Project PAD: Leos for Period Action and Dignity
For the dedicated members of the Iloilo City Host Leo Club, service means more than acts of kindness—it reflects a deep commitment to addressing overlooked needs in their community. At the heart of this mission is their dynamic Leo Vice President, Franco Miguel Nodado, who believes menstrual hygiene is not a privilege but a fundamental human right. This belief led to the creation of Project PAD: Period of Action and Dignity, a series of impactful initiatives that have empowered vulnerable women and girls across Iloilo City.
The journey began on February 26, 2025, inside the Iloilo City District Jail – Female Dormitory (ICDJ-FD), where Leo Club members saw firsthand the harsh reality of women deprived of liberty—lacking access to sanitary products and menstrual health education. For Leo VP Franco, this wasn’t just an observation, but a call to action.
« Project PAD is more than distributing pads; it’s about restoring dignity, self-worth, and empowering women with knowledge about their bodies, rights, and reproductive health, » Franco shares.
The inaugural outreach was a comprehensive effort: alongside pad distribution, the Leo Club held an educational session on menstrual hygiene, tackled societal taboos, and delivered a talk on Violence Against Women and Children. This success was made possible through partnerships with the Iloilo City Government, ICPO, Vital Signs Publication, AMSA-WVSU, UAPSA ISAT U, and the Alliance of Political Science Students of Iloilo.
Building on this momentum, the Leo Club launched Project PAD: Moving Forward on April 9, 2025, in collaboration with the Commission on Human Rights Region VI, Vital Signs, and AMSA Philippines – SCORP. They organized a forum at ICDJ-FD to amplify the voices of 12 key stakeholders—women deprived of liberty—who shared experiences and needs related to menstrual hygiene and women’s rights. Their stories were documented into a position paper submitted to the City Mayor.
In addition, the Leo Club held a dialogue with representatives from the Iloilo City Health Office and the Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Office, fostering collaboration and exploring sustainable interventions for menstrual health support in detention centers. These conversations were pivotal in ensuring that public health and welfare sectors heard directly from the affected women.
On April 13, 2025, the Club launched Project PAD 2.0: Leos for Period Action and Dignity at the CAMELEON Passi City Center, a haven for 60 young survivors of sexual abuse. In line with Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the initiative provided essential menstrual supplies and reaffirmed that menstrual health is part of the healing process. With the motto “changing colors and changing lives, one pad at a time,” it became a powerful act of solidarity and empowerment.
The most recent chapter unfolded on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2025, through “Let’s Run for Mom”, held at SM City South Point Active Hub in partnership with SM City Iloilo. Free sanitary napkins were distributed to honor and support mothers. “It was our way of saying: We see you, we value you, and we care,“ shared a Leo member. The event celebrated the resilience of ‘iloy’—mothers who embody strength and unconditional love.
Through Project PAD, the Iloilo City Host Leo Club, under Franco’s inspiring leadership, proves how youth-led initiatives can create tangible change. By championing menstrual hygiene as a right—not a luxury—they bring relief, raise awareness, and empower the marginalized. Project PAD is a movement rooted in compassion, dignity, and action—changing lives one pad, one voice, and one initiative at a time.
Copier le lien
Retour à la page d'accueil