PCW-UN summit calls to invest in women for progress

(L-R): Singapore-based She Loves Tech co-founder, Leanne Robers; creative and social entrepreneur Zarah Juan; Eliza Antonino of Moment Group; Anne Emperado-Macababat of Malanne; UN Women Champion Bianca Gonzalez. Photo source: SM Supermalls 

Women's rights advocates and gender equality champions gathered at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura recently for an International Women's Day (IWD) summit spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and UN Women, in partnership with SM Supermalls. 

(L-R): SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, Bernadette Sembrano, Singapore-based She Loves Tech co-founder Leanne Robers, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Officer-in-Charge Atty. Khay Ann Magundayao-Borlado, UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez, and UN Women Country Programme Coordinator Rosalyn Mesina. Photo source: SM Supermalls 

Anchored on the global theme, 'Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,' the one-day summit covered topics such as poverty alleviation, institutional strengthening, gender-inclusive financing, and the role of technology in enabling women, particularly entrepreneurs.

(L-R): SM Supermalls Senior Vice President for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin, SM Prime Holdings Assistant Vice President and Program Director Jessica Sy, Singapore-based She Loves Tech co-founder Leanne Robers, SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Marketing Grace Magno, UN Women Country Programme Coordinator Rosalyn Mesina, SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Officer-in-Charge Atty. Khay Ann Magundayao-Borlado, and SM Vice President for Corporate Compliance Engr. Liza Silerio. Photo source: SM Supermalls 

SM Supermalls President Steven Tan and UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez. Photo source: SM Supermalls 

 Opening the summit were SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez, PCW Officer-in-Charge Atty. Khay Ann Magundayao-Borlado, and UN Women Country Programme Coordinator Rosalyn Mesina, whose messages also served as a unifying call to action for the advancement of women's empowerment and equality towards nation-building.

(L-R): Moderator Bernadette Sembrano, Deputy Executive Director Kristine Balmes, Keynote speaker Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Officer-in-Charge Atty. Khay Ann Magundayao-Borlado, UN Women Country Programme Coordinator Rosalyn Mesina, and SM Supermalls President Steven Tan. Photo source: SM Supermalls 

Keynote speaker Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda. Photo source: SM Supermalls 

Keynote speaker Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda spoke about the role of legislation in promoting women's rights. She highlighted the burden of unpaid care and domestic work by women, which her bill (Unpaid Care Workers Welfare Act of 2022) seeks to address to ensure fair sharing of household and caregiving duties. Senator Legarda's legislative efforts have included supporting the passage of the Magna Carta of Women and the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act, among others.

(L-R): International Labour Organization Country Director Khalid Hassan, UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran, Asian Development Bank Director Samantha Hung, Australian Ambassador HK Yu, UN Women Champion Rissa Mananquil-Trillo, and Canadian Ambassador David Hartman. Photo source: SM Supermalls 

For an international perspective, Australian Ambassador HK Yu, Canadian Ambassador David Hartman, UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran, International Labour Organization Country Director Khalid Hassan, and Asian Development Bank Director Samantha Hung spurred insightful discussions on championing women through their gender-inclusive development programs in the Philippines.

(L-R): Philippine Commission on Women's Anita Baleda, UPPAF Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development’s Jeanne Frances Illo, Commission on Audit’s Fortunata Rubico, and Department of Social Welfare and Development's Miramel Garcia-Laxa. Photo source: SM Supermalls

On the Philippines' efforts, experts from government agencies – Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' Atty. Charina De Vera Yap, Department of the Interior and Local Government's Anna Liza Bonagua, UPPAF Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development's Jeanne Frances Illo, Philippine Commission on Women's Anita Baleda, Commission on Audit's Fortunata Rubico, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Miramel Garcia-Laxa, shared transformative strategies and outcomes of financing through a gender lens and gender-responsive budgeting.

Guest speaker, Singapore-based She Loves Tech co-founder, Leanne Robers, set the tone for sessions on the role of technology in helping advance women's empowerment in business.

Singapore-based She Loves Tech co-founder, Leanne Robers. Photo source: SM Supermalls 

Robers highlighted the importance of women's diverse perspectives in technology. She said, "We cannot understate the benefits of a world where women are involved in shaping our future through technology."

The sessions highlighted how businesses may leverage technology to bridge gender gaps and promote social change. Panelists Anne Emperado-Macababat (Malanne), Eliza Antonino (Moment Group), and creative and social entrepreneur Zarah Juan, served as a testament to empowered women creating livelihood opportunities to uplift the lives of many more women.

(L-R): BDO Unibank's Atty. Federico Tancongco, Connected Women's Gina Romero, Landbank's Leila Martin, BDO Unibank's Joel Andres, and UN Women Champion Bianca Gonzalez. Photo source: SM Supermalls 

Likewise, a panel discussion with Landbank's Leila Martin, BDO Unibank's Atty. Federico Tancongco and Joel Andres, and Connected Women's Gina Romero helped participants navigate the benefits and challenges of technology, addressing the risks of fraud and scams, and the safety and security of financial transactions.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Assistant Vice President and Program Director Jessica Sy.  Photo source: SM Supermalls

Capping the summit was SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Assistant Vice President and Program Director Jessica Sy who reiterated the theme of the summit in her closing remarks. Sy said, "Investing in women is not just a moral imperative, but a strategic imperative for a better world."

The IWD summit is one of the highlights of SM Supermalls' celebration of Women's Month this March and was also supported by BDO, Belle du Jour, Brittany Hotel, Brownies Unlimited, Crate & Barrel, Toby's Estate, Goldilocks, and SM Store.

For more information on upcoming activities dedicated to honoring and supporting women in various fields, visit the official website of SM Supermalls and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X.