While upholding women’s rights and respecting the rights of women (regardless of age, religion, race, and economic status) is a daily thing, March is still a special, historic month. In 1976, the United Nations (UN) declared March as International Women’s Month and March 8 as International Women’s Day. In WeGen, we do our part in celebrating women and recognizing our WeGen Wonder Women.
Last March 14, 2022, WeGen’s Social Transformation Team and the Human Resources Department (HRD) led a simple but meaningful gathering wherein WeGen women shared stories about their lives, work, and the challenges they face as women – as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, workers, leaders, and women in RE.
The ST Team’s Ina Silverio shared current statistics on the plight of women in the Philippines, among them data on the number of Violence Against Women (VAW) cases during the pandemic. She shared, for instance, that the number of VAWC reached 13,932 from March 15 to November 20, 2020. This is according to the Philippine Commission on Women. Rape cases numbered 1,289 rape cases from January to March 2020. The extended lockdowns also increased the number of VAWC cases as many women and children were forced to stay indoors and were subjected to the abuse of close relatives such as their husbands and fathers.
Ina said that the challenge to all Filipino women is to become aware of their rights and to help other women do the same.
“Women should work for self-empowerment, and empowered women help empower others who need help because they are victims of social injustice and inequalities. Women's rights are human rights and advocates seek equality --in jobs, opportunities, access to social services -- across the board for all sexes,” she said. The ST team advocates gender equality and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 5) in their education and advocacy work.
Executive Secretary to the WeGen President Sharon Castillo also shared her story. Apart from the roles, she plays in her life as a mother, wife, entrepreneur, and WeGEn employee, she shared her experiences as a care volunteer in the New Bilibid. Sharon and her friends provide food aid to inmates and give them a listening ear so that inmates can unburden themselves about their many problems.
“Women have an innate nurturing and caring spirit. This is natural for women because we give birth, but this attitude of caring should also be cultivated so that we can help other people other than those in our families. We give of ourselves to people we care about, and this extends to people in need,” she said.
Another woman who shared her work is a young volunteer and church servant whose unwavering faith guided her to WeGen and the work that she does as an environmentalist and a church leader. Janilyn Ferolino is an account executive (AE) in San Carlos in Negros. She actively participated in protests against plans to put up a coal power plant in San Carlos, and because of this, she was asked to leave her job in the local government unit (LGU). Bishop Gerry Alminaza recommended her to WeGen’s founder Michael Saalfeld, and that is how she began working for WeGen.
She shared that sometimes people treat her and her work as a youth leader with skepticism, but she does not let herself be discouraged.
“I just do my work. I choose to live in a way that will bring peace, joy, and happiness to myself and others.”
The final sharer during the activity was WeGen Vice-President for Legal Affairs Atty. Abigail Alameda. She expressed appreciation for WeGen and how the company takes the time to give recognition to the work that women do. She said that she learned much about women's empowerment in WeGen, especially when she was working with her predecessor and mentor Atty. Cecilia Dalupan.
She also shared her view that it is important for employers and leaders to ensure that they treat their employers fairly and choose the right candidate for the job regardless of their gender. “Women are often denied higher positions of authority and roles of responsibility because of biases. This is especially the case for younger women – it’s harder for them to get promoted because there is bias against their age and their gender.
Sadly, it was also Atty. Abi’s last day in WeGen. She thanked all the employees and the company management and said that she was very glad to have been part of WeGen for the last four years.
WeGen Vice-President for Sales Orly Alparce gave the closing remarks and said that as far as he knows and as his own previous experiences working for other companies have it, not all companies really devote work hours to hold programs where women employees share their experiences as empowered women.
“This is another reason why I am proud to be in WeGen,” he said.
Sir Orly then went on to lead the reading of the WeGen Pledge to Uphold Women’s Rights which everyone in the audience also read. #