VIGAN CITY, Philippines — The government of this country’s only well–known world heritage city has lined–up various activities for the month–long celebration of National Women’s Month that aim to promote the rights and welfares of women here.

Vigan City Mayor Eva Marie Singson–Medina Wednesday said that the month–long activities were opened on the first day of March with a gender advocacy parade, a thanksgiving mass, the opening of the 4–day trade fair of women’s products and offering of free haircut, pedicure and manicure.

During the month - long women’s celebration, the city health office is offering free papsmear, anemia screening and breast examination for all women from Vigan.

“Actually, this is a yearly celebration of the city government and is actively and successfully joined by all womens and women’s group sectors in the city,” she said.

“Recently, we just shown at Vigan Culture and Trade Center (VCTC) a Sarzuela produced by our city government entitled: Babae ng Digmaan to pay tribute to the heroics women in the World War II who were instrumental in the salvation of our Spanish ancestral houses from burning. The guest of honor was Mrs. Emiko Narioka-Lim, the only child of Japanese soldier officer Major Sakae Narioka and Belen Castillo, a native from Vigan,” she added.

According to local historian Damaso King, at the height of the war, the American forces were ready to bomb Vigan because of the Japanese presence. The bombing was aborted and redirected to another place because Fr. Joseph Klecamf, SVD, the parish priest of Vigan, told the American soldiers that there were no more Japanese soldiers in the area. King added that Klecamf was requested by two Japanese soldiers – Majors Fujiro Takahashi and Sakae Narioka – not to allow Vigan to be ravaged by war for the Japanese soldiers’ families were living there. Takahashi was married to a Filipina named Adela Tolentino. Narioka, on the other hand, was married to another Filipina named Belen Castillo.

Mayor Medina disclosed that the other significant highlights of activities of the month – long celebration were the recently concluded symposium of magna carta for women and action planning last Monday which in line with this year’s theme: Magna Carta for Women, Philippine CEDAW: In support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); the buntis day check – up and the search for healthy buntis (March 10); film showing of gender sensitive movies (March 2, 3, 4) at VCTC; 24 – hour gratitude for partners of women (March 9); advocacy of women’s rights through tri-media (March 7 – 12); Day Care Centers graduation rites (March 21 -25); and extra challenge, physical fitness and community picnic (March 26).

“For me, the most important highlight of this year’s women month celebration is the symposium of magna carta for women considering that this will inform all the rights of women,” she said.

To close the women’s month celebration in the city on March 28; Mayor Medina said that there will be a women take- over of city government day and the launching of Vigan student’s code of conduct and discipline.