The Philippines now has an Institute of Women's Studies as of June 1988. It grew out of the Women's Studies Program of St. Scholastica's College in Manila, run by Sr. Mary John Mananzan, who is an Isis International Associate.

The Institute hopes to move into its new home in early 1989, Nursia, that it will share with the Social Action Center. Aside from having at least 20 cubicles, office space, and a conference room, there are plans to have a room to exhibit crafts made by women and a small women's bookstore.

Besides its regular women's studies curricular program, the Institute will have a local and an international Outreach Program. Local women will be able to attend two-week seminars on themes such as Awakening Awareness, Women and Development, Women and Religion, and Women, Arts and Media.

The International Program is mainly for women from Asia and the Pacific and will be a six-month integrated course on women's studies that includes a one-month exposure program, four-months of academic study and one month preparation of a research paper.

Publications and audiovisual productions are in the works, including audiovisual histories of women in the Philippines.

A Friends of the Institute Network has been established to give support. Contributions of books, magazines and audiovisuals are welcome.

For more information, contact:

The Institute of Women's Studies, St. Scholastica's College, 2560 Leon Guinto St. PO Box 3153 Manila, Philippines