THE 2024 Global Hunger Index reports that 5.9 percent of the Philippines' population faces undernutrition and 26.7 percent of children under five experience stunting or have a shorter height for their age.
STRONGER TOGETHER Women leaders from diverse sectors come together for the launch of Ladies for a Cause at The Manila Hotel on March 31, 2025. PHOTO FROM CHILDREN’S FIRST 1000 DAYS COALITION FACEBOOK PAGE
A study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies also reveals that one in three Filipino children suffer from stunting due to "inadequate and untimely access to high-quality early childcare and prenatal interventions."
This is the challenge that the Children's First 1000 Days Coalition (CFDC) aims to address, striving to shape a generation that will stand brighter, taller and stronger, says CFDC Chairman Jose "Joey" Lina Jr.
To close Women's Month on a strong note, the coalition strengthens its advocacy by gathering women leaders from various sectors for the launch of Ladies for a Cause, a movement dedicated to ensuring that every Filipino mother and child receive enough support and guidance in the early stages of a child's life.
Ladies for a Cause aims to facilitate the delivery of comprehensive maternal and child health and nutrition services to the most vulnerable Filipino communities.
This encompasses maternal nutrition and micronutrient supplementation, skilled birth attendance and delivery support, infant immunization and health monitoring, community health worker support and home visits, parenting education and breastfeeding guidance, contingency and support services, meal support for mothers (as recommended by the National Nutrition Council) and complementary feeding for infants from six months to 24 months.
A female-led cause
During the initiative's launch last March 31, Ladies for a Cause convenor Gwendolyn Pang, secretary general of the Philippine Red Cross, expresses: "Today is not just another gathering; it marks the birth of something extraordinary — a movement that will change lives, shape futures and [usher in] a new era for women and children in the country. We come together not as individuals but as a collective force of compassion and action."
Pang goes on to stress the need for concerted efforts to make sure that all children receive the proper nutrition and care they deserve, particularly in their first 1,000 days, which span from conception to their second birthday. She refers to this as a sacred window during which the children's future health, cognitive potential and resilience are formed.
Unfortunately, during this vital period, many Filipino children continue to suffer from stunting, developmental delays, and lifelong health risks due to gaps in nutrition and health care.
"This is where we need to step in," Pang punctuates.
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The convenor then urges women leaders to help achieve the following goals: 1) raise awareness on preventing malnutrition among children and improving maternal health; 2) gather resources to support the cause's mission; 3) equip mothers and caregivers with essential knowledge and skills on proper nutrition; 4) engage policymakers to strengthen laws and programs supporting early childhood development; 5) and collaborate with grassroots organizations, local government units, medical professionals and communities to implement impactful interventions.
"When women unite across sectors, we become co-equal architects of solutions," Pang remarks, thanking all the women who have pledged their support and commitment, and challenging everyone to help make the cause a nationwide movement.
Women supporting women
Among those who have expressed their support for the initiative are New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Catherine McIntosh, SM Foundation Inc. Executive Director Connie Angeles, Department of Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group Diana Rose Cajipe, and distinguished educator and women's advocate Nona Ricafort, president of Global Peace Women Philippines.
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Ricafort says: "We, [as] mothers, care [deeply] and have compassion for those children who are born in poor families. It is, therefore, our vision to design and implement advocacy programs that support mothers and families, especially in marginalized communities, to ensure that every day, they [experience a small step toward a better world — one that is meant for all of us]."
"Speaking as a mother, I know how vital the first 1,000 days are both for the mother and child," Ambassador McIntosh shares, affirming her support for the initiative by leaving a proverb of the indigenous people of New Zealand, which says, "Mothers are like the hull of a canoe; they are the heart of the family."
A group of 27 courageous women leaders have already pledged their commitment to Ladies for a Cause. These founding members include Pang; Blanca Calilung-Mercado of The Manila Times; Rosemarie Bosch-Ong of Wilcon Depot; Rosemarie Rafael of the AIC Group of Companies Holding Corp.; Eli Uy Saez of the Department of Finance; Elaine Santos of The Manila Hotel; Grace Francisco-Torres of Alfee Foundation Inc.; Catherine Brillantes-Turvill of Nurture Wellness Village; Claire Alvarez of ServeQuest Inc.; Joyce Michelle Ambray of Dentaderm; Marivic Aquino of MVMA Int'l Resources Inc.; Roselyne Marie Balita of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Quezon City; Kate Bellosillo of Kyani Philippines Inc.; Maria Minerva Calimag, past president of the Philippine Medical Association; Rhoda Castro-Caliwara of Women's Business Council Philippines Inc.; Maria Rosa Carrion, author and publisher; Cosette Chua of Pavillon de La Castellana; Maria Ivy Fajardo, associate justice; Elizabeth Lopez de Leon of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; Riza Shanti Lim of Orissa Garden of Wellness; Sarah Deloraya-Mateo of PCCI-QC; Rachel Harrison of Zambawood Resort; Gina Virtusio of Ayala Multi-Purpose Cooperative; Mildred Vitangcol of Physicians for Peace Philippines; EJ Yap of The Manila Hotel; and Prescy Yulo of Rotary International District 3830.
Truly, it takes a village to raise a child. Together, these women leaders have come together to extend a helping hand to women and children in vulnerable communities and ensure that no one will be left behind.
