SMEC- Student Ethics Committee

Womanhood, society, and you—let’s talk!

The Student Council together with The Scholastican and Psychology Society’s Psychronicle invites you to our online conversation highlighting women’s experiences.

Pow[H]er will ba a 2-part online conversation on Womanhood, society, and you. “Part I: Who’s got the power?” will be held today, March 29 and “Part II: I’ve got the power” will be held tomorrow, March 30.

We’ll be posting questions about women’s experiences and we invite you to share your thoughts! Our favorite answers will be announced on April 6, 2019 and the commenter will receive limited edition SC merch from us! In order to qualify for an entry to win, react and share the post and reply with your insights to the question in the comments section. Include the question number and our official hashtag in your answer. [ex. A1 (A for answer, 1 for the question number): Lack of equal opportunities for women. ].

The first question will be posted at 5:30 PM.




Poster credit: Alliah Prodigalidad and Nikka Arabelo

SSC Psychology Society, in partnership with Phicsamation and SSC Education Society present, “LGBT+ PSYCHOLOGY: A Seminar on the Mental Health Needs of the LGBT Community”!

Through this talk, let us learn how to be understanding and welcoming individuals to our dear LGBT+ community. Let us all keep in mind that these people feel, love, and hurt the same. We hope that this seminar would be an eye opener to the struggles and needs of the LGBT+ community.

See you at Odiliana Hall on March 29! 🏳️‍🌈

Poster by: Frankie Lavarias
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Outsiders & Alumnae: P100
Non-Psych Scholasticans: P50
PsychSoc Members: P20

Sign up through this link:
https://goo.gl/forms/tkGYTzaiNklb3XxH3

HAPPENING NOW: Election of Officers

12th SMEC Ethics Bowl at Philippine Normal University.

Survey finds that Filipino companies are not accepting of LGBTQ+ More than half of the companies included in the survey said that they had no plans of creating any SOGIE-based anti-discrimination policies.

Last November 5, 2018 students from St. Scholastica’s College, St. Paul University Manila, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, Philippine Normal University, Philippine Women’s University, Santa Isabel College, and the University of the Philippines Manila convened for the Symposium on Gender and Sexuality in Legislation and the Academe held at Spiesesaal, Friedenshaus at St. Scholatica’s College Manila.

Special thanks to Manila Med for the loot bags given to the speakers of the event.

We only have a few hours to go until the Symposium on Gender and Sexuality in Legislation and the Academe!

The SOGIE Equality Bill addresses different forms of discrimination.

But discrimination is not the only form of marginalization hurts the LGBT+ community, and in turn, society as a whole.

That is why collectively, the South Manila Educational Consortium wants to examine the SOGIE Equality Bill and contribute to strengthening the bill to highlight education, research, and health to ensure that every member of the community is included.

There will be speakers such as:
Ms. Maya Santos, Gabriela Youth National Spokesperson
Mr. Anton Paderanga, UST Hiraya Executive Board Assistant Secretary
Ptr. Carleen Nomorosa National Council of Churches in Philippines Representative
Prof. Edz Dela Cruz, Bahaghari Metro Manila Representative

See you at 1 PM!

See you at the Symposium, Scholasticans!

Hi, Scholasticans!

Kindly take note of the following dates for the activities for this month of November.

(photo credit: St. Scholastica's College, Manila FB page)

Two days to go until the Symposium on Gender and Sexuality in Legislation and the Academe!

The Philippines is often considered the most “gay-friendly” country in the Asia. But acceptance comes only to the token gay friend--sassy, flamboyant, a comedic genius--or the le***an with cropped hair, masculine demeanor, probably plays sports--one-dimensional stereotypes rather than people with versatility and depth. When it comes to equal opportunity, even-handed treatment, and recognition of one’s value and individuality, we’d see that perhaps “acceptance” is sorely misused to mean conditional tolerance, retracted once LGBT+ people break out of the mold Philippine Society has restricted them to.

The SOGIE Equality Bill highlights LGBT+ individuals’ personhood in outlining how LGBT+ rights are human rights, and with our upcoming forum on Monday, November 5, we will be expanding its scope in order to spread the message of true acceptance and equality.

Heads-up SOGIE Advocates! We only have three days before our event on November 5, 2018, here’s a brief introduction to the SOGIE Equality Bill.

The bill itself was a direct policy proposal from LAGABLAB (Le***an and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network). The first version of the bill was filed during the 11th Congress, at the House of Representatives by Akbayan Rep. Etta Rosales and in the Senate by the late Miriam Defensor Santiago. Unfortunately, it failed to gain traction.

To date, the bill has been languishing in the Senate for two decades. Presently, it is being contended by politicians like Senate President Tito Sotto, Senator Manny Pacquiao, and Senator Joel Villanueva, who block the passage of the bill in the name of religious freedom. Sen. Villanueva in particular warns that the bill sets a dangerous paradigm for a Catholic dominated country like the Philippines.

For the first time, the bill passed committee scrutiny and is now up for plenary debates – still, it’s hotly debated on the legislative floor.

Previously known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill, the SOGIE Equality bill states that no person should be discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Recently, Senator Sotto expressed his reservations on the bill, and declared that it can only be passed once “controversial provisions” are resolved. The bill has been delayed for 621 days, and presently the longest running interpellation in senate history.

The SMEC-SEthComm promotes equality and diversity and we believe there is a need for safe and inclusive spaces for LGBT+ youth. We believe the SOGIE Equality bill is a step towards inclusion and diversity. However, it has its limitations. Some have been identified by the SMEC-SEthComm to be: the lack of a provision for other aspects of marginalization, exclusion of the LGBT+ individuals’ socio-economic and socio-cultural identity as factors that contribute to the oppression that they’re experiencing, and inattention to provisions that should include advocacy building and education.

To address this, we strive to formulate specific action plans to cater to the needs of the LGBT+ students with the schools within the consortium, and in turn, set as an example to schools outside of it. Pursuant to this goal, we will be holding a forum entitled ‘Symposium on Gender and Sexuality in Legislation and the Academe’ on November 5, 2018, 1 pm to 5 pm at St. Scholastica’s College Manila. With this project, we plan on forwarding a position paper and raising policy recommendations in relation to the lapses found in the SOGIE Equality Bill to the legislative floor.

Poster by: Allen Panganiban

The South Manila Educational Consortium Student Ethics Committee (SMEC-SEthComm) is a student organization that was established by the Ethics Committee of The South Manila Educational Consortium (SMEC). Our objective is to sustain engagement among SMEC member schools in order to be agents of TIME (Transformed Intramuros, Malate, Ermita) through personal and communal projects.

Meet our Executive Board!

Photos by: Deza Ganado
Edited by: Allen Panganiban