Young individuals who are exposed to role models in non-traditional fields tend to have more positive attitudes towards non-traditional careers and are more driven in pursuing their job aspirations and choices. For this reason, Edukasyon.ph launched the “Investing in the Future of Young Pinays” campaign, supported by Investing in Women.
The campaign seeks to inspire young girls to expand their career choices, including considering areas that are traditionally viewed to be male-dominated. Driving this initiative are 10 young and go-getting role models who are moving to change the norms and stereotypes that inhibit many women from tapping into their true potential.
Chuks Arias
Chuks is a gender equality and anti-gender violence advocate pursuing a Master of Arts in Women and Development Studies at the University of the Philippines. Even before the #MeToo movement, Chuks has been sharing her views on sexual harassment in the media and through speaking engagements.
“No one ever said you can only do one thing your whole life,” Chuks said, adding that young Filipinas may choose to seek opportunities to pursue a range of interests. “Passion”, Chuks said, “is the only thing that will take you on an endless pursuit for creative solutions to your chosen field’s problems.”
Audrey Pe
Audrey is the founder of Women in Tech (WiTech), an organisation that inspires, educates and empowers the youth to break gender barriers and use technology to make a difference in society. WiTech started out as Audrey’s blog where she would write about successful women in the technology.
“The gender gap in tech stems from the fact that a lot of the [more popular] role models or successful people right now are men,” Audrey said. WiTech was her response to that observation. She profiled women role models who can inspire girls who, like her, want to pursue careers in tech.
WiTech evolved into an organisation of individuals who are as passionate about tech as Audrey. To her peers, Audrey said: “Find a support group through organisations like Edukasyon.ph; don’t be afraid to ask questions; always have an end goal in mind—your ‘why’ will guide you in overcoming obstacles.”
Kelsey Hadjirul
Kelsey is a staunch advocate of LGBTQ+ women rights and human rights. At 14 years old, she has already spoken in public forums about the importance of rights and heroism. She is also one of the ambassadors for a Philippine telecommunication company’s women empowerment campaign called “It’s a Girl Thing.”
A proud daughter of a lesbian, she started speaking at pride events at the age of 10. In 2016, she represented the Philippines in the “Cities for Life” World Summit in Paris, France, and co-wrote an article for UNICEF France’s website entitled, “Global Youth for City-wide Change,” about the event.
Kara Pangilinan
Kara is an architectural apprentice and visual artist, best known for her black-and-white style, as seen in her art brand Details Ink. She takes on art projects that are aligned with her values and advocacies, hoping to use her art to encourage people to pursue their dreams and become their best selves.
Recently, she worked with Google Philippines, where she created artworks for a campaign called “Digiskarteng Pinay,” a new platform that allows Filipina women to learn new skills through YouTube tutorials, and use those skills to start businesses that can help sustain their families.
“Women should not be afraid to dream,” Kara said during the launch of the Edukasyon.ph campaign in August, where they were also introduced as ambassadors. “Women should be confident in themselves and be free to pursue multiple dreams,” she added.
Jen Tarnate
Jen is a television director and producer specialising on documentaries. She has directed and produced programs for History Channel, Discovery Channel and Channel NewsAsia, to name a few. Also a photography enthusiast, Jen explores development and environmental issues through her camera lens.
“My career is a huge part of me and I take pride in my work… It has not been an easy journey and there are a lot of lessons I had to learn the hard way; which for me, makes it even more valuable and fulfilling,” she said. Her womanhood is an advantage, Jen said, and not a hindrance.
Jen is now working on a video about women who lost loved ones to extra-judicial killings. “I’m focusing on how these women are healing and finding their own strength from their trauma and providing them the space and the platform for their stories and voices to be heard,” she said.
Apple Nocom
Apple is a mental health advocate who is involved in organisations who go around schools to promote mental health awareness among students and share her own story. In 2017, Apple created an art and mental wellness fair, which promotes creativity as something that heals and empowers individuals.
Apple also writes in local magazines and on her own blog about finding oneself and recovering from depression. “We should always be our own biggest supporters and believers,” she said, addressing women and men who are going through mental health issues.
Meryl Jalani
Meryl is an entrepreneur, eco-warrior and activist. She is the co-founder and lone female member of ImpactVille, a mobile application and strategic tool which helps organisations measure their contribution toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Muslim youth leader is also national president of Millennials PH, a youth advocacy organisaton and chief of staff at I am MAD (Making a Difference), a non-governmental organisation that works for children in impoverished, far-flung communities all over the Philippines.
Sittie Lao
Sittie is the youngest legislator in Philippine history, having represented the Second District of Lanao del Sur in the Regional Legislative Assembly from May 2012 to June 2013. During her term, she headed two committees: Women, Youth and Family Relations and Natural Resources and Ecology.
Empowerment, for Sittie, is the journey from saying “I can’t” to “I can.” She embodies this by excelling in her studies. Sittie finished her Bachelor of Arts in English degree at the Mindanao State University with honors in 2011, after an exchange program in the US in 2009. She is studying law at San Beda College.
Chal Lontoc-del Rosario
Sittie is the youngest legislator in Philippine history, having represented the Second District of Lanao del Sur in the Regional Legislative Assembly from May 2012 to June 2013. During her term, she headed two committees: Women, Youth and Family Relations and Natural Resources and Ecology.
Empowerment, for Sittie, is the journey from saying “I can’t” to “I can.” She embodies this by excelling in her studies. Sittie finished her Bachelor of Arts in English degree at the Mindanao State University with honors in 2011, after an exchange program in the US in 2009. She is studying law at San Beda College.
Sarah Elago
Sarah is a full-time activist and the youngest member of the 17th Congress of the Philippines. As the representative of youth sectoral party Kabataan Partylist, she is front and center in press conferences, voicing her party’s views on the country’s state of affairs.
Follow #FutureofYoungPinays or visit Edukasyon.ph/future-of-young-pinays to be updated on the latest about this campaign.