PCW, UN summit at SM amplifies call to invest in women to drive progress

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.

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

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

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

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): 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

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 crucial laws like the Magna Carta of Women and the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act, among others.

Keynote speaker Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda

SM Supermalls President Steven Tan

UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez

For an international perspective, esteemed panelists 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.

Australian Ambassador HK Yu (third from right), Canadian Ambassador David Hartman (right), UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran (second from left), International Labour Organization Country Director Khalid Hassan (left), and Asian Development Bank Director Samantha Hung (third from left), with Rissa Mananquil Trillo (second from right)

On the Philippines’ efforts, experts from key 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.

(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

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

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

Singapore-based She Loves Tech co-founder, Leanne Robers

The sessions highlighted how businesses can 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.

Singapore-based She Loves Tech co-founder, Leanne Robers (left), Anne Emperado-Macababat of Malanne (second from right), Eliza Antonino of Moment Group (third from left), and creative and social entrepreneur Zarah Juan (second from left), with UN Women Champion Bianca Gonzalez (right)

Landbank’s Leila Martin (third from left), BDO Unibank’s Atty. Federico Tancongco (left) and Joel Andres (second from right), Connected Women’s Gina Romero (second from left), and UN Women Champion Bianca Gonzalez (right)

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

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 saying, “Investing in women is not just a moral imperative, but a strategic imperative for a better world.”

Actress and film producer Bella Padilla

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. (SM Supermalls PR)

SM Supermalls celebrates International Women's Day

In honor of International Women’s Day (IWD), the Philippine Commission on Women, in collaboration with UN Women and venue partner SM Supermalls, is set to host a forum under the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" on March 8, 2024 at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura, Taguig City.

The Philippine Commission on Women, UN Women, and SM Supermalls are set to host a forum in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024

This year’s IWD conversation will cover crucial topics such as poverty alleviation, institutional strengthening, and gender-inclusive financing. The expected guests include the UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Mr. Gustavo González, Philippine Commission on Women Officer-in-Charge Atty. Khay Ann C. Magundayao-Borlado, and She Loves Tech co-founder Leanne Robers.

The focal point of the IWD event will be the exploration of financing through a gender lens and the impact of Gender and Development (GAD) budget initiatives. Distinguished panelists from various key government agencies will share invaluable insights, shedding light on strategies to address poverty and enhance institutional support with a gender perspective.

Singapore-based Leanne Robers, co-founder of She Loves Tech, will be leading a session on Technology and Women’s Empowerment in Business

In addition to governmental efforts, a session will also spotlight the initiatives of United Nations agencies and development partners aimed at empowering and enabling women in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals. This holistic approach underscores the importance of collaborative action in driving progress towards gender equality.

Furthermore, discussions will delve into the pivotal role of technology in advancing women’s empowerment, particularly for entrepreneurs. The exploration will highlight how businesses can leverage technology to bridge gender gaps and promote social change, ranging from corporate social responsibility initiatives to sustainable business practices.

A particular emphasis will be placed on gender-inclusive financing and exploring innovative ways to combat poverty through technology, specifically focusing on finance technology and ICT. Experts will provide insights into leveraging technology to empower women economically while addressing the risks of fraud and scams, ensuring the safety and security of financial transactions.

The International Women’s Day event at SM Supermalls seeks to catalyze action toward a more inclusive and equitable society by amplifying the voices of women and harnessing the power of collaboration across sectors. Through these discussions and initiatives, the celebration of International Women’s Day becomes a call to action towards a future where women's empowerment is at the forefront of progress.

To know more about SM Supermalls’ Women’s Month initiatives, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media.

Learn more about the National Women’s Month Celebration: https://pcw.gov.ph/2024-national-womens-month-celebration/ (SM Supermalls)

Women’s Month begins at SM Supermalls

In line with its commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality, SM Supermalls, through its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, launched this year’s Women's Month celebration with a series of events championing a safe, inclusive, and enabling environment for women.

Promoting safe spaces for women at SM
Nearly 17,000 SM Supermalls front liners, employees, and partners gathered at the SM North Edsa Sky Dome and online on March 1 for a nationwide orientation on the Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law) or Republic Act No. 11313. The Act penalizes gender-based sexual harassment committed in public spaces, educational or training institutions, workplaces, and online.  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary Atty. Benjo Santos M. Benavidez served as the forum’s keynote speaker and expounded on gender-based sexual harassment and the Safe Spaces Act.

