06 March 2017 – The Philippine Embassy in The Hague participated in this year’s ecumenical service of World Day of Prayer with focus on Filipino women held on 3 March at Lukaskerk (St. Luke’s Church), The Hague. Ambassador Jaime Victor B. Ledda and Embassy personnel joined by largely women members of the Filipino community and Dutch society attended the prayer service that reflected on the lives and challenges of women in the Philippines. In his 15-minute talk preceded by a video on RA 9710, “Magna Carta of Women”, Ambassador Ledda identified the many strides that the Philippine government has done and continues to do to address the rights of Filipino women and gender equality, citing the Magna Carta of Women, the creation of the Philippine Commission on Women with this month’s national observance of “Women’s Month’’ under its theme, “We make change work for women” and emphasizing the country’s record of being in the top ten since 2006 of global competitiveness surveys on women’s rights and addressing gender gaps, among others. Copies of the RA 9710 and additional background information on the country’s history, politics and economy, culture and tourism were also distributed during the event. The Embassy’s participation in this year’s World Day of Prayer follows through its reflection and tribute to the significant roles of women in Philippine society in its regular flag-raising ceremony this month. Additionally, as a “treat” women applicants at the Embassy’s consular section are offered hot coffee/tea

The ecumenical service focused on Filipino women witnesses a worldwide movement of Christians of all traditions.