๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฅ๐๐ง-๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ, ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
Bringing together women across the Universityโs six colleges, offices, and units, for a day of reflection and learning, the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) through its Gender and Development (GAD) office spearheaded a seminar training titled โThe Babaylanway: Inclusive Leadership and Collective Well-being in Academiaโ at the Continuing Education Center (CEC), on 26 March.
Anchored on the theme, โHonoring ancestral wisdom while promoting shared responsibility, gender equality, and holistic wellness in the university workplace,โ Ms. Marie Anne D. Valerio, an author of various GAD researches, former GAD Director in Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU), and currently serving as the CLuster Coordinator in Central Luzon Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium, introduced the concept of the Babaylanway highlighting a leadership framework inspired by the traditional Filipino babaylan, known for guiding communities through healing, balance and inclusive decision-making.
The activity focused on the significance of inclusive leadership in creating a supportive academic environment. In this activity, participants were engaged in discussions that associated indigenous knowledge systems with modern workplace practices, including the value of empathy, shared responsibility, and respect for diversity in creating a more responsive workplace.
The officials of TAU emphasized the need to build a workplace culture that extends beyond productivity by incorporating well-being and gender sensitivity into its workplace practices, in line with its commitment to inclusive development.
TAU-GAD Director Dr. Ma Theresa B. Nardo delivered a message emphasizing the significance of values-driven leadership.
โThe opportunity to refresh our minds on the real essence of leadership and followership is healing and rekindling the call to serve others. While there is time to effect a soothing presence in the workplace, like the Babaylan of the past whose presence gave strength, comfort, and peace, we as women leaders, respond to the call of a meaningful service in the most practical way and the closest to our daily realities. We are leaders in our homes, in our units, in the bigger circle we were trusted with bigger roles. We take the chance of being one of the few women of today who inspire people around them,โ she stated.
The seminar forms part of TAUโs continuing initiatives to strengthen gender and development programs while promoting a more inclusive and holistic approach to leadership across the university community.
