As Women’s Month drew to a close, I found myself in the company of shared voices, a predominantly women audience of information and communication officers from the Negros Association of Information Officers and Liaisons (NAGIOL), alongside Barangay Information Officers from towns and cities across Negros Occidental.
We gathered for the Gender and Development (GAD) Fair Media and Information Empowerment Program, a training designed to strengthen awareness and capacity in promoting gender-sensitive and responsive communication, inclusive messaging, and responsible and ethical information dissemination.
This engagement was deeply personal and special to me. As a journalist, I have long worked with information officers who serve as the first narrators of community life. Their reports, announcements, and stories shape how residents understand events and programs. As an educator, I continue the advocacy of fighting misinformation and teaching communities the value of accuracy, ethics, and inclusivity in storytelling. To stand before them, not just as a speaker but as a fellow communicator, was to affirm the shared responsibility we carry.
Community education and development rest on two pillars: information accuracy and responsible communication. When information officers report with fairness and inclusivity, they do more than disseminate facts. They build trust, empower communities, and normalize equality.
We explored how gender sensitivity in reporting means being mindful of language and representation. Everyday phrases like “chairman” or “his men” may seem harmless, but they reinforce stereotypes. Reframing them into “chairperson” or “community members” shifts the narrative toward inclusivity.
One of the most engaging parts of the workshop was analyzing dilemmas. For instance: How do we report responsibly on gender-based violence without harming the victim? Participants wrestled with balancing accuracy and privacy, and many concluded that respectful, ethical, and non-sensational language is key. Instead of focusing on the victim’s identity, reports should highlight community response and support systems.
The culminating activity asked participants to draft stories using data from their own LGUs or barangays, applying gender-sensitive language, inclusive representation, and ethical principles. The exercise was more than practice, it was a commitment to consistency. Because when inclusivity is practiced daily, it becomes the norm, shaping how younger generations perceive leadership, equality, and respect.
This commitment directly advances SDG 5: Gender Equality by ensuring women’s voices and contributions are represented fairly, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by promoting inclusive narratives that give space to marginalized groups. By embedding these principles into everyday communication, information officers become agents of sustainable change, helping communities move closer to a future where equality and inclusivity are not just aspirations but lived realities.
This initiative would not have been possible without the support of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, through the leadership of OIC Public Information Officer Charina Magallanes-Tan. GAD Focal Point System Action Officer Marie June Castro was among the resource speakers. The activity was held in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and NAGIOL.
By investing in the capacity of information officers, the provincial government ensures that the narratives shaping our communities are accurate, respectful, and free from bias.
Spending Women’s Month with these dedicated officers was a reminder that progress is not achieved by grand gestures alone, but by the steady, consistent work of storytellers who ensure that every voice is heard. As ethical, inclusive, and gender-sensitive communicators, they are not just reporting events, they are building communities where equality is lived and celebrated.
For me, this engagement was both a culmination and a continuation: a culmination of Women’s Month with colleagues who share the same advocacy, and a continuation of the lifelong work of journalism and education — fighting misinformation, promoting accuracy, and telling stories that empower. Most importantly, it underscored that consistency in practicing inclusive, ethical communication is what truly creates culture — a culture where equality is not an exception but the everyday norm.*
