03/02/2026
Honored to have attended the public forum “Hijab and Dignity: Faith, Identity, and Choice,” held in observance of the National Day of Awareness on Hijab and Other Traditional Garments and Attire (RA 12224) at the GT–Toyota Asian Center. I represented the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Fine Arts and its alumni on behalf of our Dean, Abdulmari "Toym" Imao.
The forum featured a panel discussion that thoughtfully covered policies, laws, and the experiences of hijab wearers, offering perspectives that are often left unheard. Having lived in Qatar for nearly 13 years, I remain in awe of the kindness and solemnity reflected in the culture—values echoed in the stories shared onstage.
I am deeply grateful to have met so many powerful and inspiring women during the event and to have formed new friendships along the way. During the forum, I appreciated the openness to dialogue, particularly in conversations with hijab advocate Queenie Padilla, on how visual culture and social platforms can help make complex ideas more accessible and relatable for non-hijab wearers, and the younger generation. We are looking forward to meaningful collaborations ahead!
On behalf of the U.P. College of Fine Arts and U.P. CFA Alumni Association, Inc. (UPCFAAAI), we offer our sincerest thanks to Mr. Dranreb Belleza and the Office of Senator Robin Padilla for the invitation, for creating real change, for championing the arts, and for their generosity in creating a space for meaningful exchange. I truly enjoyed the experience and my time there.
Photo credit: Marlon Pervera, Armerham Nasir, Dranreb Belleza
