BAGUIO CITY: 'We encourage everybody to wear purple attire every Wednesday this month as an expression of our support to all women not just in the city of Baguio but worldwide.' Thus, appealed Cou Elmer Datuin, chairman of the city council's committee on social services, women, and urban poor, in Monday's flag-raising rites at City Hall led by Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan as the city celebrates March as Women's Month. An International Women's Day website states that the color purple signifies justice and dignity including being loyal to the cause of women's rights. 'Women's Month in the Philippines is a time to celebrate women's achievements while acknowledging the challenges they continue to face in achieving gender equality. It is an opportunity for individuals and organizations to unite and work toward creating a more just and equal society for all.' He said the annual celebration started in the Philippines in 1988 with Proclamation 224 proclaiming the first week of March as Women's Week and later expanded for the entire month to promote women's empowerment and raise awareness about their struggles for gender equality and women's rights. The city government has prepared a series of activities this month toward the advancement of women highlighted by the awarding of the Outstanding Women Leaders of Baguio on March 16 that honors lady achievers from various sectors of the Summer Capital, Datuin disclosed. Datuin said that this year's celebration is a significant milestone in the progress of women's rights as it introduces a new recurring theme for the next five years until 2028: 'We are for Gender Equality and an Inclusive Society.' He added that the theme is aligned with the Philippine Development Plan for 2023-2028 which aims to achieve the deep economic and social transformation to reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by steering the economy back on a high-growth path. 'The plan also highlights that growth must be inclusive, building an environment that provides equal opportunities for all Filipinos and equipping them with skills to participate fully in an innovate and globally competitive economy,' Datuin said.