In line with the Annual Celebration of International Women’s Month and Day on Saturday, March 8, prominent women leaders headed by Dr. Nona S. Ricafort, TOFIL Laureate, former CHED and UNESCO Commissioner, Vice-President of the International Council of Women, Senior Advisor to the Philippine National Council of Women and President of six organizations, led the celebration of Women’s Rights and Welfare at the Hube Hall Auditorium of the historic YWCA - FFPI Building last Saturday to a burgeoning crowd of more than six hundred women leaders.

The midday to evening program consisted of four segments:

• The Opening Plenary Session which witnessed greetings from prominent women leaders and a comprehensive Colloquium and Lecture Series on the various aspects of our lives that can enhance women's empowerment;
• The Award and Recognition Ceremonies for Prominent Women Leaders in Philippine and ASEAN Society who have contributed outstandingly to the welfare of women and their respective communities through this decade, led by no less than the President of our 14th Philippine Republic President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo;
• The Declaration/ Manifesto of our Collective Action Platform as Women as Facilitated by Sen. Anna Dominique Coseteng, and Dr. Nona Saldaña Ricafort
• A Fabulous And Unique Fashion Gala that will feature our elegant women in a sustainable modality, from 6 p.m. onwards.

The Event’s Lead Convenor was Dr. Nona Saldana-Ricafort: TOFIL Laureate and indefatigable Vice-President of the International Council of Women, President of the
YWCA Founders’ Federation of the Philippines, Global Peace Women Foundation, Philippine Federation of Business and Professional Women, National Sandigan Foundation, Charter President of Zonta Club of Greater Rizal, Inner Wheel Club of Greater Rizal, All Nation Women’s Group and Philconsa Governor and Treasurer, and FAMAS Prestige Awardee.

As the tireless and unceasing women's leader, she is a former Commissioner of CHED, the Commission on Higher Education, and UNESCO in the Philippines. In a hallmark move, Dr. Ricafort brought together more than twenty of the country’s leading women’s organizations to discuss continuing ways of including women in the national mainstream and arrive at a concrete action plan that will eventually be appended into the Philippine Magna Carta For Women.

Warm and cordial greetings on International Women’s Month were delivered by:

1. First Lady, and exponent of Women’s Rights, FIRST LADY LOUISE ARANETA MARCOS;
2. CONGRESSWOMAN YEDDA MARIE ROMUALDEZ, Chairperson of Women in Congress;
3. President of the INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN, ICW President Madame MADAME MARTINE MARANDEL
4. ACWO President TRAN LOU PHUONG OF VIETNAM, President of the ASEAN Confederation of Women’s Organizations
5. Manila MAYOR HONEY LACUNA; and
6. Sta. Rosa City MAYOR ARLENE ARCILLAS

Colloquium on women’s leadership & initiatives on various fronts

Thereafter, comprehensive lectures and discussions on women empowerment from different sectoral fields ensued, wherein eminent speakers from various facets of our society discussed ways to further empower women in the Philippines and the greater ASEAN REGION, discussing the interwoven fiber amongst governance, sustainable environment management, health and well-being, education and digital literacy, and inclusive economic growth, among others.

Delivering their respective discourses were:

1. Regional Director INGGIL RA of the Global Peace International Foundation, who
spoke on the need for universal solidarity;
2. Manila Hotel President and former Senator JOSE LINA, JR. on the significance of International Women’s Day which he penned as a Bill with the late Sen. Santanina Rasul;
3. JUSTICE MARIAN IVY REYES FAJARDO on Women and Judicial Governance;
4. Ms CECILLE GUIDOTE ALVAREZ, on taking care of our Environment and
Climate Change Mitigation, led by women;
5. Ms SOCORRO ALICIA ‘CORY’ QUIRINO, on beauty, wellness, and the preservation and health benefits for women;
6. USEC. JOCELLE BATABA-SIGUE on digital literacy for women to absorb more women and girls into the economic mainstream;
7. DR. ETHEL AGNES VALENZUELA on various educational modalities and policies that include equal opportunities for women;
8. BUDGET SEC. AMENAH FLAMINIANO PANGANDAMAN, on economic reform and inclusive growth for women on the economic and business front;
9. AMBASSADOR ROSARIO G. MANALO on women leading regional peace as an impetus to global peace.

March 8 every year, is a significant moment for women of the world because women especially in the Philippines reaffirm their commitments in crafting policies and programs in our respective areas of influence.

Filipina women seize this moment to ensure the continuing implementation of the fundamental rights and benefits of women and girls; to wage the war against unjust discrimination and violence; and ensure their access to proper economic and workforce inclusive growth education, and self-determination. Together, women move on for a better future, where gender equality is a reality and emancipation from bondage is the norm.

Two prominent women leaders Former SENATOR. NIKKI COSETENG and DR. NONA SALDAÑA RICAFORT PRESENTED the 2025 COMMITMENTS and ACTION PLATFORM, as follows:

Now, therefore, we the participants of the International Women’s Assembly Manila 2025, do hereby, faithfully commit:

1. To fully support, promote, and advocate the commitment made to address the above-declared issues and concerns in our respective countries, communities, and organizations to fully realize Gender Equality and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

2. To establish a collaborative partnership with the government, private sector and
various non-government organizations imbued with the common goal of achieving an inclusive, equal, harmonious, and peaceful world across all gender, race, and age.

