PCG Vancouver Honors the “Babaylan” Spirit at the Kick-off of National Women’s Month 2026

VANCOUVER, BC – On March 4, 2026, the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver officially launched its celebration of National Women’s Month, launching a suite of advocacy initiatives under the theme "Lead like the Babaylans, Filipinas!".

The kick-off was marked by the first "Purple Wednesday" of the year, with Consulate personnel donning purple attire and advocacy pins to symbolize a collective pledge toward a gender-equal society.

PCG Vancouver’s personnel clad in purple last 04 March 2026 as part of its “Purple Wednesdays”  for the whole month of March, signaling the Consulate’s advocacy towards a more gender-equal society. (Photo by PCG Vancouver)

Beyond visual advocacy, the Consulate introduced tangible service enhancements, including a "Purple Lane"—a dedicated priority lane in the Consular Section specifically for female passport applicants for the whole month of March.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate National Women’s Month: PCG Vancouver set up “Purple Lane”, a passport encoding window dedicated to female passport applicants for the whole month of March. (Photo by PCG Vancouver)

"By reclaiming the Babaylan spirit—a leadership model rooted in wisdom and community care—we reaffirm that women’s full participation is essential to sustainable progress," stated Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin.

The day’s activities included:

• Symbolic Start: The week began with a flag ceremony featuring the All-Women Cast Lupang Hinirang Video, highlighting women’s vital role in Filipino identity.
• Digital Advocacy: The Consulate launched its digital campaign, uploading official NWMC collateral and educational materials to its website and social media platforms to engage the Filipino diaspora in British Columbia and Yukon.
• Public Solidarity: The Consulate has been adorned with purple advocacy banners.
• Empowering Entrepreneurship: Looking ahead, the Consulate will host the forum "Filipino Women Entrepreneurs 2.0: Scaling the Spirit of Leadership" on March 25, focusing on women's economic empowerment and leadership pathways.

The celebration will continue throughout March with weekly "Purple Wednesdays," the illumination of the iconic Sails of Light in Canada Place, and ongoing voter registration priorities.

For more information, please visit our official website or contact culturalsection@vancouverpcg.org.

#NWMC2026 #LeadLikeABabaylan #WEcanbeEquALL #PurpleWednesday