Date: March 8, 2024

Event: DICT XI – Women’s Month Celebration, Kick-off Ceremony

Good afternoon, everyone!

Welcome to our celebration of Women's Month, the time of the year when we honor and
recognize the incredible contributions of women to our society, and highlight the strength,
resilience, and beauty of Filipino women.

I am Niña, and I am thrilled to be your host for today's event.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the University of Mindanao, for lending us this
very beautiful venue for today’s event.

Before we begin, we also have a reminder about the Data Privacy Act. During the duration of the
event, we will be taking photos that you may be included and these will be used solely for the
purpose of documentation and be uploaded to the official Facebook page of DICT XI.

Also, in the event of fire and earthquakes, pls do not panic. Please proceed to the nearest
emergency exits located at the left and right side of the stage.

Now, to formally start our event, I would like to request everyone to please stand for our opening
prayer to be led by Ms. Shilden Caballero and to please remain standing for the singing of the
Philippine National Anthem.

You may now take your seats.

Once again, good afternoon everyone and welcome to the Department of Information and
Communications Technology Region XI’s Women’s Month Celebration Kick-off ceremony with
the theme: “Lipunang Patas sa Bagong Pilipinas: Kakayahan ng Kababaihan, Patunayan!”

As we kick off our celebration, we'll explore the rich tapestry of women's achievements, the
challenges they've overcome, and the paths they're paving for future generations.

Our event today is packed with inspiring speakers, empowering stories, and performances that
will surely reflect the amazing qualities of every woman.

The DICT has prepared 2 parts, first one is the kick-off ceremony and after the kick-off
ceremony be sure to stay until the end because we have a free medical consultation and the
showcasing of the DICT accomplishment report and everybody’s favorite, dinner.

And since this is a celebration of the strength and beauty of the women in our society, it’s just
appropriate that we start strong with our first speaker to give us the Opening Message.
She was the former OIC Director of the Management Information Systems Service (MISS) in the
DICT Central Office where she administered the development, operations, and maintenance of
different internal systems of the Department as well as network and internal systems security
strengthening.

As the current Regional Director of DICT-Region 11, she oversees the management direction on
the development and implementation of strategic ICT programs and projects in the Davao region
and manages the overall operations of the Regional Office, and ensure that all programs,
activities, and projects are in aligned with the Department’s development plans.

Please help me welcome, the Regional Director of DICT XI, none other than, Director Evamay
C. Dela Rosa, CESE, a round of applause, please.

Thank you so much for the inspiring message, RD.

And now, it is my honor to introduce to you our next speaker who will deliver us a Key note
Message via a recorded message.

The Undersecretary of DICT – ICT Industry Department, Atty. Joselle Batapa – Sigue.

Thank you so much USEC for your keynote speech.

Now, let's shift our energies to a performance by selected DICT personnel and a surprise
participant. Please put your hands together for our singers! A round of applause, please.

(performance)

What a wonderful performance by this Trio, akala ko nasa Tawag ng Tanghalan na tayo.

Palakpakan naman natin ulit ang singers natin. This goes to show that being a woman is
limitless, we have beauty, brains and talent!

Now let’s proceed to the next part of our program.

I encourage everyone to sit comfortably, as we watch a 16-minute video of a Toni Talks episode
with Kylie Versoza as she talks about her silent battle with depression.

Play video.

This was a very timely subject no, since nowadays, depression and anxiety are more experienced
by all of us, now only women but also men. At times like this, it helps to have a friend that would
listen.
And to delve deeper into the topic of mental health, let’s move on to another highlight of our
kick-off ceremony, a talk about spiritual and mental health awareness. I would like to call on
stage, Engr. Ma. Jessa Garsuta, for the introduction of our resource speaker.

Maam.

Thank you so much, Maam Lulyn, for giving us your time to share your wisdom.

At this juncture, I would like to call on stage RD Evamay Dela Rosa and Maam Janet Arlene
Soliman to award the certificate to our resource speaker. I would like to request maam lulyn, to
please come back on stage to receive the certificate of appreciation.

Thank you once again, maam.

At this point, I would like everyone to please stand. We know that physical movement is one way
to change or brighten our mood, at dahil jan we will do Chicken Dance! We will just follow the
steps as shown on the screen. Ready? DJ play “Chicken Dance”

Chicken Dance

Napagod ba kayo? ADlib

Now, let’s proceed to the presentation of the DICT XI Mandate, by Engr. Josyn Chille Mae
Taping. A round of applause please.

Thanks so much Engr. Taping.

Now, for the next part of our program, as you may be aware the DICT has a program called
Digital Jobs PH, which provides free technical training for aspiring online freelancers.

Now let us hear the testimonies of the Graduates of DJPH 2023.

Play video.

The kick-off ceremony does not only comprise of our resource speakers and a wonderful
performance, as mentioned earlier, the DICT has also prepared a Free Medical Consultation.

And to introduce to us our Volunteer Physician, I would like to call on stage, the Supervising
Administrative Officer of DICT XI, Ms. Elodie C. Tuquib. A round of applause please.

Magtalk si doc

At this juncture, I would like to call on stage RD Evamay Dela Rosa and Maam Janet Arlene
Soliman to award the certificate to our volunteer physician. I would like to request Dr. Mary
Macasa, to please come back on stage to receive the certificate of appreciation.
Thank you so much Doc. We have prepared a consultation area at the back where you can find
Dr. Macasa later for the free consultation. May clinic si doc jan.

Again, there will be a Free Medical Consultation that will take place later after the first part of
our event.

At this juncture, we would also like to acknowledge our partner institution for today’s kick-off
event, the University of Mindanao. I would like to request again RD Evamay Dela Rosa and
Maam Janet Soliman to award this certificate to our partner institution. May I request anyone
from the UM to receive this award.
Once gain, thank you so much, University of Mindanao for letting us conduct the kick-off
celebration here.

And to officially close the first part of our kick-off event, I would like to call on stage, the Chief
of Admin and Finance Division of DICT XI, Ms. Janet Arlene Soliman. A round of applause,
please.

And there you have it, the first part of our kick-off event is now officially over.

At this juncture, we will now begin the Free Medical Consultation at the Doctor’s Area located at
the back side of the AVR.

And while waiting, we will be playing the Accomplishment Report of DICT XI for 2023 and the
distribution of our dinner.

Once again, I am your host, Nina, daghang salamat!