CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, PHILIPPINES — More than a hundred women from different parts of Northern Mindanao, mainly Cagayan de Oro, gathered on Friday, March 10, to attend the women’s summit in the region with the theme “Rise of Sheroes.”

The event, held at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel CDO, aimed to provide a platform for women to share their stories of resilience, leadership, and empowerment, as well as to promote gender equality and women’s rights.

Organized by a group of women leaders in the region, the summit was made possible by the support of major sponsors, including Lai-Tzi Marketing, Inc, and minor sponsors, such as North Shore Capital, PP Inday Uy, and more. Generous donors also contributed to the success of the event.

Rise of Sheroes – Panel of Speakers

The summit featured eight notable women speakers from various fields, including Ms. Stephanie Rosalinda P. Caragos, President & CEO of Syntactics, Inc., Atty. Khristine Kay M. Lazarito-Calingin, chief GAD specialist of the Philippine Commission on Women – North Mindanao Field Office, and six other women leaders from different sectors, such as business, government, and civil society. 

The speakers shared their insights and experiences on a wide range of topics, including women’s health, entrepreneurship, political participation, and more. Their talks were met with enthusiasm and applause from the audience, who found inspiration in their stories.

Among the panel of amazing ‘Sheroes,’ the keynote speaker was Dr. Erika Fille T. Legara, Ph.D. She is an Associate Professor at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), the Chair of Data Science in Aboitiz, the Academic Director of the Master of Science in Data Science at AIM, and the Deputy Managing Director of ACCeSs@AIM. She spoke of her journey as a woman in STEM, shared the possibilities of STEM, and how the strand needs more of the fairer sex. 

Dr. Legara introduced the background of Data Science as a Data Scientist and emphasized the need for women to have equal opportunities in the workforce. Her talk is aimed at empowering women in STEM, changing the patriarchal norms and systems that continue to limit women’s potential and perpetuate gender-based inequality.

In addition to the discussions and presentations, the summit also included a yoga demonstration with the audience. The demonstration, led by one of the speakers, Ms. Julie L. Ang, a Wellness Directress, aimed to promote physical and mental wellness among the attendees. 

The ‘Rise of Sheroes’ ended on a high note, with fellow women forming a larger network and getting to meet their ‘Sheroes’ in person.

See some of the event highlights below:

Rise of Sheroes – Organizers

WhatALife! would like to commend the following organizers for the successful event!

• Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Northern Mindanao Region
• ZONTA Club Cagayan De Oro II District 17 Philippines
• Rotary Club of CDO East Urban
• San Lorenzo Ruiz Ladies Circle
• PrintPro
• Syntactics Inc.

Congratulations ladies and happy Women’s Month! –WhatALife!/Jayve

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