The Philippine Sports Commission's Gender and Development Program held the 1st Philippine Congress on Women and Sports last November 21 to 24 at Tagaytay City.

The conference was touted to be a one of a kind convergence of women leaders in sports and women involved in various sports disciplines, and as a manifestation of the Filipino women's continuous pursuit for empowerment and professional growth through continuing education and training.

Atty. Katrina Legarda, the country's leading legal expert on family law and an advocate for women causes, led the impressive array of lecturers and presenters.

The battery of resource speakers also included Bong Coo, the only Filipina bowler who has won world titles and record five Asian Games gold medals (From Bowling to Business), two-time Asian Games sprint queen Lydia de Vega-Mercado (From Athletics to Politics), champion tennis player Dyan Castillejo (From Tennis to Media), equestrienne Mike Cojuangco-Jaworski (Playing and Motherhood) and TV and movie star Jackielou Blanco (From Movies to Fitness Buff).

The tilt of foreign speakers, who gave situationers on women and sports initiatives and concerns in their respective countries, comprised of Japan's Dr. Etsuko Ogasawara, Chairperson of the Interim Working Group, Asian Women and Sport, along with Grace Young of the Singapore Women and Sports Foundation and Carol Garoes, Secretary-General of the African Women and Sports Association.

In other technical sessions of the Congress, Dean Nieves Confesor of the Asian Institute of Management delved on "How to Ensure Progress through Targets and other Measurable Objectives," Dean Maria Concepcion Alfiler of the National College of Public Administration and Governance expounded on "The Formula Behind the Making of Filipino Women Leaders in Public Governance" as UP Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and noted sports media specialist Prof. Tessa Jasminez spoke on "Getting Media to Support Your Cause."