Philippine Consulate General and Ladies for Rizal-New York Honor the "Modern Babaylan" at Women’s Month Forum
NEW YORK CITY, 24 March 2026 – To mark National Women’s Month, the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in New York, in partnership with the Ladies for Rizal (LFR) – New York Chapter, hosted a forum titled “Voices of Malolos, Visions of Today: A Panel on Rizal and the Modern Filipina.”
Aligned with the 2026 national theme, “Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas: Kakayahan ng Kababaihan, Patutunayan!” and the sub-theme, “Lead like the Babaylans, Filipinas!”, the program reclaimed pre-colonial values of wisdom, empathy, and service as a blueprint for contemporary leadership.
In his opening remarks, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile underscored the mission of bridging Dr. Jose Rizal’s 19th-century ideals with the modern Filipina’s role in a global society. He noted that the women of Malolos, by demanding education, laid the foundation for a free nation—a vision echoed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has emphasized that true progress is impossible without the education and safety of women.
The evening featured a dynamic three-part program designed to spark high-impact dialogue. It opened with a historical anchor by Lady Ariel Obero (LFR-NY), who read Rizal’s letter to the Women of Malolos, grounding the audience in his original call for intellectual independence.
This was followed by a Literary Panel moderated by Ms. Beatriz Torre, where authors Elizabeth Besa-Quirino, Marissa Bañez, and Rose Marie Sabangan explored how Rizal’s message of self-determination informs their contemporary storytelling.
The discussion culminated in a Multi-Sectoral Forum, featuring leaders Xyza Cruz Bacani (Arts), Jenna Agatep-Slater (Law), Jenny Santi (Philanthropy/Arts), and Jessel Pagobayan-Robel (Finance), who shared how the “Babaylan spirit” translates into success from the courtroom to the boardroom and the creative arts.
The conversation was further enriched by virtual reflections from Singapore-based author Mignon Bravo-Dutt and UK-based authors Candy Gourlay and Romalyn Ante.
The forum also provided a platform for Consul General Mangalile to share his vision for Sentro Rizal New York, stating that a “House of Culture” must be more than its walls. He emphasized that the newly renovated space is intended to serve as a dynamic center of discourse on Philippine history and the events affecting the diaspora. “Just as we have renovated the physical space, we believe that the intangible purpose of this event—fostering high-impact dialogue—is equally important,” the Consul General noted.
The event concluded with a closing message from LFR-NY President Lady Elizabeth Cueva, who summarized the evening’s reflections and issued a call to the Filipino community to sustain the legacy of the Malolos women by empowering the visions and potential of Filipinas today. END
