As part of its continuing advocacy to end violence against women, the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) conducted two outreach programs for women deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Bataan District Jail on November 29, 2024, and the Taguig City Jail on December 12, 2024. Together, these initiatives reached a total of 100 participants, creating spaces for learning, reflection, and empowerment.

Following her inspiring talk with PNOC employees on November 27, 2024, the Gender and Development Focal Point System (GFPS) once again invited Ms. Andrea “Ann” Angala, Founder of Break the Cycle PH and a committed advocate for women’s rights, to serve as guest speaker for both events. Drawing from her personal journey as a survivor of domestic abuse, Ann shared powerful insights on navigating trauma, rebuilding self-worth, and fostering resilience. Her testimony was both deeply moving and practical, offering hope and guidance to those on their own paths toward healing.

The outreach also featured an emotional activity where PDLs wrote heartfelt letters to their families, bridging emotional gaps and rekindling personal connections. Some participants courageously spoke about their own experiences with Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), adding authenticity and urgency to the advocacy’s call for change.

These sessions proved transformative not only for the women participants but also for PNOC employees who took part in the program. Direct engagement with the PDLs provided staff with a deeper understanding of their realities, reinforcing the importance of empathy, compassion, and sustained action in building a VAW-free society.

The outreach formed part of PNOC’s initiatives under the 2024 18-Day Campaign to End VAW, underscoring the company’s unwavering commitment to gender-responsive programs, meaningful community engagement, and the promotion of dignity and respect for all women—regardless of their circumstances.