proud Benildean alumna now serving at the Office of the Vice President for Lasallian Mission. A graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs, Panganiban completed her degree with Honorable Mention and was awarded the Brother Andrew Gonzalez FSC Award, the highest distinction for leadership at the College in 2017. During her student years, she served as President of the Benilde Central Student Government (2016–2017)—a formative experience that laid the foundation for her passion in public service and advocacy. Before returning to Benilde, Panganiban was a Senior GAD Specialist at the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the national authority on gender equality and women’s empowerment. There, she became a subject matter expert in a wide array of GAD areas, including the Safe Spaces Act, the Magna Carta of Women, SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics), Gender-Fair Communication, and GAD Planning and Budgeting (GPB). Her expertise has made her a sought-after speaker and technical resource across government, educational, and private organizations.
The learning session was attended by a dynamic cohort of Benildean professionals now branded as GADvocates—allies of gender equality within their respective units. These representatives were selected from diverse sectors of the College to ensure wide-reaching impact across disciplines. Participating units were from: Center for Restorative Discipline (CRD), Center for Inclusive Education (CIE), Benilde Senior High School, School of Multidisciplinary Studies (SMS), School of Diplomacy and Governance (SDG), School of Deaf Education and Applied Deaf Studies (SDEAS), School of Arts, Culture, and Performance (SACP), School of Environment and Design (SED), School of New Media Arts (SNMA), School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM), and School of Management and Information Technology (SMIT)
Participants engaged in immersive discussions on Basic GAD, SOGIESC, Gender-Fair Communication, and RA 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act, followed by a collaborative workshop to identify the College’s GAD agenda—marking the start of a formal roadmap for GAD mainstreaming.