On March 7, 2025, SM Aura's Samsung Hall hosted SM Supermalls' 5th
Annual International Women's Day Summit, "Women Inspiring Women."
This free event, showcasing SM's dedication to women's empowerment, brought
together a diverse crowd and 15 influential women leaders.
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| (L-R): Canva Southeast Asia Regional Lead Yani Hornilla-Donato, BLK and Happy Skin co-founder Jacqe Gutierrez, author Gina Consing-McAdam, Unprude founder Dr. Rica Cruz, SM Group Sustainability Champion Jessica Bianca Sy, BackScoop newsletter founder Amanda Cua, and moderator and United Nations (UN) Women National Goodwill Ambassador Karen Davila in a panel discussion. |
Moderated by United Nations (UN) Women National Goodwill Ambassador
Karen Davila, the summit covered diverse women's topics—technology, work safety,
business, beauty, and e-commerce—offering insightful discussions.
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| A powerful lineup of women speakers with SM Supermalls President Steven Tan and SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing Jonjon San Agustin at SM Supermalls' 5th Annual International Women's Day Summit, "Women Inspiring Women," held at SM Aura’s Samsung Hall on March 7, 2025. |
A star-studded lineup of inspiration
The impressive roster of speakers included BDO Brand Ambassador Small
Laude, who shared insights on financial literacy for women, leading sexual
wellness expert Dr. Rica Cruz, who delved into the creation of the women's app
Unprude, and Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee and BackScoop newsletter founder Amanda
Cua, who shared her experience navigating the tech world as a young woman.
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| BDO Brand Ambassador Small Laude discusses financial literacy for girls and women. |
Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo, Chief Executive Officer of Wildflour
Hospitality Group, shared advice for female entrepreneurs, while SM Group
Sustainability Champion Jessica Bianca Sy highlighted the importance of safe
working spaces for women. Jacqe Gutierrez discussed growing beauty brands BLK
and Happy Skin, and author Gina Consing-McAdam explored the power of writing
and publishing with purpose.
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SM Group Sustainability Champion Jessica Bianca Sy delivers a talk on Safe Working Spaces for Women, underlining the importance of creating supportive environments for women in the workplace. |
Other notable speakers included Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)
Chairperson Ermelita Valdeavilla, Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary
Blesila Lantayona, Connected Women co-founder Gina Romero, Isabela City Mayor
Sitti Djalia Hataman, Canon Europe Ambassador Chiara Negrello, Canva PH
Marketing and Growth Lead Maisie Littaua, and Canva Southeast Asia Regional
Lead Yani Hornilla-Donato. Cibo’s Bledes Fores-Legarda paid tribute to her late
sister, the award-winning Chef Margarita Fores, while Manila Bulletin Executive
Director Pinky Colmenares joined the event. The summit also featured a dynamic
panel discussion on "Women and Artificial Intelligence (AI),"
discussing technology and female empowerment.
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Cibo's Bledes Fores-Legarda honors the legacy of her sister, Chef Margarita Fores. |
AI and women's empowerment visualized
A photo exhibit titled “Silent Shift - AI to Empower Women in the
Philippines Beyond Traditional Limits” by Chiara Negrello, an Italian photojournalist
and Canon Europe Ambassador, was also held at the Samsung Hall Lobby in SM
Aura, in partnership with SM Supermalls, Aboitiz Foundation, Canon, and
Connected Women.
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| (L-R): SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, Connected Women co-founder Gina Romero, Canon Europe Ambassador Chiara Negrello, Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Hataman, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Her Excellency HK Yu, and SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing Jonjon San Agustin |
More than just a summit: A movement
The summit underscored SM Supermalls' dedication to promoting a
gender-inclusive future. As SM Supermalls President Steven Tan stated in his
welcome remarks, “At SM Supermalls, we believe in the power of women to drive
change. With 65% of our workforce and the majority of our leadership team being
women, we support women year-round, not just in March.”
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| Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Hataman (right) stands proudly beside her portrait at the "Silent Shift – AI to Empower Women in the Philippines Beyond Traditional Limits" photo exhibit by Italian photojournalist Chiara Negrello. |
He added, “This year, SM celebrates women by uplifting artists through Sining Filipina, hosting forums with Local Government Units (LGUs), United Nations (UN) Women, and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), and organizing wellness activities like the Women’s Run, with over 8,000 participants, including Filipina Chief Executive Officers (CEOs).”
The event was made possible by SM Cinema, SM Store, BDO, Pandora, and Brittany Hotel.
For more information about SM Supermalls and their commitment to women's empowerment, visit www.smsupermalls.com. (SM Supermalls)
