HR Council chairperson Mercedes Lopez Vargas (rightmost) and FPH VP-CHRO Anna Karina Gerochi (leftmost) with speakers Patricia Non, Julia Abad and Alicia MoralesFirst Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH) and First Gen Corporation marked International Women’s Day on March 8 with “Inspire Inclusion,” an in-person gathering highlighted by talks from First Gen’s first female independent director Alicia Morales, Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE) executive director Julia Abad and The Community Pantry initiator Patricia Non.

Held at RBC Tower 3 Training Room, the event was organized “to celebrate women’s achievement, raise awareness about the challenges that women continue to face and acknowledge a collective responsibility in creating a more gender inclusive world, a world where difference is valued and celebrated,” according to FPH vice president and chief human resources officer Anna Karina Gerochi.

She said inclusion is not just a buzzword and not just about women. “It is a principle that is entwined with our own Lopez Values of social justice and employee welfare and wellness. It is about ensuring that every voice is heard, every perspective is valued and every person is given the opportunity to thrive and achieve their potential,” Gerochi said.

Importance of deep learning

Morales, in her talk on “Enabling Inclusion in the Workplace,” recounted how hard work and diligence allowed her to succeed in school and in the workplace. She also paid homage to her father, a former bank president, who taught her that “beyond doing your work, you have to do something to help the country.”

First elected to the First Gen board in 2018, Morales recalled immediately giving feedback to get more nutritious meals served at board meetings. Now a professorial lecturer on sustainability at the Virata School of Business in the University of the Philippines Diliman, she stressed the importance of deep learning, how to maintain femininity while being assertive, being authentic, finding deep purpose and finding one’s true north to lead authentically.

In her talk on “Empowering Inclusion—State of Women in the Philippines,” Abad reported that women have a lower labor force participation at 46% with men at 76%, even though women’s literacy rate is higher at 92% with men at 88%. The Philippine Statistics Authority also found that women earned on average 13% less than men’s average daily wage.

Mentored by fierce leaders

PBCWE offers GEARS (Gender Equality Assessment Results and Strategies), an assessment process that aims to improve gender equality in the workplace. FPH is a member of PBCWE. Abad said she was mentored by “fierce, exceptional leaders” to excel in her field. She recommends that women mentor and support other women through humility, openness to learning, being patient and being a team player. “Let’s not think that having other women shine will dim our light; rather, let their light amplify ours and, together, we will have a brighter light.”

Non, in her talk on “Inspiring Inclusion—Solidarity in Action,” narrated how tricycle drivers became the first volunteers when she started the community pantry near her residence in Quezon City. “Aside from picking up donations, they would fix the pantry lines and they themselves donated P20 or P50.” She said the experience showed her the power of empathy, of being sensitive and how even in the worst situation like the pandemic, “something beautiful can shine.”

The community pantry was founded on the principle of giving according to one’s ability and taking only what one needs. It became a movement that was replicated in various ways all over the country, with doctors offering free online consultations, teenagers conducting a Mobile Legends tournament that was able to fund a truckload of vegetables and buy medicines for sick parents, lawyers assisting harassment victims and farmers from Tarlac sending sweet potatoes and donating P2 or P5 via GCash for their fellow farmers.

Start of DEI journey

FPH president Giles Puno closed the program by citing various research from Gartner, BCG, Bersin and Deloitte that made the business case for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). He said the group’s DEI journey began when First Gen and EDC (Energy Development Corporation) were invited to the Engendering Equality in Energy for Southeast Asia or E4SEA program of the US Agency for International Development, entitling said companies to focused training and mentoring on DEI until 2023.

FPH signed the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in 2022 and was honored by UN Women as runnerup under the Gender-responsive Marketplace category of its Asia-Pacific WEPs Awards in the same year. In 2023, FPH obtained 54% on the UN gender gap analysis tool, higher than regional (32%) and global (35%) averages.

Puno said an inclusive environment is embedded in the company’s mission and chosen path as follows: “We will unlock the potential of diverse talents to create a mission-driven organization that makes work fulfilling, makes work fun and that gives people a deep sense of belonging.” He encouraged everyone to “move forward and be better advocates for a world where everyone feels seen, respected and valued.”

Advocacies were represented in the event booths of Human Nature for health and wellness, Ina-Inakay Center Inc. which sells items made by women in prisons, Vico’s Artism which sells artworks by children with special needs and MAMAFASWAS which sells buri and abaca bags handcrafted by indigenous peoples (IPs) led by the Mamanwa IPs from Jabonga, Agusan del Norte in Mindanao.

Bern Barel and Clowee Licsi hosted the event while Jun Prila and Miren Sanchez moderated the open forum and led an interactive activity for participants from all over the Lopez Group. The activity demonstrated how everyone wants to be included and his or her contribution recognized.

FPH president Giles Puno

Handcrafted bags made by the Mamanwas of MAMAFASWAS

(Story/Photos by:  Carla Paras-Sison)