Actress and philanthropist

“Women’s rights and privileges have come a long way. Although women may never be free from stereotypes and bias, our society now is less forgiving to discrimination and misogyny. The modern woman is now limitless. We continue to break boundaries, we challenge the norm, we shake convention. We owe this to the great women who came before us and to the future generations.”

Weightlifter; Olympic gold medalist

“It’s not easy being a woman today. You must constantly perform tasks that are valuable not only to you, your partner and your family, but to your community and country.

I’ve learnt that there is a process of assessment that enables us women to practice self-love and soon after, love for others. This enables us to deepen our understanding of the specific skills, areas of insight, motivations and experiential wisdom that each of us has to offer—as well as how to hone them for new uses. It means coming to know our distinctive gifts and the ‘light’ within ourselves that we should never hide.

So, to all the women out there, remember that we are not alone. We have love inside all of us. This will shine brightest and will eventually bring love and light to everyone.”

Chairman, MDI Novare Technologies

“What does it mean to be a woman today? I cannot help but think what my answer would have been, if I were asked this question in my twenties. I would have thought and idealised at the same time, but I concede it as an impossible task to achieve even some of these above.

But years honed by marriage, motherhood, career, charity of time for others, wins and failures and redemption through life, gets you in that direction. To the young generation of women seeking an answer to this same question, social media and now AI imposes too much pressure for perfection! It is the imperfections of life that make it—and womanhood—much more interesting. I am simply grateful to have been given the chance to enjoy the journey, in hindsight, towards this ideal north star.”

Founder, The Wholesome Table 

“Being a woman today is such a gift, because now—perhaps more than ever before—there is no limit to what we can do. We can embrace our divine femininity and nurture, love, trust our intuition and raise our families while simultaneously leading, breaking boundaries and most importantly, being heard.

Personally, it makes me happy and proud that I, as well as my four daughters, now have that choice. That we can be whom we want to be. That I can take my seat at the dinner table as a mother and at the boardroom as head of my company and feel completely empowered by that.

Today you see women taking on roles in society that historically, we were never able to. It shows you just how far we’ve come, how much we’ve proven ourselves and how powerful the woman of today is.”

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President and CEO, Rags2Riches

“There was a time when women were not allowed to vote, study or lead, among others. Today, there are still many things that are not allowed or safe for women, but we have come a long way. As women today, we must recognise that we came this far because women and allies of the past paved the way for us.

We keep the doors open and continue paving the way for others. We have a long way to go, so on the way there, let’s break glass ceilings, fix each other’s crowns, dance to the beat of our own drums, and create safe spaces for women and for those who don’t have the space to be their true selves. We are facing so many problems as a global community already, the best way to solve these is together.”

Miss Universe 2018

“To be a woman is to be called to uplift and better the lives of other women. Because even now, in 2023, so many women and young girls continue to experience barriers; lack of access to education, reproductive health, equal opportunities and pay, among others. As a collective, as a woman myself, we cannot move forward if some of us are held back. Society conditions us to constantly be in competition with each other—which steals away our power. It’s only when we women come together to advocate on behalf of each other, celebrate each other, and help pull each other up—that’s when we all truly succeed. To be called to be a part of realising that for our generation. is what being a woman means to me.”

Board director, PLDT

“Women today can be powerful. When women use their power, they reinvest it in their families, their communities and their countries to make the whole world better for everyone.

Investing in women is the smart thing to do. The Filipina CEO Circle, comprising 70 Filipina CEOs of top corporations, are focused on helping Filipinas in the workplace realise their full potential and go after the topmost job in a company. The Women (FTW) Foundation is a Philippine non-profit providing free data science and technology training for women.

Women today are starting to participate in the global economy. And when equally participating with men, they will help grow the global GDP by 6 per cent according to Boston Consulting Group. Thus, women must be present in all spheres of the economy, especially at the decision-making level. If that were the case, our society would be much better off.”

Ambassador of the French Republic to the Philippines 

“I must say I admire the woman’s power in the Philippines. There are many strong, determined, visionary women who play a key role in society, politics, business, civil society, sciences and arts. The last few years have made it even clearer that women excel in all realms of life.

This leads us to look back at women in the past, as this is not a new phenomenon. To quote but a few, did you know there were women knights in the Middle Ages, or that the first computing programmer, in the 19th century, was a woman? Women have played key roles in diplomacy, even if this was often behind the scene.

Of course, discrimination towards women is still very much an issue, everywhere in the world, at different levels. This is why my country has developed a feminist diplomacy.” 

