Cover Guests and members of the Asia Gender Network team at the dinner hosted by Tatler at Shangri-La The Fort
Guests and members of the Asia Gender Network team at the dinner hosted by Tatler at Shangri-La The Fort
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AVPN’s Asia Gender Network hosted an intimate dinner to foster collaboration among women leaders and philanthropists pushing for gender equality and economic empowerment in Asia—here’s what you need to know
In line with their vision to champion women’s causes, Tatler collaborated with the AVPN’s Asia Gender Network (AGN) to host a lively dinner last February 3 at Shangri-La The Fort. This intimate gathering engaged guests in a collaborative conversation with AGN, which is the first pan-Asian network moving capital towards women and girls in Asia.
AVPN CEO Naina Subberwal Batra expressed her gratitude to the women leaders who attended the event, sharing that “AVPN’s Asia Gender Network was designed to bring women philanthropists from across Asia together to highlight how women’s economic empowerment is good, not just for society, but also for the growth of economies in different countries. I’m looking forward to a robust discussion on how each one of us can make a difference in highlighting how women can play a better, bigger role in society, in our countries, and in Asia.”
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Dini Indrawati Septiani, Dr. Bernie Madrid, Atty. Katrina Legarda, Irene Martel Francisco, Felicia Atienza, and Joanna Ongpin Duarte
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The evening started with wine and canapés in the pavilion room as guests were introduced to the AGN team, including Deborah Foo, the senior manager for AGN’s Gender Equality Platform. The excitement continued to grow as they made their way to the dining area for a delectable meal of seafood ceviche, consomme de pollo, pescado selvatico, and opera cake for dessert.
As the invitees settled at their tables, Tatler Philippines managing director Irene Martel Francisco expressed her gratitude for their attendance. “Having this dialogue with AVPN’s Asia Gender Network is vital, especially after launching the Front and Female platform in August of last year,” she shared. “Through this content and events platform, we empower women and ensure they live their best lives. Having the AGN here will help us touch on subjects that are of mutual interest.”
Mercedes Lopez Vargas, Naina Subberwal Batra, Irene Martel Francisco, and Usec Emmeline Villar
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After her speech, guests were treated to a fireside chat between AVPN CEO Naina Subberwal Batra, DSWD undersecretary Emmeline Villar, and Lopez Group Foundation president and executive director Mercedes “Cedie” Lopez Vargas. The conversation began with Usec Villar delving into the state of women’s rights in the Philippines. “The Philippines has been widely regarded as one of the top protectors of women’s rights legally,” said Usec Villar. “But when we look at the implementation, we're very poor in enforcing these laws because of women’s lack of representation in decision-making bodies.”
This started a thought-provoking exchange among the panellists, who shed light on the cultural norms that perpetuate violence against women. Nonetheless, Cedie Vargas urged the women to hone their strengths to achieve long-lasting change. “Understand your leadership style,” said Vargas. “Bringing in empathy and soft power to your family, workplace and community will help you achieve your goals.”
AVPN CEO Naina Subberwal Batra sharing her thoughts with the group
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The fireside chat laid the foundation for the rest of the evening, as each guest received a list of questions. The questions invited the women to share insights into their respective industries, exploring the challenges and opportunities faced by women in their specific fields. They were also tasked with proposing concrete resolutions for making their philanthropic efforts sustainable.
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Above Felicia Hung Atienza
Carissa Coscolluela
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With women sharing their insights from fields from agriculture and entertainment to legal affairs and entrepreneurship, participants felt energised and encouraged. They highlighted financial illiteracy among women, the prevalence of cyber scams and the under-reporting of abuse. Additionally, invitees emphasised the need for gender-sensitive education curricula and leadership roles to empower women, which would address issues like early pregnancy, sexual harassment and gender bias in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields.
The lively discourse continued with an emphasis on men and women working together to create long-term changes in society, ensuring that the bills in place to protect women are implemented properly. The session was threaded through with an appreciation for mothers, whose invisible labour at home lays the groundwork for far-reaching social change.
Above Stephanie Zubiri, Marga Nograles, Cherrie Atilano and Felicia Atienza
Above Mercedes Lopez Vargas, Marianna Vargas Morada and Pacita Juan
Stephanie Zubiri, Marga Nograles, Cherrie Atilano and Felicia Atienza
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As the event concluded, there was undeniable optimism for the future of women’s rights in the Philippines. Through this dinner, the AGN was able to achieve its goal of connecting women and amplifying their advocacies. “Networks are important as we intentionally collaborate, finding partners and investment opportunities grounded in a uniquely Asian context,” said Batra. “If we want young women today to do philanthropic work, we need to connect them with Asian women to look up to, finding resonance in these shared connections.”
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Credits
Photography: Ian Santos
About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
