By Ma. Kassandra Tan
In celebration of the International Women’s Day, a discussion forum entitled, "WOMEN? W.E. C.A.N. Women Engineers: Cultivating, Advancing, Narrating the Parallel Future" was conducted last March 8, 2018 at the Engineering Conference Hall. The event also launched the "brown bag concept," an informal social gathering held as an avenue for the sharing of ideas, opinions, and views. Inspiring and successful female Thomasian engineers were the stars of the informal seminar.
Dr. Susan M. Gallardo, a centennial awardee and a Chemical Engineering alumni, shared how her multiple roles in life--from being a faculty member, a mother, a wife, and a researcher-- has contributed to her growth as a strong woman. Notable for being regarded with many "firsts"--first lady design engineer of Resins, Inc., first one to lead the research in UST Engineering, and first approved patent in DLSU for her research--Dr. Gallardo has proved that women can really achieve great things.
A former student-athlete of CE's Batch '82, Engr. Maria Virginia "Vernie" Braga-Magat, explained the difference between past and present norms, and its impact to her life.
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| Dr. Susan Gallardo sharing how her multiple roles in life helped her become a strong woman |
"When I graduated from highschool, I actually wanted to be a lawyer. But my father enrolled me in the Faculty of Engineering. It was a time when you can't actually answer back to your parents. It was a time when you cannot even say 'this what I want and this is what you want' to your parents."
Engr. Braga-Magat also highlighted how being involved in extra curricular activities helped her increase her motivation to study despite her failures.
"I busied myself in all the extracurricular activities. I searched for balance in my life. So that I have something to look forward to after class. I did not forego my extra curricular even though I had 29 units versus the normal load of 21 units during my graduating year. Keep in mind that our future is not determined by our failures."
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| Engr. Vernie Braga-Magat detailing her student experiences, extracurricular involvement, failures, and past norms. |
Engr. Elvira N. Arceo, CIE who is also a centennial awardee, and is one of the first batch of graduates from the IE department tackled on the issue of gender inequality.
"Are women still considered of lesser value than males? Meron bang gender inequality? Wala. Earlier I was asked, how do we break from the stereotyped role? That’s all in the mindset. Isa pa, ano yung struggles ng women? Bakit kailangan palagi merong i-prove? We don’t need to prove ourselves. We are what we are. We are women. We only differ from men in the physiological sense. The whole world is into gender equality. Get out of that mindset."
Similar to Engr. Braga-Magat, she also shared how she ended up in Engineering and how society's standards influenced her decision.
"My father was a geodectic engineer, my sister was taking up chemical engineering, and I ended up in the Faculty of Engineering. With no right reason, I just had to finish college because it was what was expected of me by society. Sometimes we live in the context of what society expects of you."
To commemorate the event, roses and souvenirs were also given to the attendees.
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| Engr. Elvira Arceo debunking the notion of gender inequality |
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| Engr. Arceo, Engr. Braga-Magat and Dr. Gallardo, the trio of inspiring women engineers |
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| Assoc. Prof. Bernadette Duran and Asst. Prof. Evangeline Deleña, Faculty Secretary attending the seminar |
Photo courtesy of Dean Philipina Marcelo
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