Read now: Herstory of Kasibulan, a sisterhood of women artists

Broadcast journalist 

“It is an amazing time to be a woman. Our sisters decades before us have paved the way by fighting for equality in the personal, political, and professional arenas. But each and every day, we see the need to break the glass ceiling on so many levels, whether they be about race, education or ingrained biases.

I love being a woman. Women can be the best of themselves today. We can be the best in leadership. Women can write their own stories and happy endings.

Today, I choose to be a voice for my fellow women. I stand with them. We need to advocate for each other. I try to always be a woman’s biggest supporter, cheerleader and aim to be a role model—not just in my field of profession but with my daily choices. As a woman today, I know I am not alone and believe that together, women are stronger.”

President, Cultural Center of the Philippines 

“A woman today has the power to influence change. She is powerful yet compassionate, ambitious yet feminine and can inspire others who need to boost their confidence.

When a woman sets her goals, she will do everything to make them happen. And that is the beauty of a woman in the history of humanity.

‘She surveys a field and acquires it: with her resources, she plants a vineyard. She works energetically; her arms are powerful.’ Proverbs 31: 16-17

This is as true today as when Eve ceased to be known merely as Adam’s rib.” 

Host, “She Talks Peace” Podcast

“As a child, my mother [former Senator Santanina Rasul] shaped my appreciation of what it means to be a woman: strong, caring, nurturing, loyal and rooted in a sense of family as well as community. Today, I understand what she meant. Today, being a woman means being strong enough to overcome adversity and discrimination; it means being secure in her identity, being able to speak her truth, supporting her family and community, and feeling unafraid to be both feminist and feminine.”

Visual artist 

“[To be a woman is] to be able to know one’s weakness and one’s strength. It is being able to understand that that same strength can be one’s weakness, and one’s weakness can be one’s strength. [To be a woman is to] be able to tap into your unique traits, abilities, circumstances and not complain about incapacities and problems, but rather capitalise, accept and take responsibility. To be a woman today is to be able to find meaning and joy in the everyday, knowing what truly matters in the end.” 

Read now: 6 Women Using Technology To Shape The Future

Senior vice president and private banking group head, Unionbank of the Philippines

“There is an inherent presumption that change is necessary for a woman—from being a woman of the past to being a ‘woman of today’— that evolution is essential for her to succeed. In some cultures, including ours, a woman is expected to be a mother and a wife, where child-rearing and education are her main responsibilities.

The woman of today has no limitations as to what she can become. Aside from being the primary caregiver and educator, she can also take on various roles and even become the breadwinner.

These various roles require strength of character, grit, tenacity, creativity, leadership, emotional stability and mental soundness. In fact, the woman of today is the true pillar of the home, who keeps the fort strong during crises. She is a leader, navigating rough waters during uncertainty, at the same time, inspiring others to be steadfast.”

Co-founder, Hands On Manila

“‘There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish,’ Michelle Obama once tweeted. This, in a nutshell, describes a woman today—empowered and respected. She can be almost anything she wishes to be, from the CEO of a multinational company to a budding businesswoman, to a community organiser, wife and mother. She is not constrained by the traditional rules and stereotype behaviour of women in the past.

In fact, one of the challenges she faces at present is knowing when to stop. Only recently, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern announced her decision to step down: ‘I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice.’”

Founder, Angat Buhay Foundation 

“The woman of today stays true to who she has always been: the real strength and heart of every space she occupies. The ails of the world may take different shapes amid the changing seasons, but I believe that as women, it is our steadfast courage that continues to move the world forward.

We see this in our families, in our communities, in our workplaces. We look up to the women of today, who dare to speak, who dare to take space, who dare to say to the world that we are here. There are still many challenges ahead of us, and it is my hope that more of those empowered will rise and lend strength to the ones who haven’t owned theirs yet.”

Executive director, Child Protection Network 

“Today is the best time to be a woman in the Philippines. Personally, I feel that there are no limits to what I can do. The Philippines ranks 19 out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index, the highest among Asian countries. However, Filipino women still need to have wage parity with men and to increase representation in leadership positions. The Filipina is vulnerable to interpersonal violence. There is no doubt that the Filipino woman is the strength of the country. The Filipina is beautiful, hardworking and will do anything for her family, compassionate and a survivor!”

Secretary, Department of Tourism

“Being a woman means being endowed with the inherent capacity to nurture, to show compassion, to take courage and to endure all things with grace. The Filipina woman of today is not only bold and fearless, but empathic and deeply rooted in love of family and community. Our country is blessed with so many hardworking women in all fields including and especially in the tourism industry where Filipino service excellence and hospitality is recognised globally and contribute greatly to our economy. In the Department of Tourism, our commitment is to empower our workforce, where women are equally represented and given opportunities to herald the best of the Filipino brand and identity to the world.”

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