This Women’s Month in March, the profound influence of women in community development is being recognized.
From being subjects of subjugation and stereotyping, women had emerged into influential and inspirational icons and had empowered themselves and their communities into role models in championing the advocacy on health, environmental protection and gender equality.
One of them is Leonisa Impil, a proud Bukidnon of Sitio Cabagtasan, Barangay Codcod in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
She obtained her Master’s degree in Filipino, major in Translation in University of the Philippines Dilliman on a scholarship grant and is pursuing her Doctorate in Filipino in the same university. She is currently teaching in Carlos Hilado Memorial State University in Talisay City.
She was a former Executive Committee member of the Subcommision on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts-Central Cluster of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), chairperson of the Cabagtasan Bukidnon Tribal Council and an active member of the Mount Kanlaon Protected Area Management Board of Negros Occidental.
Through her initiative, a training workshop on “Capacity Building: Formulation of Local Cultural Policies and Guidelines for Cabagtasan Tribal Council” participated by 30 active members of the council was held last Nov. 24 and Dec. 17 to 20 at the Cabagtasan Elementary School.
The project received a grant from the NCCA with the end view of publishing the approved policies and guidelines in the local newspapers for popularization.
The local government of San Carlos City through the Heritage, Culture and Arts Council supported the project.
Currently, Impil and the select community members continue editing and polishing the policies and guidelines for the final presentation and evaluation to the general community members. ||
