UN WEPs Award Honor Mompreneurs & Industry Trailblazers in Philippines

•  Philippines’ leading network of mompreneurs gained recognition at the first Asia-Pacific UN WEPs Awards 
• The event highlighted innovation and inclusivity at the grassroots level, strengthening local communities

At the debut Asia-Pacific UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards, Madiskarte Moms PH, a leading online community for Filipino mompreneurs, gained appreciation for creating a dynamic network of women. The eminent panel comprised of leading women leaders and industry trailblazers bringing and embracing change at the grassroots level, strengthening the local communities.

Gathering pioneers in the field, the event-initiated dialogues concerning businesses driving gender equity in the region. Key issues such as addressing and delving into in-depth conversations on fostering female-led enterprises and bridging the digital divide, were at the core of the event.

Madiskarte Moms PH came in force to showcase the hidden women potential of women during the pandemic. Today, the online community stands strong and vibrant with almost 200,000 members advancing to digital literacy and upskilling opportunities.

Dedicated in broadening access to support network, the community is a safe space that enables members with tools needed to establish and scale their home-based businesses. With a focus on inclusivity, PLDT Home commits to women’s participation in business and tech with expanding fiber access and digital education efforts.

“We’ve given masterclasses and lessons that teach women how to create their own websites, how to avoid scams and fraud. But, as I say, it takes a whole nation. Now, the Madiskarte Moms teach new members so that they can go forward as well,” PLDT’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Melissa Vergel de Dios added. She added emphasis for women to start in education early on in their lives to break the stereotypes and achieve success.

That future may not always be in the office, according to Vergel de Dios. “Sometimes success is not being an executive in the office but being an entrepreneur. Today’s success is defined differently. We can be role models to the little girls that look up to us, and we can show them that they can dream. It also starts with education so that at a young stage the stereotypes are broken at the formation stage.”

Ahyee Campos of GoDigital Pilipinas and country head of Infosys said, “We need to take away the mindset that home care is only for women. Unpaid home care is not allowing women in that kind of working model to really succeed. And so participation of the husband in those conversations needs to be more active and the women need to be more forthcoming — it cannot be assumed that it’s understood.”