MESSAGE

Awareness Campaign for Gender Sensitivity, Anti-Sexual Harassment Act and Launching of the
Campus Values Restoration Program, September 21, 2019
ERNIE C. CERADO, PhD
Vice President for Academic Affairs

I would like to congratulate our University Values Restoration Officers Dr. Dolorcita E.
Pauya and Prof. Susie Daza who is also the University Director for Gender and Development for
spearheading this three-in-one activity. A greeting of commendation is also fit for the Dean of
the Graduate Studies, Dr. Marissa Hitalia and Gender and Development Coordinator of ACCESS
Campus and of course to the rest of the workforce behind this activity, my salutations!
In a generation bombarded with deafening news about gender bias, harassment and
immorality across culture, religion, age and origin, we cannot help ourselves but ask, as a
community and as an individual where do we stand amidst all these issues? I would like to
challenge all the participants, whether you are a student, faculty or staff of this institution or
another agency to pledge your commitment and start taking actions in fighting these injustices
for us to make a better place for this generation and the ones to come.
I would also like to give you a short overview of the concepts we are going to get
acquainted with today.

Gender Sensitivity

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) sexism exists in women as well as in men; it has no respect for individual aspirations,
potential or abilities. In obvious and subtle ways, it influences the outcomes of a myriad of life
situations the world over. The concept of gender sensitivity has been developed as a way to
reduce barriers to personal and economic development created by sexism. Gender sensitivity
helps to generate respect for the individual regardless of sex. Let me share to you a story that
others may be familiar of sex.

Anti-Sexual Harassment Act

Section 3 of Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 or Republic Act 7877 Work, Education
or Training -Related, Sexual Harassment Defined. - Work, education or training-related sexual
harassment is committed by an employer, employee, manager, supervisor, agent of the
employer, teacher, instructor, professor, coach, trainor, or any other person who, having
authority, influence or moral ascendancy over another in a work or training or education
environment, demands, requests or otherwise requires any sexual favor from the other,
regardless of whether the demand, request or requirement for submission is accepted by the
object of said Act.

Values Restoration Program

In 2013, in accordance with the thrust of the government for a graft-free society, a
public-private partnership between the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the CRFV was
established for the implementation of the Values Restoration Program (VRP) through CSC
Announcement No. 40, s. 2013 signed by the then CSC Chairperson Francisco T. Duque III. The

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Civil Service Announcement encouraged the implementation of the VRP in all Constitutional
Bodies; Department, Bureaus and National Government Agencies (NGAs); Local Government
Units (LGUs); Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) with original charters;
and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

Talking about values, there is one value that one should always bear in mind and live by
action-temperance. That is moderation in action, thought or feeling, not abstinence from alcohol
as others may commonly think.
It is temperance that would keep you from being tackles, reckless and unwise in
confronting a difficult situation and facing a life-changing decision. Allow me to share to an
amusing yet a rather familiar one.

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and
told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day, the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he
learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He
discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about
it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to
hold his temper. The days passed and the boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails
were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done
well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say
things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.
It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry. The wound is still there."

You see ladies and gentlemen, we may be confronted and privileged with too much
freedom or democracy as provided in our constitution and as modeled by pertinent social and
political figures in our society but we will always be held accountable of our words and actions.
No matter how many times you regret a mistake, once you have done it, it’s a done deal, the
wound may heal, the pain may be gone but the reality that you are capable of doing a mistake
shall always remain. So be wise and practice temperance.

Think before you act…

Think before to say…
Think before you click…
Think before you share…

Have a wonderful and meaningful day everyone!