Department of Labor and Employment Undersecretary Atty. Benjo Santos M. Benavidez

Organized by SM Cares, in partnership with the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and the DOLE, the forum is part of SM’s ongoing nationwide campaign to promote a safe, inclusive and empowering environment for women, and builds on the success of the first Safe Spaces Act orientation in October 2023, which saw the participation of 7,614 attendees from SM malls across the country.

SM Assistant Vice President and Program Director Jessica Sy reaffirmed SM’s commitment to preventing harassment and gender bias against women, especially within its premises, “We recognize that there are ongoing, systemic challenges that Filipinas continue to face today, both in the workplace and in society. By actively engaging with the public sector to educate our own people on the Safe Spaces Act, we remain committed to uphold the rights and dignity of women”.  Sy also reflected on the legacy of her grandfather, Mr. Henry Sy, Sr., which underscores the importance of inclusivity and respect in everything SM does, and added, “Remembering this provides a richer context when we say, Bawal bastos sa SM”.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. Assistant Vice President and Program Director Jessica Sy

‘Walk in Her Shoes’ exhibit
The compelling interactive exhibit, ‘Walk in Her Shoes’, by the United Nations Philippines was also launched on the same day and is ongoing until March 10 at the SM North Edsa, Level 3, Main Mall. The exhibit features real stories from women and girls, shedding light on different forms of gender-based violence they experience. The exhibit strives to raise awareness about the widespread nature of violence against women (VAW), encourage reflection on harmful social norms, and inspire collective action to end VAW.

UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez at the opening of the ‘Walk in Her Shoes’ exhibit.

During the launch, UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez thanked the PCW for leading efforts to empower women, and SM Cares and SM Supermalls for providing the space and platform to raise awareness about gender inequality and gender-based violence. “Gender equality demands a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach. Only through collaboration across sectors can we dismantle harmful norms and build a world where women and girls enjoy the same rights and opportunities as men,” he said, adding that gender equality has economic impacts as it results in sustainable development.

PCW Officer-in-Charge Atty. Khay Ann Magundayao Borlado listens to a survivor’s story of resilience in one of the booths of ‘Walk in Her Shoes’. Through this exhibit, the UN Philippines hopes to raise awareness on gender-based violence, encourage behavioral change, and foster safer spaces for women and girls.

SM lights up in purple to welcome Women’s Month
In solidarity with the ‘Purple Your Icon’ advocacy initiated by the PCW, several iconic SM landmarks and malls across the country lit up in purple to support the advancement of gender equality and women’s empowerment for a brighter future.

SM North EDSA’s Tunnel, together with several iconic SM landmarks and malls across the country, lights up in purple to signify the start of the month-long celebration of Women’s Month at SM. Joining the illumination ceremony are (from left):  SM VP for Operations Engr. Junias Eusebio; PCW-PDPMED Division Chief Anette Baleda; SM AVP for Corporate Compliance and SM Cares for Women Program Director Atty. Pearl Turley; PCW Officer-in-Charge Atty. Khay Ann Magundayao Borlado; PCW Commissioner for Business and Industry Catalina Leonen-Pizarro, SM Prime Holdings Inc. AVP Jessica Sy; UN Women Regional Partnerships and External Relations Lead Janelle Weissman; UNFPA Country Representative Dr. Leila Joudane; UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez; SM VP for Corporate Compliance Engr. Liza Silerio; SM VP for Human Resources Cheryll Agsaoay; and SM SVP for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin.

“Adorning our surroundings this month with purple serves not only as a beautiful tribute, but also as a powerful symbol. Purple signifies the spirit of women's rights, highlighting the fight for equality and empowerment. It represents a future where limitations and stereotypes are transcended,” said PCW Officer-in-Charge Atty. Khay Ann Magundayao-Borlado.

The iconic MOA Globe lights up in purple to celebrate Women’s Month

SM Supermalls, through its social responsibility arm, SM Cares, champions women's equality, empowerment, health, and welfare through its ongoing programs aimed at building a future where every woman feels safe, valued, respected, and enabled to reach her full potential. (SM SUPERMALLS)

SM Megamall turns purple to kick off this year’s Women’s Month celebration.

SM Aura glows purple to usher in this year’s Women’s Month celebration.

SM Seaside Cebu radiates in purple in solidarity with the country’s celebration of Women’s Month.

In Davao, SM Lanang’s mall façade lights up in purple to welcome Women’s Month.