EMBASSY CELEBRATES NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH WITH “PURPLE WEDNESDAY” AND FORUM ON WOMEN’S HEALTH

PRESS RELEASE

WDC-11-2025

07 March 2025

Embassy Press and Information Section

info@phembassy-us.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In observance of National Women’s Month this March, the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. observed “Purple Wednesday” on 05 March 2025, where Embassy personnel wore purple as a tribute to women and their invaluable contributions to society.

The color purple has been associated with the celebration of Women’s Month as it denotes justice and dignity, representing the progress made in advancing women’s equality. The Embassy joins this collective action to continue to help forge positive change for women worldwide.

The Embassy also conducted on 06 March 2025 a forum on Women’s Health for Embassy personnel and their families.

In his opening remarks, Charge d’ Affaires, a.i. Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon, Jr. acknowledged that almost fifty percent of Embassy personnel are women, hence the importance of advocating for women’s health, and providing support to establish goals to improve women’s health in the workplace.

Discussions were led by Ms. Carol Manilay-Robles, Board Member of the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) and former President of the PNA Metropolitan DC chapter. She covered the common health conditions that women are prone to compared to men and the routine activities and recommended medical screenings that women can do to ensure good health.

The forum established that prioritizing women’s health in the workplace is crucial for fostering a more inclusive, productive, and successful organization. ###