Trainings on Public Speaking, Advocacy and Lobbying were held for the women’s
organizations, which were attended by a total of 250 participants. They were held in Calajoan
on July 15, 2023, in Tulay on July 18, in Tungkil on July 19, and in Tungkop on August 10.
The trainings enhanced the participants’ knowledge and skills on public speaking and
developed their knowledge on the importance of advocacy.
Ms. Gumanao taught the participants how to prepare speeches by starting with an
organized outline of the flow of the messages to be shared. She said that the speaker must
identify prior to giving her speech what kind of audience she will talking with. The speaker
should also know the time allotment given to her.
Ms. Gumanao further discussed the aspect of body language for an effective speech
and on how to end the speech.
The participants were also taught what is an advocacy strategy, what are the factors
that contribute to its success, and the need for leadership and organization, communication
and education, in the advocacy strategy. They were also taught about mobilization and action
as a form of advocacy strategy.
There were workshops on making an advocacy strategy on violence against women
based on the five laws on VAW studied in a previous training.
One group was assigned to do a role play where their organization will lobby to the
barangay local government unit. A second group did a drama where their organization was in a
radio program to discuss the programs and activities of their organization. The third group was
tasked to do a role play of inviting new women to join their women’s organization and the last
group was tasked to deliver a message in a graduation rite in their barangay. All the groups
then presented their kits and the rest of the participants gave their comments and criticisms to
the group.