FROM THE MARGINS

March is a time to celebrate women. March 8 is International Women's Day, a global celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. It is a call to action, encouraging individuals and communities to actively contribute to the ongoing pursuit to promote gender equality.
This month is marked by various initiatives of private and public organizations to highlight women’s achievements and the challenges that they face. My own network of microfinance organizations started March by holding a retreat and team-building of all Board members and senior management in Tranca, Bay, Laguna. Most of the more than 250 participants were, of course, women, many of them decades-long client-members. My heart was full seeing them at work, reminiscing how we all started with just a dream to effect positive change, ₱20 and an old typewriter. Together, we plotted our next steps and long-term strategic directions, ending with a commitment-building ceremony that moved many of us to tears. I hope to continue working with our Nanays, Titas, and Lolas towards serving more women in marginalized communities for many more years.

One of the many women’s month activities that I enjoyed attending was GoNegosyo’s 2024 Women’s Summit. It aligns with my personal advocacy that we need to invest in women to accelerate progress. We need to direct resources to support women to expedite positive advancements in various aspects of society. This has been our experience in the microfinance industry: our women members are able to uplift their families because everything they have goes towards supporting their households. Their enterprises become the family’s livelihood, involving even their husbands and children. They prioritize their children’s health and education. They are able to save for emergencies. They are our keys to social progress.

GoNegosyo organizes a Women’s Summit every year “to celebrate women’s achievements and contributions to society and the economy in various fields and industries,” it said in a statement. It hopes to inspire the next generation of Filipinas and advocate for the integration of digitalization that supports women-led enterprises. The day-long program featured panel discussions centering around the theme “Harnessing the Digital Age to Empower Women.” Among the topics of discussion were: translating creative vision into business, envisioning sustainable businesses centered around agriculture, breaking gender barriers in male-dominated professions, succeeding in an industry transformed by artificial intelligence, effective financial management for micro, small and medium enterprises, effective branding using digital tools, impactful content creation, opportunities in eco-friendly businesses, women in e-sports, and the business of beauty.

I was able to attend some of the sessions and I enjoyed them immensely, including the one hosted by television presenter and former volleyball player Gretchen Ho. Well-known personalities, like DTI Undersecretary Cris Roque, GMA Network SVP Annette Gozon-Valdes, Congresswoman Caroline Tanchay of Dean&Deluca Philippines, Cibo Founder Chef Margarita Forés, and Fashion Designer Vania Romoff shared their experiences in successfully running businesses in digital, fashion, food and other industries. I also attended the sessions on Succeeding in a Visual World with AI by Canva Phils. country head, Yani Hornilla-Donato; Women in e-Sports by Een Mercado; and EmpowerHer: Continuing Family Legacy by Christalle Belo-Pitt.

For me, the best part of the summit was when the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship recognized 19 outstanding women entrepreneurs. The winners of the Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneur Awards were chosen from more than 700 entries. The awarding was graciously attended by no less than First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos; H.E. Marykay Carlson, US Ambassador to the Philippines; Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual; Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion, and businesswoman Rosalind Wee. The most interesting panel discussion I attended was moderated by GoNegosyo Senior Adviser, Josephine Romero, where five Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneur Awardees shared their business experiences in food retailing, agriculture, fashion, digital innovation, and others.
I must really give my kudos to Joey Concepcion for bringing together and recognizing women entrepreneurs who successfully demonstrated their capacities in running their business despite many challenges. Their experiences provide important lessons for women who want to start and expand their business enterprises.

March is a month to recognize the progress we have made in empowering women, while also acknowledging the work that still lies ahead to create a more inclusive and equitable world. So, I end this article by paying homage to all the women leaders of microfinance organizations all over the Philippines and worldwide. I also honor the microfinance industry’s women members and leaders. I am grateful for the chance to work with all of you, to be part of a transformation process that empowers women in poor and marginalized communities. You are inspiring change-agents, nurturing in a way that only women can be. Happy Women’s Month to all of you!

Let us celebrate and uplift women, not just in March, but always. What my friend and fellow poverty eradication advocate, Dolores Torres, said is true: “Empowering women is not just about amplifying their voices. It is about unlocking their strengths and potentials.”

(Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip is a poverty eradication advocate. He is the founder of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Mutually-Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI).)