𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐋𝐂𝐄𝐒 | 𝐓𝐀𝐔 𝐆𝐀𝐃 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧-𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐋𝐂𝐄𝐒 | 𝐓𝐀𝐔 𝐆𝐀𝐃 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐧-𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

Bringing together women across the University’s six colleges, offices, and units, for a day of reflection and learning, the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) through its Gender and Development (GAD) office spearheaded a seminar training titled “The Babaylanway: Inclusive Leadership and Collective Well-being in Academia” at the Continuing Education Center (CEC), on 26 March.

Anchored on the theme, “Honoring ancestral wisdom while promoting shared responsibility, gender equality, and holistic wellness in the university workplace,” Ms. Marie Anne D. Valerio, an author of various GAD researches, former GAD Director in Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU), and currently serving as the CLuster Coordinator in Central Luzon Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium, introduced the concept of the Babaylanway highlighting a leadership framework inspired by the traditional Filipino babaylan, known for guiding communities through healing, balance and inclusive decision-making.

The activity focused on the significance of inclusive leadership in creating a supportive academic environment. In this activity, participants were engaged in discussions that associated indigenous knowledge systems with modern workplace practices, including the value of empathy, shared responsibility, and respect for diversity in creating a more responsive workplace.

The officials of TAU emphasized the need to build a workplace culture that extends beyond productivity by incorporating well-being and gender sensitivity into its workplace practices, in line with its commitment to inclusive development.

TAU-GAD Director Dr. Ma Theresa B. Nardo delivered a message emphasizing the significance of values-driven leadership.

“The opportunity to refresh our minds on the real essence of leadership and followership is healing and rekindling the call to serve others. While there is time to effect a soothing presence in the workplace, like the Babaylan of the past whose presence gave strength, comfort, and peace, we as women leaders, respond to the call of a meaningful service in the most practical way and the closest to our daily realities. We are leaders in our homes, in our units, in the bigger circle we were trusted with bigger roles. We take the chance of being one of the few women of today who inspire people around them,” she stated.

The seminar forms part of TAU’s continuing initiatives to strengthen gender and development programs while promoting a more inclusive and holistic approach to leadership across the university community.