3. To translate these COMMITMENTS to ACTION for the participants of this Assembly to move forward and implement these with our utmost passion and capabilities.

RECOGNITION OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT LUMINARIES: The congregation also honored luminaries from various fields of endeavor for the continuing empowerment of women

LEADERS WHO HAVE ADVOCATED WOMEN EMPOWERMENT THROUGH PRINT, PUBLISHING AND BROADCAST MEDIA:

Inclusive, Incisive, and Wholistic Journalism
MR. TONY LOPEZ, Founder, Chairman and President, BizNewsAsia
MS. ANA MARIE PAMINTUAN, Editor-in-Chief, the Philippine Star
MR. VOLTAIRE CONTRERAS, Executive Editor, Philippines Daily Inquirer
MR. BASILIO YAP , Chairman and
MR. HERMINIO COLOMA JR., Publisher - Manila Bulletin

Communication and Publications in Support of Women's Empowerment :
ATTY. DOMINADOR D. BUHAIN - Incisive publishing & Educational printing
Ms. MEL TIANGCO - Incisive Broadcast Journalism & social advocacy

RECOGNITION OF WOMEN LEADERS WHO HAVE ESPOUSED WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN THEIR VARIOUS FIELDS OF ENDEAVOR & EXPERTISE

- Health & Wellness: MADAME CORY QUIRINO
- Women as Frontliners in Sustainable Environmental and Climate Change Management: HON. CECILLE GUIDOTE ALVAREZ
- Interfaith Inclusivity: DR. AMELITA DAYRIT-GO
- Pioneering Modalities in Education: PRECIOSA SOLIVEN, Ph.D.
- Ensuring Equal Access & Opportunities for all including Disadvantaged Women & Girl child: CHED COMMISSIONER DR. ETHEL AGNES VALENZUELA
- Women Lead & Preparedness in Disaster Mitigation: PHILIPPINE RED CROSS DIRECTOR GENERAL GWENDOLYN PANG
- Growth Driven Corporate Governance: CEO Clark Development Corporation Atty. AGNES VST DEVANADERA, and Response on behalf of the awardees

RECOGNITION OF WOMEN LEADERS FROM THE GOVERNMENT, CORPORATE & INSTITUTIONAL SECTORS WHO HAVE SUSTAINED THE IMPETUS FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:

Inclusive and Comprehensive Digital Literacy: HON. DITC USEC.JOCELLE BATAPA-SIGUE

Women in Leadership and Governance: HON ASSOCIATE JUSTICE MARIAN IVY REYES FAJARDO

Empowerment through Judicial Reform: HON CHIEF JUSTICE TERESITA L. DE CASTRO

Proactive Local Governance & Socio Civic Services: HON. CONG. LINABELLE RUTH R. VILLARICA

Bridging the Gender Gap in the Workforce, and Enhancing women skills for inclusive Growth in Business and Entrepreneurship: DBM HON. SEC. AMENAH FLAMINIANO PANGANDAMAN

Policies and Programs for the Youth Sector: HON. CONG. CAMILLE VILLAR-GENUINO

Regional Peace as Imperative to Global Peace: HON. AMBASSADOR ROSARIO MANALO

Good Governance and Food Security: HON. SENATOR CYNTHIA A. VILLAR

Enhanced Macro Economic Development and Innovations in the Banking Sector: MADAME TERESITA SY-COSON

Outstanding Visionary Leader for the Country’s Economic Progress and Women & Economic Empowerment: H.E. GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, 14th President, Republic of the Philippines

The formal response was delivered by the President of the 14th Philippine Republic, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The awards were proudly presented by the Event Convenor Dr. Nona S. Ricafort. Inner Wheel National President Ditas Crisostomo, Soroptimist Int’l Philippines Governor Marivic DS Paras, Friends of the Cultural Concerns of the Philippines Norma “Baby” de Jesus, Zonta Int’l Philippines Rowena Cruz Plan, All Nation Womens Group President Congresswoman Mila Magsaysay, and National Council of Women of the Philippine Cecil La Madrid Dy.

Women leaders in sustainable fashion gala

One of the highlights of the celebration was an environmentally inspired fashion show curated by women leaders from the participating women’s organizations.

The fashion curator/coordinators were: ANWG Binondo Chapter President Riza Santos, Arlene Jacobo, Former Miss World Evangeline Pascual, Former Miss Mother of the Universe & Fashion Model Joyce Pilarsky. Jenny Bucay of the National Sandigan Foundation ignited the dance and fellowship component.

Event beamed worldwide through live streaming and Zoom

The undertaking was a hybrid event - live via Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTube available to all members here and abroad.

This March 8, 2025 Women’s Day Celebration was designed to be a nationwide celebration in the Philippines and abroad. The women leaders requested all participating women’s organizations to notify their respective nationwide chapters, clubs, and other provincial women’s organizations to join this undertaking online if they cannot come onsite.

They also suggested that other women’s groups replicate and use these program templates as their guide to this grand International Women’s Month Celebration. Global Peace Women International with its chapters globally was also encouraged to join via livestream and Zoom facilities.