Thomasian Crim Students Attend Gender and Sexuality Seminar


Story By Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga

Photos By Rachel Mae De Gracia

Thomasian BS in Criminology students joined the Gender and Society Culmination Program with Atty. Jan Michael Cagulada as the main speaker.

Atty. Cagulada discussed three main Philippine laws that promote and protect gender and sexuality including: 1) RA 7877 or The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995; 2) RA 8353 or The Anti-Rape Law, and 3) RA 11331 or The Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law).

In particular, Cagulada discussed the elements comprising harassment and emphasized how it is committed when the perpetrator has “authority, influence or moral ascendancy” over the victim.

Thomasians were further encouraged to study deeply the laws on sexuality and gender in order to properly report on such cases.

“Majority of these cases get dismissed because at the onset of the police filing their reports, data were already gathered and organized incorrectly,” he lectured.

Rev. Fr. Cristopher Maspara, OAR, president, in his welcome remarks, highlighted the need for Thomasians to seriously learn to navigate these laws as future enforcers and protectors of the society.

The afternoon-long lecture at the Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos Cultural Hall last May 5, 2023 ended after the open forum.

Atty. Cagulada is a member of the CST-R Batch 1997.

Siempre Unidos! Atty. Jan Michael Cagulada, the speaker and member of CST-R Batch 1997, with SDPC and HR Head Ma. Nita V. Bolo, a member of Batch 1993 (L) and Maria Cindy N. Gabutas, Quality Assurance Officer and also a member of Batch 1997.
Open Forum. Thomasians ask for clarifications regarding salient points in the laws being discussed. Among the highlight clarification is on the elements of sexual harassment.
Recollect By Heart. Atty. Cagulada has been practicing law for 17 years and he laments the cases, especially when women and children are victims, that get dismissed because of errors in reporting and processing.
Thomasian President. A warm welcome from a Thomasian President yet a challenge to Thomasian BS in Criminology students is what Rev. Fr. Cristopher Maspara gave during the welcome remarks. Fr. Maspara is a member of CST-R Batch 1987.
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