At the inaugural Asia-Pacific UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards, Madiskarte Moms PH, an online community of mompreneurs in the Philippines, took center stage, highlighting the impact of women entrepreneurship and digital inclusivity.

The forum, led by Athena Denise Galao, Country Program Coordinator of UN Women Philippines, featured a panel of influential women leaders: Ahyee Campos of GoDigital Pilipinas and Country Head of Infosys BPM Philippines, Agnes Gervacio, CEO of Connected Women, Atty. Krystal Lyn Uy, NEDA Undersecretary, and Melissa Vergel de Dios, PLDT Chief Sustainability Officer and advocate for Madiskarte Moms PH.

The conversation focused on the untapped potential of grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly during the pandemic. Since its founding, Madiskarte Moms PH has grown to nearly 200,000 members, providing a platform for digital upskilling, entrepreneurial growth, and community support.

Melissa Vergel de Dios praised the creativity and resilience of these mompreneurs, sharing a powerful story from the 2024 Gawad Madiskarte, where one mom turned a misfortune into a thriving business. “From selling old clothes to raising seven figures, this is the ingenuity of a mompreneur,” Vergel de Dios shared.

PLDT Home’s continued support for the community has helped these small businesses not only survive but thrive, offering masterclasses on website creation, fraud prevention, and more. The company is also expanding its fiber network nationwide to support inclusivity for women in business and tech.

A key theme of the forum was breaking down gender stereotypes. Atty. Krystal Lyn Uy emphasized the role of the Philippine Development Plan in mainstreaming gender equality. Athena Denise Galao raised concerns about the unequal burden of domestic responsibilities on women working from home, with Ahyee Campos advocating for shared responsibilities at home to allow women to succeed in their professional endeavors.

Connected Women’s Agnes Gervacio shared insights on AI and the future of work, emphasizing that digital transformation should aim for efficiency, not job reduction. Meanwhile, Vergel de Dios highlighted the value of entrepreneurship, noting that success today doesn’t have to come from corporate roles but can be achieved through owning a business and breaking down traditional career stereotypes.

The forum’s discussions reinforced the power of women’s leadership in shaping both business and society, inspiring a future of inclusivity and empowerment.