AIVEE TEO

What does being a woman and celebrating international women’s day mean to you? 

I feel that being a woman is a constant dance between extremes and the greatest challenge is to learn how to dance gracefully. Above all being a woman is about learning how to be strong despite of your weaknesses. To be loving and nurturing towards others whilst not forgetting to care for yourself. To be determined enough to achieve your goals, while also supporting and empowering your loved ones to achieve theirs.

International women’s day is a wonderful way to recognise all women, their achievements and roles in society today. We have certainly come a long way from being defined merely by our physical limitations or our biological capabilities. Now we are empowered to be whatever and whoever we choose to be. It is a great thing to celebrate!

CHIT JUAN

What does being a woman and celebrating international women’s day mean to you? 

Celebrating international women’s day is important so that people won't forget that women hold half the sky! Being a woman means being able to harness all your potential to be the best that you can be! Be mindful that a woman can do anything she puts her mind to, anything that she is passionate about!

RISSA MANANQUIL-TRILLO

What does being a woman and celebrating international women’s day mean to you?

I think the best part about being a woman is the opportunity to be a mom. It empowers you to mould a person’s mind and shape the future. From model to role model, I hope to inspire my children as wife, mother, entrepreneur, and leader. 

Growing up, I was lucky to be surrounded by women who believed I could be anything I wanted to be. My own mom would always push me very hard to spheres of excellence. As a kid, she believed I could be a doctor, lawyer, and an entrepreneur—professions dominated by men at that time.

Today, I want to foster the same kind of empowering environment. I’m proud that Happy Skin is powered by a team of the most amazing women. It’s a validation of what the today’s Filipina can do.

My girls are growing up so fast and I'm so happy they belong to a generation of girls who can dream big, pursue passions, and be whoever they want to be!

MARIVIC RUFINO

What does being a woman and celebrating international women’s day mean to you?

A woman is multifaceted composite of the essentials. She has the brains and the intellect to think, work and achieve her goals, the imagination to dream, create and invent. She has the heart to love. She is brave. She has the intuition to know and understand things beyond the surface and the spirit to soar above her limitations and overcome obstacles.  She is capable of juggling many things simultaneously. She is whoever she wants to be.

MIA ARCENAS-BRANELLEC

What does being a woman and celebrating international women’s day mean to you?

Being a woman is probably the most complex job in the world. Through my grandmother, mother, titas, cousins, friends, they have all showed me that to be a woman you have to be everything all at the same time. 

I am inspired by this quote which, to me, gives my observation truth, by Kavita Ramdas: 

"We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free"

TRICIA CENTENERA

What does being a woman and celebrating international women’s day mean to you?

 It means that you, I, can be whoever I want to be and have the right to change my mind. Celebrating women’s day means that on this one day we stand united with no judgement. It is a day when we can put all things aside and be grateful for being exactly who we are, women.

GRACE BARBERS BAJA

What does being a woman and celebrating international women’s day mean to you? 

Being a woman is not easy. There are many responsibilities laid upon us: that of being a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend, or simply of our gender. With each responsibility there is also a challenge which we do our best to meet and overcome.