On March 6, 2026, SM Supermalls wanted to set the right tone for women by empowering them in its 6th International Women’s Summit: The Future is Hers. Create. Lead. Thrive. It featured compelling conversations and engaging activities highlighting women’s influence across industries. SM Supermalls, in its commitment to recognizing women’s strength and impact, held a day full of activities.
A view of Samsung Hall with all its attendees and speakers for this International Women’s Day Conference
As soon as I entered Samsung Hall, it warmed my heart to see students, both male and female. It’s important that we don’t exclude men from the celebration of Women’s Month. The men need to listen to the conversations and how they can help make meaningful change in the lives of women today. So it was truly heartwarming to see a younger generation of men ready to listen.
The event wanted to ensure that, though we were there to listen to successful women, it should also give the women in the audience a sense of empowerment. Like the women in our own lives do, the event paid attention to minute details. Pastries and coffee were served since the event started early in the morning, to give us energy and make us comfortable in the day-long activities.
Jica Sy, SM Prime Holdings vice president and head of design, innovation, and strategy, in her opening remarks, honored the women who came before us. She encouraged younger generations to continue lending their voice to building a more inclusive society. That, rather than competing against men, helped us learn to collaborate with and uplift the lives of those around us.
She looked back on her struggle with perfectionism and her fears, and how those were quelled by an aunt who helped her realize the importance of doing her best in everything that she does.
“We often think the future belongs to those who are ready, but it truly belongs to those who are willing to begin, even when we’re unsure or afraid of getting it wrong,” she said. “Today is not just a celebration of the progress we’ve made, but a reminder of what we are building, what we stand for, and who we are becoming. The future will move whether we like it or not, but the real question is: Will we women simply move with it, or will we define that movement?”
Janina Vela, Jica Sy, Belle Rodolfo, Gina Romero, Eleanor Aguas, Hanna Carinna Sy, Mae Layug-Madriñan, Erica Dee-Poe, and Amina Aranaz
The programs consisted of speakers who were also in the panel to answer questions from host Janina Vela. The speakers shared insights on how women are shaping their respective industries, the struggles they faced, and the ways they continue to overcome them.
Joyce Ping Triviño, Cat Triviño, Gabbi Garcia, and host Janina Vela during Panel 1
In the first panel were MindNation co-founder Cat Triviño, host and podcaster Joyce Pring-Triviño, and actress and mental health advocate Gabbi Garcia. They spoke of the struggles with their own mental health in light of social media’s pervasive presence in our lives. They noted how safeguarding and setting defined boundaries was critical to long-term growth.
Cat Triviño spoke on the importance of stepping back when overwhelmed and anxious, affirming the importance of pacing one’s self to be able to move forward. “When I find myself getting anxious, I know that I have to take a step back. It’s fine. It’s something that I know I need to continue moving forward.”
Panel 2 with Eleanor Aguas, Gina Romero, and Belle Rodolfo
In the second panel, content creator Belle Rodolfo, Connected Women co-founder Gina Romero, and TikTok Philippines’ Eleanor Aguas discussed how women are using technology to strengthen their personal brands and inspire communities. To them, it was important to continue leveraging emerging technologies, and to view artificial intelligence as a tool to amplify creativity and originality.
Speakers discussed how women are using technology to strengthen their personal brands and inspire communities
Panel 3 with Amina Aranaz, Mae Layug-Madriñan, and Erica Dee-Poe
The final panel discussions revolved around the experiences of entrepreneurs to create inclusive workplaces and overcome mental setbacks. The panel consisted of SoFA Design Institute co-founder Amina Aranaz, GRWM Cosmetics co-founder Mae Layug-Madriñan, and The Editor’s Market Philippines co-owner Erica Dee-Poe. They reflected on the perception of women’s emotional sensitivity. Rather than viewing it as a detriment, they use it to their advantage.
Layug-Madriñan advised enterprising women: “One of the greatest trends that I see from leaders from our company who are women is that they all lead with a heart. We need to be very relational in terms of business and not just transactional… You need to listen to your employees.”
Hanna Carinna Sy, SM Supermalls assistant vice president for marketing and leasing
SM Supermalls assistant vice president for marketing and leasing Hanna Carinna Sy shared words of wisdom in her parting remarks: “Here are some things I wish I knew when I was younger. Find a mentor who challenges you and truly believes in you. Advocate for yourself because no one can read your mind. And never be afraid to use your voice, it matters more than you think. When women support each other, when we step forward even while we are figuring things out, that’s when real change happens. So let’s keep showing up and lifting each other and keep choosing courage together. When women rise, we don’t rise alone, we rise together.”
After the morning panels, we had a chance to ask Jica Sy a few questions:
TheDiarist: Who are the women who inspire you to become the woman you are today?
Jica Sy: I have been really fortunate to have been raised in a family that really valued your skills, your merits, and your thoughts, whether you were a woman or not. Growing up, I had so many different opportunities and inspirational women who led me to see what my potential could be. My grandmother is a great example. My Ama/Nanang is such an intelligent and capable woman. She knew her role was not just to raise children, but be able to support them and lead in her own right. She was able to inspire and touch so many generations after her.
What is something you want to be known for as a female leader in SM Supermalls?
I want to be known as someone who leads with compassion and empathy. To be able to pick out the best in people and really define that. Someone who is able to create a vision and inspire others towards that, and see how everyone is able to build into that. Because I truly believe that by bringing different opinions and perspectives, we can make the world a much brighter place.
What words of wisdom do you have to impart to young women today?
It’s really being true to yourself and doing everything that you do with heart…It’s not about being perfect but about being there. To the young women who want to be in whatever career or whichever business they choose, I hope that you inspire others to be their own genuine selves.
The day turned out to be an amazing celebration of ambitious and confident women. It was awe-inspiring to see women from all sectors of society talk about themselves, their challenges, and their courage to overcome them. SM Supermalls is committed to uplifting women not just within its own organization, but also the future generations, by inviting students to this Women’s Month celebration. I’m excited to see future iterations of the event.
